A tiny workshop, a single performer and a story that refuses to stay on the page will take centre stage at Arts Centre Melbourne next April, when Trick of the Light Theatre brings its acclaimed production The Bookbinder to The Show Room.
Running from 23 to 25 April 2026, the one-man show has built a global following thanks to its inventive storytelling and intimate scale. Set inside a bookbinder’s workshop, the performance begins with an old craftsman reading the story of a former apprentice. From there, the tale unfolds beyond the book itself, transforming the space through pop-up books, puppetry and live action.
Writer and performer Ralph McCubbin Howell describes the show as “an epic adventure in miniature”, adding, “Whilst it might at first appear a standard storytelling, it swiftly spirals into something quite unexpected…”
The Bookbinder has travelled far since it was first staged in the back room of a second-hand bookshop. It has since toured internationally, appearing everywhere from the Lincoln Center in New York to the attic of Aotearoa’s oldest bookbindery.
Along the way, it has collected a string of awards including Best Theatre and Best of the Fringe at NZ Fringe, Best Children’s Show at Perth’s Fringe World and the International Excellence Award at Sydney Fringe. Melbourne audiences last saw the show during a sold-out extended run at Melbourne Fringe in 2014.
Blending elements of dark fairytale and theatrical illusion, The Bookbinder has been compared to works like Coraline and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. It is suitable for adults and older children aged eight and up.
Trick of the Light Theatre is based in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand, and is known for creating thoughtful, playful work that connects strongly with contemporary audiences.
Tickets are available via artscentremelbourne.com.au.
