Adapting CBCA Shortlisted Book ‘Timeless’ by Kelly Canby to Stage

At Meerkat Productions, we are passionate about bringing stories to life.

Every year to celebrate Book Week, we select a CBCA Shortlisted Picture Book to adapt. This year, our journey led us to ‘Timeless’ by Kelly Canby, a picture book that captivated us with its themes of friendship, time, and imagination.

The Adaptation Process:

1. Selection and Planning:

Each year, as soon as the CBCA releases its Book of The Year Award Shortlist, our team eagerly dive into the texts, seeking stories that not only entertain but also offer rich educational value. We carefully evaluate each shortlisted book based on its potential to engage young audiences while offering educational themes that complement school curriculums.

Our team also evaluates each book for its suitability for stage adaptation in school settings. As we travel to schools of varying sizes in both urban and rural areas, it's crucial that our productions can seamlessly fit into spaces ranging from classrooms to large halls.

For us, ‘Timeless’ stood out for its visual storytelling and imaginative narrative, making it a perfect adaptation to the stage.

2. Scriptwriting and Creative Development:

The Meerkat team begin the adaptation process, translating the book's narrative into a dialogue and song to create a 45 minute performance. Meanwhile our designers work to transform the illustrations of ‘Timeless’ into backdrop designs, sets, props and puppets.

3. Rehearsals and Bringing the Story to Life:

Once the script is finalised and designs complete, our first rehearsals commence. When staging new work there are countless changes, discoveries and challenges that arise – Under the guidance of our skilled director, our performers and creative team breathe life into the characters and storyline of ‘Timeless’.

After we have rehearsed the performance, we preview it in a school with children. This is a chance for the team to see how the performance lands, what questions students ask and how the children react to the performance.

It's during this phase that the true magic of theatre emerges, as the narrative transforms from words on a page to a dynamic and engaging live performance.

This rehearsal process is repeated across all 5 of our teams.

4. Creating Teacher Resources and Pre-show activities:

In addition to our wonderful adaption, our team create resonant resource packs and pre-show activities that engage students in the ideas and themes before our visit.

In our adaptation of ‘Timeless’ the director has decided to delve into several themes, using the captivating images of the lady in the shop as inspiration for the character of Granny Grace. These themes not only drive the narrative but also offer meaningful lessons for audiences of all ages:

1. The Value of Time:
2. Quality over Quantity:
3. Mindfulness and Presence:
4. The Magic of Everyday Moments:
5. Intergenerational Wisdom:
6. Connection and Relationships:
7. Simplicity and Contentment:
8. Creativity and Imagination:

5. Touring Across East Coast Australia

After months of preparation, our team take ‘Timeless’ on the road.  Our team perform over 250 performances across regional and metro schools in VIC, NSW, TAS, SA and QLD, bringing the magic of live theatre directly to students.

For more information on booking ‘Timeless’ or to explore Meerkat Productions other TIE productions, please visit their website here.

Let's bring the wonder of theatre to your school!