By Mary Alderson
If you know any little ones who want to be on stage some day, here’s the perfect gift for them – Victoria’s Playhouse! It’s an excellent children’s book for those who want to work in theatre some day, whether on stage or at one of the many fascinating behind-the-scenes professions.
Victoria’s Playhouse is about the workaday world at Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia, of course. Written by Maddison Bell who began her career at the Playhouse, it introduces the reader to the creative team (Co-Artistic Directors David Hogan and David Rogers, better known as the Davids) performers, musicians, and all those who handle the details such as lighting, sound, costumes, props, stage management and more.
Maddison Bell not only wrote the book, but she also illustrated it. If you’ve ever visited the VPP (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia), you will recognize everyone in her drawings.
You can order the book online for only $21 and you can add a plush Victoria Doll for just $11. The perfect gift for every theatre kid. Follow this link to Maddison’s website: https://www.maddisonbell.ca/shop The book can also be purchased at the VPP Concession.
Finally, a special thank you goes out to my friend Vicki Stokes who purchased the book for my granddaughter Hazel, who at age 4 is already a theatre kid, loving musicals like A Year with Frog and Toad, and Beauty and the Beast, and now she’s asking about the sequels.
Photos: The cover of Victoria’s Plalyhouse. If you know David Hogan and David Rogers, you will recognize them in this illustration!