House, a heartwarming and magical play presented by Barking Gecko Theatre returns to the stage at the Octagon Theatre on 1 November 2024 and runs through to 9 November 2023. House is a whimsical and enchanting work by playwright Don Giovannoni and theatre maker and director Luke Kerridge. It first delighted audiences in 2021 at the Perth Festival.
House is now also an ethereal picture book written and designed by the original creators of the play Dan Giovannoni, Charlotte Lane and Luke Kerridge, and just published by Fremantle’s own Fremantle Press.
The play is described as ‘part contemporary fairy-tale, part mad-cap adventure story … a heart-felt and hilarious tale of loneliness, belonging and flying houses’. House will enthral audiences of all ages.
House the play is the story of three captivating characters Catheljin, a young girl who feels like she is ‘too much’, Piotr, an anxious small boy who never stops talking, and Elka, a grey haired explorer who insists they keep the curtains closed tight. They each have their own background tale of loneliness, abandonment, forsakenness and fear. Together, they embark on an unexpected adventure to escape from a terrible storm and Catheljin discovers House is a rescue house. In Elka’s words, House is the ‘house you need when things are off kilter’.
It is not just the delicious food, curious objects and all the other things and lost things that help Catheljin, Piotr and Elka feel safe. It is through the telling of their own unique stories that House’s three inhabitants find connection, courage and ultimately self. They also come to understand, as Elka instructs Catheljin, ‘when you lose something, you gain something else’.
Go see the play to take in not just the stories, but the magical, whimsical set which is House, including miraculous moving parts. You will be awe-struck. The set was created by gifted theatre designer Charlotte Lane, who’s meticulous drawings sparked the idea for the creation of the book.
Read and take in the beautiful picture book and share the story of House with your children and their friends.
House the book is an origin story, infused with the same charm, imagination and magic as the play. It tells the story of how House first went in search of a friend. It is a story for children and the child in you, a story of hope that offers up a unique way of interpreting our ever-changing world.
House the play and the book, each in their own way act as a spiritual guide on how to find home. They also act as a reminder that we’re never truly alone, and that enduring stories will always find a way to be told.
House is a story of these times and for all time. You might say, there is no story like House.
House – the book is available in all good bookstores and online
House – the play
Friday 1 – Saturday 2 November 2024
Friday 8 – 9 November – 2024
Octagon Theatre, University of Western Australia, Nedlands
Book for the play right here
Be sure to have a look at the program and find the recipe for Elka’s comforting and delicious Honey Biscuits.
Madeleine Cox with Luke Kerridge
* By Madeleine Cox. Here’s Madeleine talking with House creative director Luke Kerridge about how House the book came to be.
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