EMILY BROWN AND THE THING Comes to Life at Arts Centre Melbourne

Award-winning UK author Cressida Cowell's heart-warming tale Emily Brown and The Thing will be brought to life at Arts Centre Melbourne Fairfax Studio this summer from 3 - 14 January, 2018. Little ones aged three and above and their grown-ups are invited to experience UK theatre company Tall Stories' highly acclaimed and imaginative adaptation of the much-loved book by Cowell (author of How to Train Your Dragon) and illustrator Neal Layton.

Created in Tall Stories' unique style, and told with original music, puppetry, physical storytelling and lots of comedy, Emily Brown and the Thing is a fantastic tale of derring-do for everyone aged three to 103. The fun production heads to Melbourne after a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe festival and a UK tour.

The story follows an irrepressible little girl called Emily who with her old grey rabbit, Stanley, find a "Thing" crying outside their window. He has lost his cuddly and absolutely cannot get to sleep without it. In this warm-hearted and witty take on a classic theme - being scared of the dark - they embark on a series of adventures to find everything The Thing needs for a good night's sleep.

Emily and Stanley bravely set off into the Dark and Scary Wood in search of the missing cuddly but on their return they find the Thing can't sleep without hot milk either or his tickly cough medicine. The daring duo head into the Whirling Wastes and even into the Whiny Witches' Cavern in search of the lost things. The question is: what is really troubling the Thing and will anyone ever get to sleep?

"We are thrilled to be bringing another show to Arts Centre Melbourne and can't wait to see what adventures Emily, Stanley and the Thing get up to on the other side of the world!" says director Olivia Jacobs.

London-based children's author Cressida Cowell, popularly known for the series How to Train Your Dragon, has been writing books since she was 9 years old, but her first book was published in 1999, when she was 33. She has had 20 books published, 10 fiction titles, and ten picture books, including the Emily Brown books, illustrated by Neal Layton. The first in the series, That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown, won the Nestlé Children's Book Award in 2006 and How to Train Your Dragon film was nominated for the 2011 British Academy Film Awards and The Oscars.

Tall Stories, creators of The Gruffalo and The Snail and the Whale stage shows, brings great stories to life on stage for audiences of all ages. The company is known for its exciting blend of storytelling theatre, original music and lots of laughs. Founded in 1997 by co-directors Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell the company has produced 27 original shows, toured throughout the UK, Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia, and performed at the National Theatre, in the West End, on Broadway.

For tickets and more information visit www.artscentremelbourne.com.au or call 1300 182183.