Grug marks up the milestones with 10th birthday at Windmill
Windmill Theatre’s popular puppet character Grug will celebrate 10 years on stage – and a few more milestones – with an Adelaide season at the Dunstan Playhouse in October.
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BELOVED children’s play Grug will have its 10th birthday this month – but it has plenty of other reasons to celebrate, too.
The season will be Windmill Theatre’s return to the stage after its 2020 interstate and international touring plans were cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak.
It will also mark 400 worldwide performances of Grug, of which 250 have featured actor Matt Crook. During that time, 50,000 audience members have seen the show in 35 countries.
“I think Grug has endured for as long as he has because the storytelling is simple,” Crook said.
“What kids connect to – and all of us as humans, adults, actors – is that curiosity that we tap into.”
The play is based on the series of more than 30 books by author Ted Prior, whose latest effort Grug and the Bushfire will be released in November to raise funds for bushfire relief.
Grug began life as the top of a Burrawang tree, although the character more closely resembles a small, striped haystack.
Crook has been with the show on and off since 2013, including tours of the US and China.
“I grew up with Grug – I’m a child of the ’80s,” he said.
“This season is particularly special because I have a son and, as I did, he is now growing up with Grug.”
Grug, Dunstan Playhouse, October 6 to 18. Book at BASS