Shaun Tan’s hit picture book Rules of Summer, is the latest work to be adapted by Perth’s favourites Spare Parts Puppet Theatre.
The story follows two brothers through their surreal and dreamlike summer. Broken up into sequences, each one represents the ‘rules of summer’ devised by the boys. Despite being suitable for children ages five and up, adults will also thoroughly enjoy the production due to the impressive level of artistry that has gone into the show. Actors Bec Bradley, Nick Pages-Oliver and Allan Girod keep the audience engaged from the moment they step onto the stage. Their solid, consistent characterisation and cheeky laughs with the audience every now and then bring a bright, vibrant atmosphere to the whole show. One of the highlights of the show was simply hearing the children in the audience laughing or calling out to the actors on stage. The actors encouraged engagement, adding to the entertainment factor for their young audience and really making this performance stand out as a must-see for the school holidays. It’s a show that makes you appreciate how important curiosity and imagination are for developing a sense of creativity in young people. ‘Rules of Summer’ is a sensory overload in the best way possible and is guaranteed to have the whole family talking about it for months after. Rules of Summer by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre is at the Dolphin Theatre, UWA from Sep 23 to Oct 8. Find out more. Get tickets
