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Book Gig 2009
Book Links was invited again this year to produce and present a Book Gig as part of the Brisbane Writers Festival Word Play schools program. Tristan Bancks was one of the authors coming to the Festival and the second book in his Mac Slater Cool Hunter series, I ♥ NY was selected for the Book Gig. A book gig is a short interpretive performance of a novel by actors followed by a discussion between the actors, the author and the audience about the book and its interpretation.

Students from Griffith University Bachelor of Applied Theatre Studies performed the Book Gig, bringing not only the book to life, but also several wonderful New York icons. Their creative performance kicked off with a rendition of Frank Sinatra’s song New York, New York and took the audience on an exciting and exhilarating journey through the streets of the Big Apple searching for COOL! Click Here for more Photos ... The Book Gig played to packed houses at both the Wednesday and Thursday performances with 200 middle year student attending each day. Tristan Bancks, author and one time actor in the popular series Home and Away enjoyed their interpretation of his book. He particularly liked the excerpts chosen by the actors and how they animated his characters. The audience enjoyed the performance and were well informed, asking plenty of interesting questions of Tristan, (though not all of them necessarily relating to his books!). Tristan showed photos and images of people, places etc. that inspired him while creating the characters, the setting and the storyline. Many thanks to Louise Phillips and Sarah Woodland from Griffith University for organising the Book Gig, thanks to Tristan Bancks for being so engaging and especially thanks to Sophie, Amy, Brian, Gretchen, Pene and Danielle the Griffith University Applied Theatre students for all your hard work in making the Book Gig so successful .
Book Gig 2008
Jackie French's *A Rose for the Anzac Boys* (HarperCollins) was presented as part of the 2008 Brisbane Writers Festival on Wednesday 17th & Thursday 18th September The gig was held in The Edge, State Library of Queensland. This is a World War 1 story told from the perspective of Midge - a sixteen-year-old girl. It's a story in the voice of the people referred to by the author as the 'lost army' - the volunteer women who fed, transported and cared for the troops.

Dramatisation of this confronting novel (suitable for high school readers), performed by the Applied Theatre students from the Mt Gravatt campus of Griffith University, interpreted and critiqued Midge's experiences of World War 1. Then moderator, Lyn Linning invited the student audience to question and comment on the performers' interpretations. Click here for photos ...

Special thanks to HarperCollins for permission to reproduce the front cover of A Rose for the Anzac Boys

Book Gigs provide the opportunity to delve more deeply into the drama and creativity of reading and writing. They feature dramatic or humorous performances based on a new book, plus a talk by the author and/or illustrator.

Storytelling Performance

The actors read the book and develop their own script in response to the story. Participants are the actors, audience, author, and moderator.

The audience shares in the excitement and pleasure of the story and the story-making by asking questions of the author and actors.

Undercover Stories

Undercover Stories DVD Book Links Qld’s exciting project Undercover Stories funded by Arts Qld, showcases the creative writing and illustrating of five prominent Queensland children's and young adult's book creators who have featured Queensland settings or issues in their books.

The writers and illustrators are Michael Gerard Bauer, David Cox, Fiona Doyle, James Moloney and Narelle Oliver. The DVD is a great resource for librarians, teachers, students and community members keen to learn something more about the creative processes integral to book production.

Project coordinator and digital storyteller, Daryll Bellingham, worked with the writers and illustrators to create the digital stories (3 to 5 minute movies) which feature on the DVD.

The DVD also depicts other processes essential to the development of publications eg research, editing and book production (printing, binding etc).

Lesley Reece, director of the Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre, launched ‘Undercover Stories’ at the Ipswich Festival of Children’s Literature in September 2007.

To order, click the button to download the order form in PDF file format (152 KB)