Following sell-out seasons at the Sydney Opera House and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Hairy Maclary and Friends will be springing off the page next school holidays at a venue near you. Hairy Maclary and Friends is an adaptation of the much-loved Hairy Maclary children's books, by celebrated writer, Lynley Dodd. Out of the gate and off for a walk, went Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy. Anyone with young children will recognize these immortal words instantly as the opening lines of the book Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd. Featuring the characters from the books like Hercules Morse – as big as a horse, Bottomley Potts – covered in spots, Schnitzel von Krumm with the very low tum and Scarface Claw, the toughest tomcat in town.

With music, singing and some of your favourite Hairy Maclary stories, this show is a must-see for the whole family. Lynley Dodd is an internationally celebrated writer for children and has written 20 Hairy Maclary and Friends books. Her stories are known for their humour, imagination and memorable illustrations. She has received numerous awards and in 2002 was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to children’s literature. The production is presented by Scottish company, Nonsense Room Productions.

Bruce Strachan, Artistic Director, says: "We are absolutely delighted to be touring Hairy Maclary in Melbourne and Perth this year. We had a huge success at the Sydney Opera House - and are excited about taking the little dog with the big personality to an even wider audience in 2012." “That pesky ball of black fur, Hairy Maclary, is back in a clever stage show adaptation of Lynley Dodd's much-loved series of books.

The production quickly pulls the kids into Hairy Maclary's world by introducing the pantomime device of asking for the audience's help… finding a number of items Miss Plum has misplaced. Of course, the kids quickly spotted the items as they appear throughout the show, …and each time the theatre erupted into a riot of excited children's voices as they tried to draw the characters' attention to the items.

In true pantomime style the kids were often invited to take part…by hand actions, singing along or making sound effects, so it really was a rich experience for them. My daughter was literally on the edge of her seat at points throughout the performance.” Weekend notes

"Hairy Moments Great Fun for Family" West Australian, Perth

“This is old-school children’s theatre in all the right ways” The List (Edinburgh)

“A vibrant, fun-filled show that cleverly brings Lynley Dodd’s much-loved children’s books to life” Primary Times

“Fans of the storybooks cannot fail to enjoy this performance and every child should see this.”★★★★ One4Review