The Mysterious Vanishment of Pobby and Dingan (2012,2016)

About the show

The play is based on Ben Rice’s acclaimed debut novel POBBY AND DINGAN about how one boy's mission to save his family unites an outback opal-mining community. It is a funny and heartbreaking story about love, loyalty and the enduring power of hopes and dreams.

Pobby and Dingan are Kellyanne’s best friends, maybe her only friends. Her brother Ashmol hates them. They’re invisible and they make her act weird. And it’s no fun having a fruitloop for a sister.

Then Pobby and Dingan go missing and Kellyanne becomes sick with anxiety. It’s up to Ashmol to find them before she fades away completely, but where do you start looking for something you can’t even see? 

This enchanting play is at once a beautifully rendered narrative of childhood loss and a powerfully simple fable about the importance of imagination. 

After a long wait for a licence to adapt the novel, Travelling Light were finally able to create their own magical version of the story in 2012. The show toured for 10 weeks to schools, theatres and community venues from London to Plymouth and all points in between. It had a rapturous response from the press:

• a delightful story with a huge heart  ****The Public Reviews
• a gleaming opalescent gem of entertainment packed into just one hour of absorbing storytelling   Listomania
• there are so many moments to love about this play   ****The Good Review

..and also from the adults and children who saw it:

• Fabulous, moving performance by the whole cast. Unforgettable!
• There is just no words how beautiful it all was. Many thanks for brightening our lives
• Superbly crafted with universal themes, the students were truly inspired!
• I liked when you showed the stars at the end, however it was really sad when the funeral, but the show was BRILLIANT!!!!!!!
• It was awesome you made Poppy cry

In 2016 we partnered with LibrariesWest to adapt the show specifically to perform in libraries. It toured to over 30 libraries in the South West throughout the autumn and in other parts of the country too.

Age Range

Adults and children aged 9+

Meet the cast

• 

  Joe Hall

  Ashmol (2016

• 

  Vic Llewellyn

  Ashmol (2012)

• 

  Peta Maurice

  Kellyanne (2016)

• 

  Ron Phelan

  Musician (2012, 2016)

• 

  Jordan Whyte

  Kellyanne (2012)

The creative team

• Finegan Kruckemeyer

  Writer

• Craig Edwards

  Director

• Sarah Moody

  Composer

• Philippa Thomas

  Designer

Resources

Below are four activity sheets based on 'The Mysterious Vanishment of Pobby and Dingan' that you can download and have a go at.  They are just some fun activities - perfect for young people on a rainy day, on a long train ride or just for some creative, imaginative fun!  If you're really proud of your work why not send it to us so we can have a look and even show it off on your behalf!

• Education Pack
• Activity Sheet 1: Design your own 'Missing' poster
• Activity Sheet 2: Do the Pobby and Dingan Word Search
• Activity Sheet 3: Draw an Imaginary Friend
• Activity Sheet 4: Write your own story
• Touring Programme