HOLDEN & ARTS ASSOCIATES
SHARING STORIES AND CREATING PARTNERSHIPS SINCE 1983
THE YOUNG KING
Based on the short story by Oscar Wilde
Adapted for the stage by Nicki Bloom
Produced by Slingsby
From Adelaide, Australia
About the Company
Resources
2017 VICTOR AWARD WINNER
The Official People's Choice Award at IPAY!
What kind of King would you be? A naïve boy raised by goatherds turns out to be the heir to the kingdom. Untold treasures and privileges are laid at his feet, but at what cost to others?
The Young King is a coming of age story that grapples with the ethics of beauty, leadership and compassion. The achingly beautiful and tender language of Oscar Wilde joins the intimate and magical world of internationally-acclaimed theatre company Slingsby, as we journey to far away lands replete with rich rewards and challenging choices.
Performed by two actors and one musician, the production can be presented in a studio setting or small proscenium arch venue. There are separate but significant pre-show “Coronation Celebration” activities. The pre-show activities are scalable and can be adapted to suit your venue.
A 2016 Helpmann Award Nominee for Best Presentation for Children!
Past Production: The Tragic Life of Cheeseboy
Best for Grades: 3rd + up
Audience Size: Small Venues – 120 to 250 Audience Members
Please contact us to watch the full length archival recording.
i
Company Background
Past Production: The Tragic Life of Cheeseboy
Founded in 2007 and based in Adelaide, South Australia, Slingsby presents emotionally challenging and engaging storytelling in rich live theatrical realms. Our original productions are crafted to challenge and inspire adult and older family audiences.
Slingsby is named after a character in Edward Lear’s short story "The Four Little People Who Went Round The World". Indeed, the company’s adventures have taken it far. We are now well-established as a leading international company and have toured to 69 venues in 43 cities across ten countries, and counting.
Artistic Director Andy Packer and Executive Producer Jodi Glass collaborate with Australia’s finest artists across many disciplines and foster international theatrical alliances.
In the nine years since founding in September 2007, Slingsby has:
-
Premiered 6 original productions: The Young King, an opera for families Ode To Nonsense, our award winning productions Man Covets Bird and The Tragical Life of Cheeseboy (our inaugural production which premiered in January 2008), Wolf and The Mouse, The Bird & The Sausage.
-
Performed in 69 venues in 43 cities on 5 continents, including a two-week sell-out on 42nd Street in New York and seasons in Madrid, Singapore, Canada, Edinburgh, Ireland, England, Norway, New Zealand, the Sydney Opera House, all of Australia’s mainland capitals and 11 regional South Australian towns.
-
Won 13 industry awards including two Ruby Awards and a Business SA Export Award.
For more information, please visit the company’s website: http://www.slingsby.net.au/
Artistic Team
Performer: Tim Overton
Performer: Jacqy Phillips
Composer & Musician: Quincy Grant
Playwright: Nicki Bloom
Director: Andy Packer
Designer: Wendy Todd
Lighting Designer: Geoff Cobham
Production Manager/Stage Manager: Roland Partis
Technical Manager/Operator: Mark Oakley
Illustrator & Graphic Designer: Andy Ellis
Education Advisor: Hannah McCarthy-Oliver
Marketing Manager: Dani Raymond
Public Relations: Hughes PR
Executive Producer: Jodi Glass
Critical Acclaim
The attention to detail is phenomenal…majestic and utterly delightful.
—Gordon Forester, Limelight
Beyond the immaculate work of each and every performer, everything from the music, to the props, to the artwork was, in and of itself, a work of immense beauty. A reworked version of the original script by Oscar Wilde, the new story is intricate, raw and magical. Enhanced by miniature puppets and shadow play, this is a performance whose stories will linger in your mind long after the final bow...A beautiful experience for all ages, The Young King offers twists and turns to a raw and beautiful end.
—Sarah Jean, trev.org.au
…an immersive, otherworldly show, punctured with serious life lessons.
— Debbie Cuthbertson, Sydney Morning Herald
It is possible to believe that we are characters in a great fairytale. A touching, meaningful and involved production.
—Daniel McLean, On Dit
Slingsby’s beautifully staged adaptation of Wilde’s visionary parable has woven a spell that offers hope for a better world.
—Peter Wilkins, Canberra Critics Circle
My expectations were not only met, but exceeded by this beautiful show. I was left feeling that not only had I experienced something truly special, but that the world is a better place for having a company like Slingsby in it.
—Sky Harrison, Aspire Magazine
**** (4 stars) "...The Young King feels like entering another world..." "An Adelaide Festival highlight, and a beautiful production for audiences aged eight to 80.
—Richard Watts, Artshub.com.au
Gallery of Past Productions
(premiered 2008) Photo by Andy Rasheed
(premiered 2008) Photo by Andy Rasheed
Photo by Andy Rasheed
(premiered 2008) Photo by Andy Rasheed
2017/2018 Dates
See the Company perform "The Young King":
October 11-22, 2017 at The New Victory Theatre in New York, NY
April 15-16, 2018 at Theatre at RVCC in Branchburg, NJ
April 20-22, 2018 at Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ
April 25-27, 2018 at The Carlsen Center in Overland Park, KS
May 1-5, 2018 at Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, AR
May 10 - 12, 2018 at The Whiting in Flint, MI
May 17 - 20, 2018 at EQT Children’s Theater Festival in Pittsburgh, PA
Curriculum Connections
-
Fine Arts: Theater, Music, Production Design, and Adapting a play from a short story
-
Language Arts: Symbolism, Narrative, Reading, Comprehension, Writing, Vocabulary
-
Emotional/Social Development: Compassion, Ethical Behavior, Integrity, Coming of Age, Leadership
Sample Study Guides
Minimum Technical Requirements
-
Load In Time: 6 hours
-
Crew Needs: four (4) mechanists/general stage hands
-
Min. Stage Size: 32’10’’width x 42’8’’depth x 13’2’’height
-
Sound/Lighting Needs: Upright Piano (Yamaha U3 or similar), tuned. All pre-recorded music and sound effects are operated by Slingsby's Touring Operator on a MacBook Pro running QLab. Company tours with all lighting equipment.
-
Load Out Time: 4.5 hours
Outreach and Workshops
Slingsby is committed to providing access performances for the visually impaired and deaf communities if arranged with the company in advance. Please discuss audio-described (with pre-show touch tour) and signed performances during the booking of your engagement.
“Relaxed” or “Sensory Friendly” Performances
This performance is also available as a “sensory friendly” or “relaxed” performance if arranged with the company in advance and with specific direction as to what adjustments are necessary for your venue.