Winner of Best Presentation for Children at the 2018 Helpmann Awards 

Saturday 8 September at 11 am and 2 pm

The Melbourne premiere of the children’s classic Emil and the Detectives will captivate audiences both young and old, when the critically acclaimed Adelaide-based theatre company Slingsby comes to the Alexander Theatre on Saturday 8 September.

This delightful, beautifully written and optimistic kid’s own adventure story is a journey of discovery and self-discovery, exploring the value of friendships and learning about trust and taking risks.

Penned in 1929, Erich Kastner’s classic detective novel for children has been transformed into a pacy, gorgeously designed and brilliantly inventive performance.  Internationally renowned for its detailed stagecraft, humour and awe-inspiring theatrical magic, Slingsby reinvents this classic children’s story with contemporary verve and ingenuity.

Our young hero Emil is heading from a rural home to visit family in the big city when something valuable is stolen. She soon meets Gustav and his wily band of child sleuths and they all take on the crowded, cosmopolitan streets of the city in a spirited pursuit of justice. 

Emil and the Detectives is told by two skilled actors immersed in smoke and mirrors, miniature worlds and a cinematic score. Danielle Catanzaritti (Emil) and Nathan O’Keefe (MrGrundeis and everyone else) are exceptional performers who have worked together and separately with State Theatre Company of South Australia, Windmill Theatre and Brink Productions.