This heart-warming true story explores the love and connection between a parent and child with delightful, innovative storytelling.

The Smallest Stage is an autobiographical story about love between parent and child by Manjimup writer Kim Crotty, recounting the period of his life in which he was ‘sent down’ for growing cannabis in the UK. 

Whilst serving a two year sentence in Dartmoor prison, Kim discovered that ordinary means of communication with his two sons, then 3 and 5 years old, were heartbreakingly ineffective and became desperate to maintain his relationship with them. Powerless in his real world, he created fictional worlds in order to overcome the divide that separated them. He wrote and illustrated 47 children’s stories for his sons, before being deported back to Australia and reunited with them.

The Smallest Stage explores how some children learn the hard way that parents don’t always get things right, and that even in the most unlikely of places, with love, creativity and a handful of felt-tips, the mistakes that divide us today can bring us closer together tomorrow.

Issues of identity, masculinity, family histories, and what it means to raise boys are examined against the backdrop of commercial cannabis production and incarceration; interspersed with the funny and colourful stories of alternate superheroes that Kim wrote for his sons.

A story for parents and children to share, The Smallest Stage deals with uncomfortable truths and the mistakes parents can sometimes make, and opens the door on having the difficult conversations with our children that can lead to stronger relationships.

“There is so much more in this production than you might expect.” – Kim Crotty

CREDITS

The Company

WRITER / LEAD ARTIST / CO-CREATOR   Kim Crotty
DIRECTOR / DRAMATURG / CO-CREATOR   Matt Edgerton
DESIGNER / CO-CREATOR   Zoë Atkinson
PERFORMER / CO-CREATOR   Ben Mortley
SOUND DESIGNER / COMPOSER   David Richardson
LIGHTING DESIGNER   Paul Parkes
PRODUCER   Fiona de Garis
PRODUCTION MANAGER   Alan Burke
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER   Siobhan Maiden
STAGE MANAGER   Courteney Cooper
ANIMATION WORKSHOP FACILITATOR   Steven Aiton
SUPERFISH SOCK ARTIST   Yvonne Batterham

PRODUCED BY Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre
CO-COMMISSIONED BY Perth Festival

Animation Credits

OWL AND MOUSE   Zoë Atkinson incorporating original artwork by Otto Crotty
ART GALLERY   Steven Aiton using original artwork by Kim Crotty
KISSING GHOST   Zoë Atkinson with mentorship by Steven Aiton
SUPERFISH   Otto Crotty, Arlen Crotty and Matty Zmitko, facilitated by Steven Aiton
CHARCOAL INTERROGATION   Zoë Atkinson

INFORMATION FOR PRESENTERS

The Smallest Stage is available for presentation in Australia.

Please get in touch for more information and to start a conversation.

Fiona de Garis
Producer

08 9792 3111
hello@bunburyentertainment.com