The Road That Wasn't There

It started in the way that all mysteries do… tumbling out of the ordinary...

In New Zealand, there are over 56,000 kilometres of paper roads - streets and towns that were never built - that exist only on surveyors maps… Or do they?

In a small north Canterbury town lives Maggie, an eccentric larger-than-life local old lady. When her son returns home, concerned by her erratic behaviour, Maggie reveals ‘the one story she never told him’.

The Road That Wasn’t There takes the audience on a wild journey, down Maggie’s paper road, exploring what-might-have-beens and the curious relationship between the real and imagined worlds. It is a modern Fairytale rooted in New Zealand folklore - from tāniwha in hot water tanks, to the panthers that roam the Canterbury hills.

First performed by Trick of The Light Theatre in 2012, the play has gone on to National and International tours, to widespread critical acclaim. Playwright Ralph McCubbin Howell describes the show as ‘a story from the twitchy edges of Children’s Literature - a dark work reminiscent of Coraline, Pan’s Labyrinth, or the world of the late (great) Margaret Mary”.

Originally written as a play for two actors and multiple puppets, West Coast Youth Theatre reimagines the text in an original ensemble production - with a cast of 26 young actors (and one puppet!).

Come dream with us.

NOTE - Show is suitable for 7yrs and over.