Hooked on Books brings stories to life at St Teresa’s Book Week
The theatrical storytelling experience left learners laughing, gasping, and racing to the library for more.
Imagination took flight and giggles echoed through the corridors of St Teresa’s Junior Primary School on May 19, as pupils immersed themselves in the school’s beloved annual Rosie’s Book Week – a cherished celebration of storytelling, imagination, and the magic of books.
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This year’s festivities were elevated by the much-anticipated arrival of Hooked on Books, a dynamic travelling theatre company with a flair for bringing children’s literature to life. With oversized props, animated expressions, and just the right amount of mischief, the talented cast transformed the school hall into a vibrant world of pirates, robots, and toxic, green-stuff chaos.
From the moment the curtains opened, the young audience was spellbound. Titles like Pirate Pete and His Parrot, Worst Week Ever, Mega Robot Invasion, and Wigglesbottom: The Sports Day Chicken, were brought to life in vivid colour and motion. Each scene was peppered with belly laughs and gasps of delight, but just as the tension reached its peak, the story would stop – right there, mid-drama.
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It’s a clever trick of the trade. By ending each performance on a tantalising cliffhanger, Hooked on Books leaves young readers desperate to know what happens next. It’s a theatrical breadcrumb trail, leading straight to the library.
Fana Maphumulo, from Hooked on Books, reflected on the day with warmth. “The energy at St Teresa’s was electric. These children were so engaged and imaginative. It’s wonderful to see their faces light up when a character leaps off the page and into the room. That’s why we do this. To spark curiosity and a love for reading.”
Beneath the giggles and dramatic pauses, lies something deeply valuable: A reminder that stories are still powerful in an age of constant digital distraction. Through the art of performance, and the lure of an unfinished tale, Rosie’s Book Week reminded everyone that reading remains one of life’s greatest adventures.
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