Round the Twist Musical Set for World Premiere in Brisbane

The iconic Australian children’s series Round the Twist is making a leap from screen to stage, with its first-ever musical adaptation premiering in Brisbane next month. Known for its peculiar yet heartwarming tales, Round the Twist tells the adventures of the Twist family—siblings Pete, Linda, and Bronson, along with their single father—who navigate life in a lighthouse along the Victorian coast. The musical adaptation, which features all-original music and lyrics, promises to bring the quirky charm of the series to life on stage.

Originally broadcast in 1990, Round the Twist became a staple of Australian television, captivating audiences with its mix of supernatural events and humorous takes on adolescent life. Each episode saw the Twist children encountering bizarre and otherworldly phenomena, from haunted outhouses to magical objects and wild transformations. The show cleverly addressed the awkwardness of growing up, blending gross-out humor with deeper themes of courage, friendship, and family. This unique mix of the ordinary and the fantastical earned the series a devoted following both in Australia and abroad.

The idea for the musical came to composer Paul Hodge during a 2016 family gathering. Recalling memorable scenes from the show, like Bronson’s bizarre antics, Hodge found inspiration in the peculiar and humorous spirit that defined Round the Twist. Hodge moved swiftly to pitch his vision to the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF), which holds the series rights. After gaining support from the foundation, he received the blessing of the series’ creator, Paul Jennings, setting the project on its course.

Round the Twist, originally based on Jennings’ short stories, is famous for its supernatural themes blended with everyday challenges of adolescence, making it both humorous and relatable. Jennings, one of Australia’s best-loved children’s authors, crafted these stories to resonate with young readers, drawing from his experiences in teaching and literacy development. His unique storytelling approach combined strange and fantastical elements with subtle insights into human emotions and fears, which laid the foundation for the show’s memorable scenes and characters.

The transition from book to screen required creative liberties, with Jennings working closely with TV director Esben Storm to maintain the core of his stories while adapting them for a recurring cast of characters. The series, first broadcast by the BBC before reaching Australian audiences, quickly found international success and achieved cult status, airing in over 150 countries.

For the musical, Hodge and director Simon Phillips chose to focus on the first two seasons, weaving multiple plotlines into a two-hour show. Phillips, known for his stage adaptations of other Australian classics like Muriel’s Wedding and Ladies in Black, teamed up with set designer Renee Mulder and audiovisual designer Craig Wilkinson to create an imaginative blend of physical effects and digital storytelling.

Audiences can look forward to familiar elements from the show, including the iconic theme song by Andrew Duffield, while new musical numbers add fresh dimensions to the beloved series. Set to debut at Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s Playhouse Theatre from November 12 to December 8, Round the Twist The Musical aims to captivate both longtime fans and a new generation, carrying forward Jennings’ legacy of laughter and imaginative storytelling.