Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
Encyclopedia
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie is a series of books written by Australian author May Gibbs
. The books chronicle the adventures of the eponym
ous Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. The central story arc
concerns Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (who are essentially homunculi) and their adventures along with troubles with the villain
s of the story, the “Banksia Men”. The first book
of the series, Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie: Their Wonderful Adventures was published in 1918.
s of the story and are modelled on the appearance of young Eucalyptus
(gum tree) nuts
. The female gumnut babies, however, have their hair, hats and skirts modelled on Eucalyptus flowers.
May Gibbs based some of the characters and scenery on the plants found in the bushland
of Bunbury, Western Australia
, where she played as a child.
The "big bad" Banksia Men are the villain
s of the story and are modelled on the appearance of aged Banksia
"cones", with follicles for eyes and other facial features.
Others are:Snugglepot and Cuddlepie find Ragged Blossom.
composed a ballet
of the same name in 1987, which was produced for television.
recording, Australian classic children's collection, included the story as one of four works of children's literature
.
adapted Snugglepot and Cuddlepie into a musical, which was first performed in 1992.
adapted by John Clarke
and Doug MacLeod, with a book
by Clarke and music
and lyrics
by Alan John
. It premiered at the Theatre Royal on 9 January 2007. Adult actors played the parts of the gumnut babies - Darren Gilshenan (Cuddlepie), Tim Richards (Snugglepot) and Ursula Yovich
(Ragged Blossom).
The story centers on the two characters of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, who befriend a Blossom and search the unknown land of Australia
.
Unlike Combe's musical, the 2007 version is a political satire.
honouring the protagonists or their creator was issued by Australia Post
as part of a set of five commemorating children's books.
. Since then both charitable organisations have been able to use these royalties to further their respective programs helping children and adults with disabilities.
May Gibbs
Cecilia May Gibbs MBE was an Australian children's author, illustrator, and cartoonist. She is best-known for her gumnut babies , and the book Snugglepot and Cuddlepie....
. The books chronicle the adventures of the eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. The central story arc
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
concerns Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (who are essentially homunculi) and their adventures along with troubles with the villain
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
s of the story, the “Banksia Men”. The first book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
of the series, Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie: Their Wonderful Adventures was published in 1918.
Description
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, the gumnut babies, are the protagonistProtagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
s of the story and are modelled on the appearance of young Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
(gum tree) nuts
Nut (fruit)
A nut is a hard-shelled fruit of some plants having an indehiscent seed. While a wide variety of dried seeds and fruits are called nuts in English, only a certain number of them are considered by biologists to be true nuts...
. The female gumnut babies, however, have their hair, hats and skirts modelled on Eucalyptus flowers.
May Gibbs based some of the characters and scenery on the plants found in the bushland
Bushland
Bushland is any area in Australia that is predominantly indigenous flora and fauna.Bushland is the term commonly used by conservation protection groups and other environmental groups as a blanket term for natural vegetation, which may cover any kind of habitat from open shrubby country with few...
of Bunbury, Western Australia
Bunbury, Western Australia
The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
, where she played as a child.
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
s of the story and are modelled on the appearance of aged Banksia
Banksia
Banksia is a genus of around 170 species in the plant family Proteaceae. These Australian wildflowers and popular garden plants are easily recognised by their characteristic flower spikes and fruiting "cones" and heads. When it comes to size, banksias range from prostrate woody shrubs to trees up...
"cones", with follicles for eyes and other facial features.
We came to a grove of Banksia trees and sitting on almost every branch were these ugly little, wicked little men that I discovered and that's how the Banksia Men were thought of.
Books
May Gibbs wrote a number of titles based on her creations. The first publication was in 1918, Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie: their adventures wonderful, and the set of works was first collected in 1949 as, The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, with the cover declaring "Including Little Ragged Blossom and Little Obelia".Others are:Snugglepot and Cuddlepie find Ragged Blossom.
- Little Ragged Blossom and more about Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.
- Little Ophelia and further adventures of ragged Blossom, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.
- Snugglepot and Cuddlepie on Board the Snag/the Original Characters Created By May Gibbs ; Redrawn By Noela Young ; Adapted By David Harris. (1975)
- Snugglepot meets Mr Lizard (1970).
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (ballet)
Richard MillsRichard Mills
Richard John Mills AM, DMus BA Qld, is an Australian conductor and composer. He currently works as Artistic Director of the West Australian Opera and Artistic Consultant with Orchestra Victoria...
composed a ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
of the same name in 1987, which was produced for television.
Australian classic children's collection (spoken word recording)
A spoken wordSpoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
recording, Australian classic children's collection, included the story as one of four works of children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
.
Snugglepot & Cuddlepie - The Musical
Peter CombePeter Combe
Peter Combe is an Australian Children's Entertainer and Musician. He has inspired many popular Australian children's artists, such as the Hooley Dooleys and The Wiggles....
adapted Snugglepot and Cuddlepie into a musical, which was first performed in 1992.
The Adventures of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie and Little Ragged Blossom (musical)
The Adventures of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie and Little Ragged Blossom is a musicalMusical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
adapted by John Clarke
John Clarke (satirist)
John Morrison Clarke is a New Zealand-born Australian comedian, writer, and satirist. He was born in Palmerston North, New Zealand, and has lived in Australia since the late 1970s...
and Doug MacLeod, with a book
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by Clarke and music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
by Alan John
Alan John
Alan John is an Australian composer. He studied music at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1980. His compositions include original music for various plays, films and TV series , and the musical theatre works Jonah Jones, Orlando Rourke, and the musical Snugglepot and...
. It premiered at the Theatre Royal on 9 January 2007. Adult actors played the parts of the gumnut babies - Darren Gilshenan (Cuddlepie), Tim Richards (Snugglepot) and Ursula Yovich
Ursula Yovich
Ursula Yovich is an actress and singer. She received a Helpmann Award in 2007 for her performance in Capricornia and was nominated in 2005 for her performance in The Sapphires...
(Ragged Blossom).
The story centers on the two characters of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, who befriend a Blossom and search the unknown land of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Unlike Combe's musical, the 2007 version is a political satire.
Honours
In 1985 a postage stampPostage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
honouring the protagonists or their creator was issued by Australia Post
Australia Post
Australia Post is the trading name of the Australian Government-owned Australian Postal Corporation .-History:...
as part of a set of five commemorating children's books.
Northcott Disability Services and The Spastic Centre
On the 27th of November 1969 May Gibbs died. On passing she bequeathed royalties of her Snugglepot and Cuddlepie creations jointly to the Northcott Society and The Spastic CentreThe Spastic Centre
The Spastic Centre of New South Wales, Australia has changed its name to Cerebral Palsy Alliance on February 8th 2011.Cerebral Palsy Alliance was founded on 9 December 1944 and commenced operations 30 January 1945. It was founded by a concerned group of 25 parents of children with cerebral palsy...
. Since then both charitable organisations have been able to use these royalties to further their respective programs helping children and adults with disabilities.