I recently spoke to Teo Gerbet who will be visiting Tasmania soon as part of the Play School Nursery Rhyme Show.
Teo, whose name denotes both German and French heritage with his family settling in South Australia. The Gerbet name means ‘brave with spear’ but for this particular Gerbet it is more a case of brave with crayon or pencil! as Teo travels, bringing the joy of Playschool to children all over Australia. Teo loves Tasmania and especially enjoys driving around the state, spending time in Hobart, Burnie, Devonport and Launceston, and of course visiting the lovely museum that is MONA. Teo has toured with Play School for seven years and has been with the show for 10 years, with 128 episodes under his belt, making him a Play School veteran.
Teo says it is a great privilege to be part of the Play School family that soon will celebrate 50 years and testimony to its pedigree, notes that all the best Australian actors over the years have participated in the show.
This production will see the famous Play School Toy characters take part in nursery rhyme stories with a liberal amount of what Teo says is ‘mucking around’ with the lyrics. Some of the storylines will include a pirate adventure and the prop of a large book will be part of the interactive production as characters leaf through its pages.
When I ask Teo to diplomatically say which toy is his favourite he tells me that since he has spent a lot of time with Little Ted (working with the popular bear in a separate production, ‘Little Ted’s Big Adventure’) and that ‘what happens on the road stays on the road’ he would have to admit their relationship is pretty close.
Teo says the live entertainment aspect of the Play School on the road show with its instant reaction from the children is very important. Children demand honesty and so Teo says the nature of his role on Play School so dependent on that honesty informs his acting in other productions with that same honesty as well as vice versa.
Teo ponders that perhaps fellow playschool presenter Jay Laigia was exaggerating when he said the toys received special treatment on their flights ie having their own seats on the plane. Teo does say that the toys have become an integral part of Australian culture.
You can see Teo and the toys on tour at:
Burnie Fri 24th July – 10:00am
Burnie Town Hall (Burnie Arts & Function Centre), Wilmot Street, Burnie
Devonport Sat 25th July – 10:00am
The Performing Arts Centre Reece High School, Middle Rd, Devonport
Hobart Sun 26 July – 12:00pm; Mon 27 July – 10:00am
Hobart City Hall, 57-63 Macquarie Street, Hobart
Launceston Tue 28th July – 10:00am
Door of Hope, Cnr Glen Dhu St & Heather St, Launceston
Ticketing information …
www.kidspromotions.com.au
Paula Xiberras
