Dave’s genius hamster makes transition to the stage
Dave Lowe’s hamster is a genius who has not only had a successful career as an astronaut, spy, pirate and detective but is now a star on stage.
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DAVE Lowe’s hamster is a genius who has not only had a successful career as an astronaut, spy, pirate and detective but is now a star on stage.
The Deagon author has adapted his 2013 children’s book My Hamster is a Genius as a screenplay which will be performed at Brisbane Arts Theatre until October 5.
This is the second collaboration between the two, after Mr Lowe wrote the stage play for Andy Griffith’s The Day my Bum went Psycho, which had a successful run at the theatre earlier this year.
And the collaboration probably won’t end there, with the theatre’s artistic director John Boyce and Mr Lowe agreeing to develop further books in the series.
“Dave is treated as a writer in residence by our company and we love having him involved with us,” Mr Boyce said.
“I am a huge fan of the Hamster series and am enjoying the collaboration and direction of Dave’s work for the stage.”
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Mr Lowe said there was less stress writing the screen play for one of his own books.
“With this screenplay I wasn’t worried about disappointing myself like I was with Andy Griffiths,” he said.
“I find writing plays easier than writing books; when you write books there are a lot of words and description.
“With a play it’s more dialogue and action. I enjoy writing dialogue, it’s one of my strengths as a writer.
“I did the screenplay and I was really happy with how it turned out.”
My Hamster is a Genius is the first of six books in the Stinky and Jinks series about Benjamin Jinks and his hamster Jasper Stinkybottom. It was highly commended at the Sheffield Book Awards in the UK in 2013 (second to Tom Gates).
“The books are about a genius hamster and his not so smart owner and they have been translated into seven languages,” Mr Lowe said.
“They’ve done pretty well so I thought it would be a good starting point (for my first play).
“Seeing the characters come to life has been nice. I went to a dress rehearsal but I’ve stayed at relatively arms length. The director is great and I wanted to give him room.
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“It will be really nice to see it with an audience. When I write my books I just assume the reader is enjoying them and laughing a bit.
“With an audience you get an immediate reaction so I think it’s going to be an exciting experience to see it with other people.”
Mr Boyce said Mr Lowe had been an integral part of the production.
“Dave has been extremely valuable to the process as the director has been able to go directly to the source to have questions answered about what he, as the writer, intended.
“Dave has been able to give us insight into how he came up with the story and the characters which has been vital in our interpretation of My Hamster is a Genius.
“Hamster is a warm and charming story that shows us that families and friends can achieve great things when they stick together. Some of the jokes and routines are funny for all ages.”
Mr Lowe said it was important for him to write a play families could enjoy together.
“I’m really conscious that when you go to a theatre show for kids, sometimes that can be boring for the parents.
“I tried to aim for something like the Toy Story model; I want the parents to enjoy it as much as the kids.”
Mr Lowe said it was “really incredible” Brisbane Arts Theatre was commissioning his work and he was already considering which book to adapt next.
“I’m not sure what will be next, maybeMy Hamster is an Astronaut or a Pirate,” he said.
He’s also working on a couple of new books to add to his 12 published works which include the Squirrel Boy and Incredible Dadventure series.
The Brisbane Arts Theatre production has a cast of 11 adults and children, many of whom are students of the theatre’s college and its youth development program New Stock.
Brisbane Arts Theatre is located at 210 Petrie Tce. For details on performance dates and tickets visit artstheatre.com.au
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