The Bugalugs Bum Thief

The Bugalugs Bum Thief comes to the Civic Theatre on Tuesday 25 August, a stage production adapted from the book by Australian author Tim Winton. If you've read it, you'll know the premise: the people of Bugalugs wake up to find their bums have vanished, and three locals — Skeeta Anderson, Mick Misery and Billy Marbles — set out to find the thief. The show brings that world to life with storytelling, music and plenty of laughter, and it's recommended for ages 4 to 10.

It's a Tim Winton story, so it's got that particular kind of imaginative, slightly off-kilter humour that works just as well on stage as it does on the page. The production leans into the absurdity of the plot — a whole town losing its bums is a funny enough hook on its own — and builds around the three characters on the hunt. The music is woven in alongside the storytelling, so it's as much about the sound and the energy as it is about the plot.

One thing to keep in mind before you book: the show uses theatrical haze and strobe effects. If you've got kids who are sensitive to flashing lights or fog, that's worth knowing upfront rather than finding out once you're in your seat. It's a production built for a younger crowd, so the whole thing is geared toward the 4-to-10 age bracket.

The Civic Theatre is at 375 Hunter Street, Newcastle, 2300, and the show runs on Tuesday 25 August. If you're taking the kids, it's a mid-week date, so you'll want to plan around the school run. You can find tickets and more details on the Civic's website.