Book Week shows for students... by teachers!!
Ph. 1300 BOOK WEEK
Tony's past Book Week shows (above)
For 2021 Book Week
2021 CBCA Short-Listed
"Picture Book of the Year" show
Title to be announced
May 2021
Adapted for the stage, music & performed by
"Tony Bones" Appleby B.Ed
Book Week is August 21-27, 2021
Theme: TBC
“The children were enthralled to see a book come to life in a live performance.” St Therese PS, Mascot, NSW
Past CBCA Short Listed Books that "Tony Bones" Appleby B.Ed has adapted & performed include...
35 CBCA SHORTLISTED BOOKS ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY "TONY BONES" APPLEBY B.ED FOR BOOKS TO LIFE & TONY BONES ENTERTAINMENT Writer, Director & Performer
35 - Hello Lighthouse (2020 - based on the picture book by Sophie Blackall)
34 - The All New Must Have Orange 430 (2019 - based on the picture book by Michael Speechley)
33 - A Walk in the Bush (2018 - based on the picture book by Gwyn Perkins)
32 - The Windy Farm (2014 - based on the picture book by Doug McLeod & Craig Smith)
31 - My Life As An Alphabet (2014 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Barry Jonsberg)
30 - Herman & Rosie (2013 - based on the picture book by Gus Gordon)
29 - Other Brother (2013 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Simon French)
28 - No Bears (2012 - based on the picture book by Meg McKinlay)
27 - Bungawitta (2012 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Emily Rodda)
26 - Two Peas in a Pod (2011 - based on the picture book by Chris McKimmie)
25 - Duck For A Day (2011 - based on the younger reader's novel by Meg McKinlay)
24 - Schumann the Shoeman (2010 - based on the picture book by John & Stella Danalis)
23 - Matty Forever (2010 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Elizabeth Fensham)
22 - Nobody Owns The Moon (2009 - based on the picture book by Tohby Riddle)
21 - Audrey Of The Outback (2009 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Christine Harris)
20 - The Night Garden (2008 - based on the picture book by Elise Hurst)
19 - Amelia Dee & The Peacock Lamp (2008 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Odo Hirsch)
18 - Water Witcher (2007 - based on the picture book by Jan Ormerod)
17 - Being Bee (2007 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Catherine Bateson)
16 - Irving The Magician (2006 - based on the picture book by Tohby Riddle)
15 - To The Light (2006 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Pat Flynn)
14 - At The Beach - Postcards from Crabby Spit (2005 - based on the picture book by Roland Harvey)
13 - Billy Mack’s War (2005 - based on the younger reader’s novel by James Roy)
12 - Milli, Jack & the Dancing Cat (2004 - based on the picture book by Stephen Michael King)
11 - Stella By The Sea (2004 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Ruth Starke)
10 - Bear & Chook (2003 - based on the picture book by Lisa Shanahan & Emma Quay)
9 - Tom Jones Saves The World (2003- based on the younger reader’s novel by Steven Herrick)
8 - Horrible Harriet (2002 - based on the picture book by Leigh Hobbs)
7 - My Story - A Different Sort Of Real - The Diary Of Charlotte McKenzie - Melbourne 1918 (2002 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Kerry Greenwood)
6 - When Dogs Cry (2002 - based on the older reader’s novel by Markus Zusak)
5 - The Singing Hat (2001 - based on the picture book by Tohby Riddle)
4 - Something's Fishy, Hazel Green! (2001 - based on the younger reader’s novel by Odo Hirsch)
3 - Touch Me (2001 - based on the older reader’s novel by James Moloney)
2 - Captain Mack (2000 - by Tony Appleby based on the younger reader’s novel by James Roy)
1 - Tyro (2000 - based on the older reader’s novel by David McRobbie)
2021 Season Dates
All tour dates are subject to change depending on availability. If you'd like the show to perform in your area out of the advertised season dates then just ask & we'll try our best to accommodate you.
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Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat & the rest of Victoria (VIC) Primary School Book Week Tour 2021
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July 12th to 16th, 2021 (Term 3, Week 1, 2021 / 6 weeks before Book Week 2021)
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July 19th to 23rd, 2021 (Term 3, Week 2, 2021 / 5 weeks before Book Week 2021)
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July 26th & 30th, 2021 (Term 3, Week 3, 2021 / 4 weeks before Book Week 2021)
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August 2nd, 2021 (Term 3, Week 4, 2021 / 3 weeks before Book Week 2021)
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August 30th to September 3rd, 2021 (Term 3, Week 8, 2021 / 1 week after Book Week 2021)
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September 6th to 7th, 2021 (Term 3, Week 9, 2021 / 1 week after Book Week 2021)
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Where do Books To Life tour in Victoria? Click here!!
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Make an enquiry - Click here!!!
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Sydney, Newcastle, Central Coast & the rest of New South Wales (NSW) Primary School Book Week Tour 2021
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August 3rd to 6th, 2021 (Inland NSW - Term 3, Week 4, 2021 / 3 weeks before Book Week 2021)
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August 16th to 20th, 2021 (Newcastle & Central Coast - Term 3, Week 6, 2021 / 1 week before Book Week 2021)
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August 23rd to 26th, 2021 (Sydney - Term 3, Week 7, 2021 / Book Week 2021)
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Where do Books To Life tour in New South Wales? Click here!!
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Make an enquiry - Click here!!!
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Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast & the rest of Queensland (QLD) Primary School Book Week Tour 2021
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August 9th to 13th, 2021 (Term 3, Week 5, 2021 / 2 weeks before Book Week 2021)
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Where do Books To Life tour in Queensland? Click here!!
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Make an enquiry - Click here!!!
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Canberra & the rest of Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Primary School Book Week Tour 2021
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August 27th, 2021 (Term 3, Week 7, 2021 / Book Week 2021)
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Where do Books To Life tour in Australian Capital Territory? Click here!!
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Make an enquiry - Click here!!!
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Adelaide & the rest of South Australia (SA) Primary School Book Week Tour 2021
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July 27th to 29th, 2021 (SA Term 3 Week 2 / 4 weeks before Book Week 2021)
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Where do Books To Life tour in South Australia? Click here!!
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Make an enquiry - Click here!!!
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Hobart, Launceston, Devonport & the rest of Tasmania (TAS) Primary School Book Week Tour 2021
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September 8th to 10th, 2021 (TAS Term 3 Week 8 / 2 weeks after Book Week 2021)
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Where do Books To Life tour in Tasmania? Click here!!
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Make an enquiry - Click here!!!
Desperate to find a Book Week 2021 performance for your primary school in Melbourne, VIC?
Then click here for season dates for regional & urban Victoria for 2021 & search no more!! Includes specific dates for our 2021 tour in Melbourne (including touring dates for Northern suburbs, Western suburbs & South East Melbourne), plus all towns & cities in VIC including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Melton, Shepparton, Wodonga, Sunbury, Pakenham, Mildura, Warrnambool, Traralgon, Wangaratta, Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, Bacchus Marsh, Torquay, Jan Juc, Horsham, Moe, Newborough, Warragul, Morwell, Sale, Lara, Bairnsdale, Echuca, Drysdale, Clifton Springs, Colac, Drouin, Leopold, Portland, Swan Hill, Castlemaine, Gisborne, Benalla, Hamilton, Wallan, Healsville, Wonthaggi, Yarrawonga, Maryborough, Kilmore, Ararat, Portalington, St Leonards, Lakes Entrance, Kyabram, Seymour, Stawell, Cobram, Leongatha, Inverloch, Bannockburn & Cowes. Not on the list? Let us know & we'll find a date for you on the tour too!!
Need a primary school show for Book Week 2021 in Sydney, NSW?
Season dates for regional & urban New South Wales are available for 2021 if you just click here!! Includes specific dates for our 2021 tour in Sydney (including touring dates for The Blue Mountains, Cantebury, The Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, Forest District, Falls District, Western Sydney, Macarthur, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith, Sutherland Shire, Berowra & Hawkesbury), plus all towns & cities in NSW including Newcastle, Central Coast, Wollongong, Maitland, Tweed Heads, Wagga, Albury, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Orange, Dubbo, Coffs Harbour, Queanbeyan, Lismore, Bathurst, Coffs Harbour, Richmond, Windsor, Bomaderry, Nowra, Goulburn, Armidale, Broken Hill, Wentworth Falls, Katoomba, Forster, Tuncurry, Bellbird, Cessnock, Grafton, Taree, Ballina, Griffith, Sawtell, Singleton, Raymond Terrace, Weston, Kurri Kurri, Kiama, Lithgow, Bowral, Batemans Bay, Lawson, Hazelbrook, Muswellbrook, Parkes, Ulladulla, Inverell, Moree & Casino. Not on the list? Let us know & we'll find a date for you on the tour too!!
What 2021 Book Week shows tour to primary schools in Canberra, ACT?
Ours does!! Click here for all our season dates for Australian Capital Territory for 2021. Includes specific dates for our 2021 tour of all ACT suburbs in and around Canberra, Palmerston, Belconnen, Canberra Central, Curtin, Narrabundah, Queanbeyan, Kambah, Gordon, Gungahalin, Jerrabomberra, Majura, Molonglo Valley, Tuggeranong, Weston Creek & Woden Valley. Not on the list? Let us know & we'll find a date for you on the tour too!!
Can't find a Book Week 2021 stage show that blows your primary school away in Brisbane, QLD?
Then click here and stop looking!! Season dates for regional & urban Queensland have been released for 2021. Includes specific dates for our 2021 tour of all suburbs in Brisbane plus all other areas of QLD including South East Queensland, Wide Bay, Burnett, Far North Queensland (FNQ), Darling Downs, North Queensland, Central Queensland, Gulf Country, South West Queensland & Central West Queensland. Specific towns & cities in QLD to be toured include Ipswich, Logan City, Redland City & Morton Bay Region, Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Cairns, Toowoomba, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Gladstone, Maryborough, Mount Isa, Gympie, Bongaree, Woorim, Nambour, Yeppoon, Warwick, Emerald, Dalby, Bargara, Innes Park, Kingaroy, Tannum Sands, Moranbah & Bowen. Not on the list? Let us know & we'll find a date for you on the tour too!!
Scratching your head for a Book Week 2021 performance for your primary school in Adelaide, SA?
Well you've come to the right place. Click here for all our season dates for regional & urban South Australia for 2021. Includes specific dates for our 2021 tour of all suburbs in Adelaide plus all towns & cities in SA including Mount Gambier, Whyalla, Gawler, Port Pirie, Bridgewater, Port Augusta, Murray Bridge, Port Lincoln, Mount Barker, Victor Harbour, Aldinga Beach, Naracoorte, Renmark, Millicent, Goolwa, Berri, Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Kadina, Roxby Downs, Loxton, Strathalbyn, Moonta, Clare, Nairne, Wallaroo, Coober Pedy, McLaren Vale, Ceduna, Bordertown, Kapunda, Mannum, Barmera, Angaston, Willunga, Hahndorf, Waikerie, Kingscote, Lobethal, Peterborough, Woodside, Port Elliot, Balaklava, Sellicks Beach, Kingston, Tailem Bend, Jamestown & Williamstown. Not on the list? Let us know & we'll find a date for you on the tour too!!
What can I do at my primary school in Hobart, TAS for Book Week 2021?
See our show!! Click here for all our season dates for Tasmania for 2021. Includes specific dates for our 2021 tour of all TAS suburbs in and around Hobart, Launceston, Devonport, Burni, Somerset, Blackmans Bay, Kingston, Ulverstone, Gagebrook, Bridgewater, New Norfolk, Wynyard, George Town, Sorell, Midway Point, Smithton, Penguin, Longford, Latrobe, Dodges Ferry, Lauderdale, Queenstown, Legana, Deloraine, Perth, Old Beach, Port Sorrell, Scottsdale, Hadspen, St Helens, Stieglitz, Huonville, Ranelagh, Pontville, Bridport, Turners Beach, Westbury, Beauty Point, Rosebery, Seven Mile Beach, Evandale, Beaconsfield, Sheffield, Margate, Zeehan, Railton, Geeveston, Richmond, Cygnet, Snug & Currie. Not on the list? Let us know & we'll find a date for you on the tour too!!
This brand new 40-minute stage performance for Australian primary schools will be the 35th CBCA shortlisted "Book Week" book adapted & performed by "Tony Bones" Appleby B.Ed. He is a qualified drama & dance teacher with over 20 years of professional teaching & performing experience in children's theatre & theatre in education.
The show will bring the book to life!!! It includes:
Drama: a variety of performance styles within the show: Melodrama, Pantomime, Musical Theatre, Physical Theatre, Mime, Puppetry, Game show, Improvisation, etc.
Dance: a variety of dance styles within the show: Jazz, contemporary, Hip Hop, etc.
Music: a variety of music styles in the show: Pop, Hip Hop, RnB, Rap, Rock, Music Theatre, Folk, etc;
Puppetry: a variety of puppetry styles in the show: Shadow puppetry, Hand puppetry, Marionette / String puppetry, Board puppetry.
Mask: Whole face masks, part face masks, noses, animals, commedia dell'arte, etc.
Painted sets - Painted on fabric, plywood, cardboard & paper.
Digital projections: 2 x 16:9 digital projectors cast images of the book, digital images of sets, animations, explosions & lighting displays onto large freestanding 100" rear projection screens on either side of the stage creating an incredible viewing experience for the students. They are also used for shadow puppetry in the show.
Raised staging: 45cm high staging 2m wide x 1m deep ensure everyone, even in very large groups can see all of the action;
DMX coloured stage lighting: the very latest DMX coloured stage lighting is used throughout the show to create intense & dynamic atmosphere throughout the performance.
Professional sound system & headset microphones: powered EV pro speakers & the pro Shure radio headset microphone & bodypack are used to ensure crystal clear sound for even the very largest halls;
Audience participation: Students are used throughout the show to both participate in the audience (responding, singing or dancing along, creating scenes in the audience) & also joining in on stage to operate puppets, dress in costume to become characters, create sets & props during the show, be part of improvised scenes or be contestants in a game show;
Full Q&A session: after the show a full Question & Answer session takes place led by "Tony Bones" Appleby B.Ed, a qualified teacher with over 16 years experience running these sessions. Tony discusses in depth why he made certain decisions when creating the show (e.g. adding scenes or slightly changing them from the book, sets used, etc), and shows students how the props, sets, puppets, costumes, projections & sound were created for the show, as well as discussing the writing of the script & composing of the songs & music;
Lesson plans for teachers: Follow up activities are provided for all year levels.
Public Liability Cover of $30,000,000 & Professional Indemnity Insurance of $5,000,000. Click here!!
Cost (excl. GST):
Within "Book Week" itself: $7.50/student + GST. Minimum show fee of $937.50 + GST for up to 125 students then $7.50/student + GST thereafter
Outside of Book Week itself: $6.50/student + GST. Minimum show fee of $812.50 + GST for up to 125 students then $6.50/student + GST thereafter
Year Levels: Foundation - Year 6.
Make an enquiry - Click here!!!
Where will Books To Life tour in 2021???
Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide & Hobart. Sure, we tour the 2021 Book Week show to these capital cities, but we also tour the 2021 Book Week show absolutely anywhere in Australia, as long as we can cover the cost of touring the show there.
Sometimes this involves asking schools who book the show in more regional or even very remote areas to then spread the word to their network of teachers at other schools to increase their own audience numbers or to get another school in the area to also book the show. But rest assured, if you can get enough students there to cover the costs, then I'm happy to to bring the show to you. So let's get specific. Exactly where & when do Books To Life tour in Australia?
"The best children's theatre I've ever seen. I have seen and organised many visiting entertainments and Tony (& his company) was by far the best." Fairfield PS, VIC
