THE 13-Storey Treehouse finds a new home in York from tomorrow to Sunday when Richard Tulloch’s stage adaptation of Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton’s story plays the Grand Opera House.
Tulloch, whose award-winning stage-writing credits include The Book Of Everything and Bananas In Pyjamas, has created a one-hour play for children aged six to 12 featuring a treehouse replete with bowling alley, secret underground laboratory, self-making beds and marshmallow machine.
Expect magical moments of theatrical wizardry and a truckload of imagination from the seriously funny cast of Ryan Dulieu, Edwin Beats and Elle Wootton, called into action when Andy and Terry forget to write their debut play. Where will they find flying cats, a mermaid, a sea monster, an invasion of monkeys and a giant gorilla? Find out from tomorrow.
Here cast members Ryan Dulieu (who plays Andy), Edwin Beats (Terry) and Elle Wootton (Val) discuss the play and its British tour.
For those who might not know the story, how would you sum it up?
Ryan: “The 13-Storey Treehouse is about a couple of goofballs, Andy and Terry, who turn up at the theatre thinking it’s their first rehearsal, only to find it’s opening night – and they haven’t even started writing the play yet (an actor’s worst nightmare come to life). Luckily Val, the stage manager, reluctantly joins in to help them make it all up as they go along, with the boys causing mayhem along the way.”
Elle: “As you can imagine, a lot of chaos and hilarity ensues.”
Edwin: “It’s an energetic and ridiculously fun show, loosely about imagination and togetherness. There’s music and laughs, and it’s worth coming just to see Val’s characterisation of Bill the Postman.”
How would you describe your characters?
Edwin: “I play Terry, who draws all the pictures in the books. Terry is somewhat goofy and entirely loveable. He is the doer, where Andy is the sayer. He’s not especially good at staying on task, so will often have to pull things together at the last moment.”
Ryan: “I play Andy, Terry’s best (and only) friend, the brains of the two, the one who writes the words (Terry does the scribbles). Andy is the main protagonist of the show, easily likable, very handsome, and incredibly funny.
Elle: “I play Val, a no-nonsense, super-organised, and very professional stage manager. She loves the theatre and wants the audience to have the best experience possible. But there’s more to Val than meets the eye. I really enjoy playing her because she is a character that surprises herself and others.”
Ryan: “I have to say I also absolutely love playing Andy. He has what can only be described as a certain ‘rizz’. He’s energetic and driven, always has big ideas, and works pretty hard to solve some Terry-induced problems. Playing Andy allows me be loud, confident, funny, and unleash my inner bossy-pants. Do I relate to Andy at all? You know, I think I really do!
Edwin: “I like Terry’s childlike wonder, and his abundant enthusiasm. He feels his feelings in a genuine and undiluted way. I relate closely to his distractibility, and the way he struggles with time management.”
Do you have a favourite part of the show?
Ryan: “Normally I say – spoiler alert – the giant gorilla, but at the moment my favourite part is probably the very beginning, where Andy and Terry have absolutely no idea what’s going on, and it almost seems as though there might be no show at all. It’s a thrilling bit of the show to perform, all that excitement and fear of making it up on the spot.
Edwin: “Barky the Barking Dog. There’s a part where Terry gets to watch his favourite TV show, then later on he discovers that he’s won 1st prize in the Barky the Barking Dog drawing competition!”
Elle: “The drawing competition always tickles me too! And I really enjoy Mermaidia.”
In the story, Andy and Terry live in the world’s best treehouse, fitted with a giant catapult, a secret underground laboratory, a tank of man-eating sharks and a marshmallow machine. What would be in your 13-Storey Treehouse?
Ryan: In my treehouse you would use trampolines instead of ladders to get around, there would be a spa-bath-cinema, a reptile-park on the roof (I love lizards and big, friendly snakes) and an automatic sandwich-making robot that would follow me around whenever I was hungry. Also, a ‘Luge’, which is like a go-kart, except there’s no motor and it’s all downhill!”
Edwin: “I’d have a football field and 21 chimpanzees in football boots. A branch that grows wonderful new fruits from your imagination. An enormous ski jump (that’s how you get down from the treehouse). And one level that’s just a very good authentic Mexican restaurant.”
Elle: “Oh my goodness! So many things! So hard to choose! I think I would love a bubble level: a giant room with a constant stream of bubbles, beautifully coloured lights and some great music. I also would love a jungle floor, where the whole space is full of tropical plants and there’s a lagoon to swim in.”
The story must have been tricky to bring to the stage. How does it all work?
Elle: “The magic of theatre! Which is a lot of trial and error in rehearsals, some amazing crew working behind the scenes, and a great team of performers working together with the audience’s imagination too!”
Edwin: “The book explores this idea that Andy and Terry have been goofing around so much that they’ve neglected to make a book for their publisher. In the theatre show, we’re similarly ill-prepared. We use our imaginations and the magic of theatre and make it up as we go along. We rely heavily on Val, the highly proficient and highly professional stage manager to create something out of nothing.”
Ryan: “Without ruining any surprises, it really engages the audience’s imagination! You’ll definitely see all the best bits of the book, and a whole team of clever people help us make it work, using things like puppetry, trick-props, some brilliant technical lighting and sound effects, and some really, very, very good acting of course!”
Ahead of making your UK debut with this show, you have toured Australia and the United States. What was the audience reaction to seeing the book brought to life on stage?
Edwin: “In Australia we’re rock stars. Aussie kids go ballistic when they see Andy and Terry! I remember sneaking onto the stage in near-darkness (before the show begins) and hearing excited whispers of ‘That’s Terry!’ from the audience. The US was great fun too: we had one especially massive audience in Alabama, where the concert hall seats close to 2,000 people!”
Ryan: “Audiences everywhere have been so enthusiastic and appreciative. I think the best thing about different Treehouse audiences around the world is how they all find new and different things they find funny in the show. It’s always surprising doing a show somewhere new and hearing audiences reacting differently to how you think they will.”
Elle: “It’s exciting and interesting to perform to people in different countries because sometimes the sense of humour in each country is different. So, in Australia people will laugh at things that in the US they might not and vice versa.
“But no matter where we go, audiences love the show! I’m looking forward to seeing what people in the UK connect with most in the play.”
Is it important to create theatre specifically for younger audiences?
Ryan: “Creating theatre for young people is one of the most important parts of the performing and theatre world. It opens the way for all of us to fall in love with theatre and live storytelling from a young age and creates pathways for young people to see they can have a career in the arts too.”
Elle: “Young people are the future, we have a lot to learn from them, but we also want to teach them the importance of creativity and connection.
“Theatre gives us a glimpse into another world, a different perspective, a view of someone else’s life, their feelings, and experiences. I think theatre, when done well, can help young people to develop empathy and learn important values, like friendship and respect.
Edwin: “Young people make the best audiences. Grown-ups are sometimes too polite to enjoy themselves, or too distracted by other things in life. Attending a show for young people can be joyous for the kids, and a valuable reminder for adults to exist in the moment.
Ryan: “Some of the best memories I have are being taken to pantomimes as a kid. I think my first show I saw was the Nutcracker ballet.”
Elle: “I loved the theatre when I was younger and was always affected by each performance I saw; I felt transported to another world. Although I did see a very scary rendition of Hansel And Gretel when I was quite young and it really stuck with me. I guess that taught me the strong impact that theatre can have on a young mind.”
Why come to the show?
Elle: “It is a joyful, rambunctious and entertaining ride that will absolutely fly by. You’ll laugh, you’ll get grossed out, you might even have a wee cry! Andy and Terry are a dynamic duo and so much fun to watch.”
Edwin: “I honestly believe it’s the most fun that can be packed into 55 minutes.”
Ryan: “It brings the book to life in such a creative and wonderful way. Whether you’re a die-hard Treehouse fan, or you’ve wandered in off the street and have no idea what a play even is, this show has something for everyone.”
The 13-Storey Treehouse, Grand Opera House, York, tomorrow (8/8/2024) to Sunday, 1pm and 5pm. Box office: atgtickets.com/york