TV classic Round the Twist hits the stage

Round the Twist was a staple of after-school television in the 1990s and early-2000s and now the wacky stories have been adapted to the stage in musical form.

Round The Twist: The Musical writer Paul Hodge, centre, with cast members including young Edison Ai (Bronson Twist), and, left to right, Hanlon Innocent (Pete Twist), Charly Oakley (Linda Twist) and Matt Hetherington (Tony Twist). Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

There are seven words that can get almost any Australian millennial singing: have you ever, ever felt like this?

That catchy jingle was the start of the theme song of Round the Twist, a staple of after-school television in the 1990s and early 2000s. The first two seasons of the series were adapted from the works of children’s author Paul Jennings, and followed single dad Tony Twist and his kids Pete, Linda and Bronson as they had supernatural encounters and went on adventures linked to the lighthouse they called home.

Now, the wacky stories have been adapted for the stage in Round the Twist: The Musical.

Paul Hodge, who created the show in collaboration with Queensland Theatre, said he wanted to create a show with generational appeal. “The whole idea of creating it was so that you bring your family,” he said. “For people who grew up watching it as kids, to be able to bring their kids. It will be joyous and fun and completely off the wall.”

The story brings together the silly plot-lines beloved by fans, including the ghost that haunts the dunny, the weaponisation of smelly feet, a verbal curse, and magic lipstick.

“Obviously, there’s so many iconic moments in the show, we can’t fit everything in,” Hodge said. “It’s kind of timeless.”

For Charly Oakley, 21, who plays Linda Twist, the show instantly transports them back to wet weather days at school. “I always remember that old TV being wheeled out,” they said. “I feel like it was a very collective experience for a lot of my school peers.”

Round The Twist The Musical writer Paul Hodge (centre), with cast members including young Edison Ai (Bronson Twist), and Hanlon Innocent (Pete Twist), Charly Oakley (Linda Twist) and Matt Hetherington (Tony Twist), during a preview at QPAC in Brisbane. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Technically, the show leans on video and technology to help transport the audience from the Twists’ home to islands and beaches, with visual effects used to create supernatural beings. Stage design also had to incorporate a functional two-storey lighthouse.

Director Simon Phillips said the process of bringing the digital elements together was very complex and time consuming.

Oakley also loved the way the show captured Australian slang, to make it uniquely ours.

“There is so many little idiosyncrasies of that ’90s Australian dialect that make its way into the show,” they said.

“I mean … we say the word ‘cretin’. I feel like that hasn’t been used for ages.”

Round the Twist: The Musical premiered at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane on Friday and will run until December 8.