‘The Bookbinder’ brings dark fairytale magic to HOTA this May.
‘The Bookbinder’ brings dark fairytale magic to HOTA this May.
If the feeling of being completely absorbed in a story or the smell and the texture of old books is a treasure you hold dear, HOTA’s upcoming theatre special has your name on it.
‘The Bookbinder’ is landing at Home of the Arts May 2026, and trust us – this is not your average night at the theatre. It’s clever, crafty, a little dark, and utterly unmissable.
This award-winning work from the New Zealand company Trick of the Light Theatre has delighted audiences around the world with its inventive, intimate style.
At its core is a single performer – the old bookbinder and storyteller – who sits in his workshop to share the tale of a former apprentice. As he speaks, the narrative seems to spill from the pages of a book into the theatres around him, unfolding through handcrafted puppetry, shadow play, paper art and music.
The show was first staged in the back room of a second-hand bookshop – New Zealand’s oldest bookbindery – before touring internationally from South Africa to North America, the UK to China, and playing venues as varied as the Lincoln Center in New York. It has earned multiple awards, including ‘Best Theatre’ and ‘Best in the Fringe’ at the NZ Fringe Festival, the ‘International Excellence Award’ at Sydney Fringe and the ‘Children’s Theatre Award’ at Fringe World in Perth.
What audiences encounter isn’t a traditional set heavy with props and scenery, but an intimate workshop full of tools and crafted elements that take on lives of their own.
As the bookbinder tells the story, the performance uses shadow play (light and cut-out figures), paper art, puppets, and music to spin a dark fairytale that leaps off the page and into the three-dimensional.
Though created with both older children and adults in mind, ‘The Bookbinder’ engages the imagination in ways that feel rich, surprising and deeply theatrical. It blends whimsy and mystery – as do many beloved dark fantasy tales – inviting audiences to lean in as stories unfold right before their eyes.
It’s a deceptively simple concept – a workshop, a narrator, an open book – but within that simplicity lies inventive storytelling and thoughtful theatrics that feel as magical as they look.
The performance is just under 60 minutes, making it a perfect theatrical adventure that doesn’t outstay its welcome but leaves you perfectly satisfied, if not wanting just a little more.
‘The Bookbinder’ has been described by reviewers as “a real delight”, with “spell-binding storytelling at its purest and best”.
Whether you’re a dedicated theatre lover, a curious reader, or someone who just wants to experience something beautifully crafted and totally original, ‘The Bookbinder’ at HOTA promises to be an imaginative journey well worth your time.
Book tickets here.
Where: HOTA, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise
When: Wednesday 6th May 10am & 12pm, Thursday 7th May 11am & 6pm, Friday 8th May 11am & 7pm, Saturday 9th May 2pm & 7pm and Sunday 10th May 1pm & 4pm.
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
STORY SPONSORED BY HOTA
