Book Week at Butterbox

Book Week tale a highlight of theatre’s opening chapter

Budding bookworms will witness a novel come to life next month, as Book Week 2022 is celebrated at the City of Logan’s new Butterbox Theatre.

The musical puppet show Hijabi Girl, performed by Larrikin Puppets, will be a colourful and exciting introduction to the venue for local schoolchildren on August 23 and 24.

Set in an Australian school during Book Week, the show shares important messages about creative expression, problem solving and social inclusion.

Hijabi Girl is based on the 2016 children’s novel of the same name by Australian authors Hazel Edwards and Ozge Alkan.

City Lifestyle Chair, Councillor Laurie Koranski, said the show was among the highlights of the Butterbox Theatre’s opening season.

“This is the start of an exciting new chapter for our city, as we look forward to stories from both near and far being told in this brilliant performance space,” Cr Koranski said.

“We welcome young story lovers to our Butterbox Theatre during Book Week, for an experience that will hopefully inspire a lifelong love of storytelling in all its forms.”

The City of Logan performance of Hijabi Girl will be the show’s live debut.

Division 2 Councillor Teresa Lane said the touching schoolyard story would resonate with many local families.

“Cultural diversity is championed and celebrated in the City of Logan and this is another teaching tool for parents to have conversations around cultural diversity,” Cr Lane said.

“Hijabi Girl is an upbeat tale about friendship and fairness, and I cannot think of a more fitting venue for it to be transported from the page to the stage.”

Hijabi Girl co-author Ozge Alkan, who wears a hijab, said it was ‘an absolute treat’ to have the story brought to life by the popular Larrikin Puppets team.

She said the unique production, which also features ultra-violet puppetry, was a lively and memorable retelling of the story’s central themes.

“We have four different (main) characters, with four different personalities and ethnic backgrounds and, of course, the idea is that in at least one of them, or more of them, the kids will see themselves,” Ms Alkan said.

“Kids have seen themselves represented in television but there is something super special about a live (performance) that you see happen in front of your eyes.”

The co-authors and book illustrator Serena Geddes will attend a premiere performance of Hijabi Girl on Tuesday, August 23 for a Q&A session with the audience.

Ms Edwards, who is well known for her popular children’s book, There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake, will also attend the Wednesday, August 24 performance.

Tickets to Hijabi Girl are available at loganarts.com.au