Roald Dahl’s James and The Giant Peach brings a taste of something sweet to the stage

Posted on 11 June, 2024

A little magic can take you a long way – and when there’s a giant peach involved, you know you’re in for a taste of something sweet.

From the company behind the smash-hit, adored seasons of Fantastic Mr Fox, The Twits, and George’s Marvellous Medicine, get ready for a bold new theatrical adaption of one of the most loved children’s books as it makes its way to the stage for three fun-filled shows.

Furthering Shake & Stir’s penchant for reinventing Dahl classics for the theatre, the classic story of James and the Giant Peach will be playing at the Canberra Theatre Centre from Wednesday 26 until Friday 29 June – and with Canberra getting the first bite of the peach before the show goes on its national tour, Director Ross Balbuziente says audiences can expect to walk away feeling ‘pure joy.’

“The world is full of too many ugly things at the very minute, so this is just 60 minutes of escapism told in a deliciously, vivid, epic way,” he says.

“It’s one of my all-time favourites growing up – you can always remember where you were and the time of your life when you were flicking through those pages, totally absorbed in Dahl’s wit and wonder and the magical illustrations by Quentin Blake.”

Written in 1961, Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach follows James Henry Trotter, a lonely seven-year-old boy, who after losing his parents in a horrible rhinoceros accident, is forced to live with his two wicked aunts.

Staying true to the original story (which has sold millions of copies worldwide and has become an Academy Award-nominated film adaptation), Ross believes that the story of James and the Giant Peach still resonates with people decades later not only because it offers fun, fantastical escape, but because Dahl’s work is a beautiful blend of nostalgia and contemporary storytelling.

“Dahl has a beautiful ability to talk to his readers…he made you feel empowered and not spoken down to, which I really loved as a child and still do now as an adult,” he says.

“It’s about taking that and bringing it to the stage, so we aren’t talking down to or patronising younger audiences. And jokes and characters resonate as much with the adults as they do with the children!”

Reimagining the story for the stage alongside the same powerhouse creative team behind the magical stage adaption of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (which is becoming something of a local Christmas tradition), similar to Shake & Stir’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, live animation and live performance will be blended on the stage, seeing Dahl’s fanciful world, scheming characters and distinct ridiculousness come alive with poetry, song and dance – all enhanced with stunningly realised illustrations.

“I see James and The Giant Peach as a bit of a follow-up to the storytelling methods that we explore in Fantastic Mr. Fox,” says Ross.

“We literally see our collection of critters flying through the air or splashing into the ocean. It’s magical and requires a whole different type of performance from our very skilled cast…It’s so rewarding seeing our audiences of every age truly be swept away by the interaction between live actor and animation.”

“It’s as big as any major rock concert – it’s epic in its scale and its storytelling!”

Taking the whole family on an enchanting, great escape from James’ backyard, across the world, to New York, and back again, the show is perfect for peachy keen kids or adults looking for a sweet slice of nostalgia.

And while there are some darker moments in the story, Ross and the talented team have created a faithful adaptation that stays true to the novel.

“I love the sense of resilience, camaraderie, and confidence that are the major themes of the piece,” he says. “Everyone is on James’s side, we all want him to pick himself up, dust himself off, and triumph – and that’s exactly what he does.”

“We don’t shy away from the darker, sadder times…it’s still within our adaption and our production. We lean on Roald Dahl’s beautiful balance of sadness within contrasting joy – like overcoming those hurdles and proving to oneself that when you are confident within yourself and you trust your loved ones, anything can be overcome.”

Bursting with magic, mischief, and mayhem, this live adaption is a very sweet way to introduce your family to Dahl’s work – or to unleash your own inner child and have some fun.

Images supplied.