By Steff WillisThursday 5 May 2022TheatreReading Time: 2 minutes
The play is a theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning Australian children’s television series featuring an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm and music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush.
Maneuvered by live actors, larger than life Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and Chilli puppets play out a heartwarming tale in front of an expertly-designed set that brings the iconic aesthetic of Bluey’s Brisbane to life.
The U.S. tour follows on from the first wildly successful tour of the same show, which premiered at Brisbane’s QPAC in December 2020, with 447 performances in 65 venues across Australia, including the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House – making it the first ever kids show to feature at the famous theatre.
‘Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show’ is presented by BBC Studios and Andrew Kay, in association with Windmill Theatre Co, and a full Australian cast and crew will be flown over to perform for the entire tour in the United States.
Source: Darren Thomas.
“After seeing the amazing reaction the show received during its Australia run, we are delighted to bring this standout live theatre show to U.S. audiences,” said director Rosemary Myers of Windmill Theatre Co.
“We know how much love there is out there for Bluey and are thrilled and honored to translate these brilliant characters for the stage and to share this special experience with fans throughout America.”
“U.S. audiences have whole-heartedly embraced Bluey and all its Aussie quirks, and I can’t wait to see their reaction to the live show,” says Kate O’Connor, Head of Licensing and Brands, BBC Studios ANZ.
“Bluey’s Big Play is exceptional, and the fact it has such a talented Aussie team behind it makes even more special. And I must add I’m personally pretty excited for a bin chicken to make its U.S. theatre debut!”
The run follows on from other massive global successes; Bluey is now one of the most recognisable preschool brands in the world, with the series available in over 60 markets and major deals inked with Penguin Random House, Moose Toys, Crayola, Colgate and Hasbro.
The series is the top kids show ever on broadcast TV in Australia, and was Disney Junior’s #1 ratings driver with kids 2-5 last year.1 It also ranked as the #1 most-watched TV series in second quarter of 2021 and a top 3 show every quarter in 2021 across U.S networks.2 In addition, Bluey owned two of the top 10 cable telecasts of the year with kids 2-5.3 Season 3 of Bluey debuted in Australia on ABC Kids in November 2021 and is set to be released globally on Disney channels later this year.
1 Source: NMR Live+7 data (12/28/20-12/26/21), excludes specials, movies, and shorts. Based on 52+ tlcs.
2 Source: NMR Live+7 data ranked on time spent viewing across all TV networks aired on (12/28/20-12/26/21, by Nielsen qtr dates)
3 Source: NMR Live+7 data (12/28/20-12/26/21). Excludes sports.
For more information, visit www.blueylive.com