Books published by publisher Oberon Books

Performing children have a very special existence which sometimes sets them apart from their peers. Parents are often excluded from this world but are expected to support them all the way. There is very little authoritative advice on how to cope and what to expect. This book will help children and their parents navigate their way through all of this: to advise, guide, inform and demystify the wonderful world of live theatre. Packed full of practical advice and information on all aspects of the life of a child actor, it is written by the leading children’s casting director and administrator in the UK, who has worked on many large-scale West End shows including Oliver!, Shrek, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins and Matilda.

Adapted for The National Theatre by Carl Heap This is the latest in the Primary Classics series produced by the National Theatre's Discover programme which aims to introduce children aged 7-11 to Shakespeare. Carl Heap's adaptation retains the original language but also includes a clear, concise and helpful introduction which will aid readers, teachers and practitioners alike to imagine or produce their own version.

“Men are like yam, you cut them how you like.”Baba Segi has three wives, seven children, and a mansion filled with riches. But now he has his eyes on Bolanle, a young university graduate wise to life’s misfortunes. When Bolanle responds to Baba Segi’s advances, she unwittingly uncovers a secret which threatens to rock his patriarchal household to the core.

If Mrs Tischbein had known the amazing adventures her son Emil would have in Berlin, she'd never have let him go. Emil is excited to be taking the train on his own for the first time. He doesn't like the look of his fellow passenger, the man in the bowler hat. Emil will just have to keep his wits about him and his money in his pocket. But Emil falls asleep and when he wakes up the man in the bowler hat is gone - and so is the money! Emil is determined to get it back. He teams up with a gang of young detectives and so begins a hair-raising chase across Berlin to catch the dirty rotten thief.Erich Kästner was a German author, poet, screenwriter and satirist, known primarily for his humorous, socially astute poetry and children's literature. For the latter contributions he received the biennial,international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1960.Carl Miller was the Artistic Director of the Young People's programme at the Royal Court Theatre from 1997to 1999. Since 2002, he has been the Literary Manager of the Unicorn Theatre. He was textual advisor on Phyllida Lloyd's production of Webster's The Duchess of Malfi at the National Theatre in 2003."Carl Miller’s savvy adaptation of Erich Kästner’s 1929 adventure story is an enjoyable seasonal offering full of youthful zest... A thrill to see it adapted for the stage." – Evening Standard"A very decent, enjoyable Christmas show which will go down well with families." – The Stage

Using only Charles Dickens’ extraordinary words and a chameleon ensemble of eight actors, Neil Bartlett’s A Christmas Carol brings a boldly theatrical imagination to bear on a classic story.“Gets right to the frozen heart of Dickens’ classic Christmas tale . . . one of those rare festive offerings for which no adult will need the excuse of a child in tow.”—The Guardian

Quantick interviews some of the best writers in a variety of fields to provide a detailed overview for living as a writer on a daily, practical level. This book examines every aspect of a writer's life, and includes advice and anecdotes from agents, publishers, comedy writers, best-selling authors, and popular columnists to help you become the writer you want to be.

Emily is sixteen. She lives with her dad and works in a junk shop with no customers. She’s got a nose like a white strawberry, hair like a demented angel and a terrible, terrible secret… Adolescence, sexuality and guilt come together in this richly theatrical, macabre and often hilarious play about an ordinary life going badly wrong…Stealing Sweets and Punching People was produced at the Latchmere Theatre, London, in October 2003.

King Hildebrand is off to war - again. He commands his three daughters not to enter a locked room in the palace. Naturally they do, and in it find the Book of Fate, which announces that two of them will marry handsome Kings, while the third, Flora, must wed a fat pig from the North.Drawing on Romanian and Norwegian folk tales with their origins in the myth of Cupid and Psyche, Alasdair Middleton weaves a fantastic musical story from traditional materials and takes us from palace to pigsty via the darkest corners of the universe in search of Flora's destiny.Funny and tender, miraculous and ridiculous, The Enchanted Pig moves heaven and earth for the sake of love and proves that even the best of men can be pigs. Some of the time. The Enchanted Pig opened at the Young Vic Theatre, London, in December 2006, with music by Jonathan Dove.

Alex wants Grandad home from hospital for Christmas, so he makes a foolish wish. In spite of Cat's warnings, he asks his favourite computer game character to come and help. But when The Warrior steps out of the screen, with a large sword and a lot of attitude, Alex begins to wonder what he's let himself in for.The Warrior's deadly enemies, the Skarg, soon follow, trying to fit in as human beings in a world they don't really understand. Alex and Cat struggle to keep The Warrior under control as they head through the winter streets to rescue Grandad, defeat the Skarg, conquer Karaoke and explain carol singing, all on one hectic and exciting adventure. Alex and the Warrior is a quest full of magic and danger, music and laughter: Dickens meets The Terminator in this modern fairytale for all the family.