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Red B A L L O O N
B A R B A R A
A L B U R Y
HANNA’S ARCADE WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO A PARISIAN WONDERLAND AS HIGH COUNTRY THEATRE PRODUCES A NEW ADAPTATION OF THE CLASSIC FILM, THE RED BALLOON. WE GO BEHIND THE SCENES WITH BARBARA ALBURY TO FIND OUT MORE ...
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ell our readers about the history of the play, The Red Balloon. Our play, The Red Balloon, is based on Albert Lamorisse's famous 1956 film about a young boy who makes friends with a stray balloon. It remains one of the most beloved children’s films of all time. Set in the streets of Paris and using his own two children as the main characters, filmmaker Lamorisse documented both a struggling post-war era, as well as creating a testament to the power of love and courage to overcome evil. There is much humour as well as some sadness in the film, as there is in our play. Its finale has a touch of mysticism, with all the balloons in Paris helping Pascal fly away to a better world. When asked in a recent interview about the meaning of the fantasy ending, the now elderly Pascal would not give an answer. We can only wonder. The film received many accolades, including an Oscar for best original screenplay and the Palme d'Or for short films at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. Enlighten us as to what the play is about. The Red Balloon tells the story of the unusual and touching friendship between a lonely young boy called Pascal and a large red balloon, which he finds tied to a lamp-post. As Pascal plays with his newfound toy, he realises it has a mind of its own. It begins to follow Pascal everywhere he goes - playing mischievous games with him, but ultimately
becoming his loyal friend. Hanna’s Arcade will The film received become Paris as we take s, many accolade you on this marvellous r fo ar including an Osc play adventure through its en re sc best original back streets. Or for and the Palme d’ 56 How will your e 19 short films at th thereby involving adaptation differ? ival .” st Fe lm Fi es Cann the audience more The Red Balloon is a directly in the action. It’s very human story about a challenge, but it will allow friendship and courage in the us to devise a reality which face of bullying and isolation. goes beyond a traditional theatre In adapting it to the stage, we have space. For example, we will have shop kept all these vital elements - which are still vendors up in the balconies calling out to so relevant in our modern world. However, each other as they set up their wares, creating we have added more dialogue, music and the busy working life of a city. characters, and also movement and songs. What challenges will you have to I hear that it will not be staged in a overcome working in such an area? theatre; can you tell us a little more about The main challenge is to make a cohesive why you chose the location that you did? story that moves along at a good pace and We felt we needed a unique setting for also creates a little bit of magic. Another The Red Balloon - some place which would challenge is to find a way of getting the recreate the look and feel of the streets of balloon to follow Pascal independently - at a Paris. Our quest took us to Hanna’s Arcade, distance? One of our young performers has one of the most elegant spaces in Armidale, the solution. But it’s a secret. with its wooden panelling, balconies with What dynamic will this bring to the carved railings and rows of old-fashioned audiences? lights along the walls. We got permission from The Red Balloon is only about 50 minutes Hanna’s Arcade management, and we are very long, but with lots of fun and action. So, there grateful for their generosity and willingness to should be something for everyone. We would help in every way. We also received assistance like the audience to be totally immersed in the from Armidale Dumaresq Council to create show and to take away a positive memory of Paris in Armidale, a small pre-show teaser for it. the August Markets in the Mall. Tell us about some of your local actors/ We liked the idea of doing a theatre-in-theactresses. round (or theatre-in the-square) production,
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As with The Little Prince last year, we will be using performers of all ages. Many of them have worked with us before, and they are terrific. Despite age differences, a show like this brings them together, and they become a unified team. As with the musicians, tech crew and front-of house personnel ... It’s amazing, but it happens. What can the viewer expect when watching one of your adaptations? Something different. Something imaginative. Something unique. I always aim for a professional looking and sounding production, with minimum means. Final thoughts? The magic of theatre can be created by invoking the power of the imagination to see things that are not really there. Thanks Barbara.
plug! 15, 16, 17 and 22, 23, 24 September. (Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 2pm and 7pm, Sundays at 3pm.) Bookings Carrs Newsagency 6772 3534 and highcountrytheatre.com Information: Barbara 0427 729 529 Photography by Suresh Kumar. new england focus. 15