CDP Theatre Producers, Ratburger

A CDP Kids Production

RATBURGER

a play by Maryam Master
based on the bestselling book by David Walliams

Things are not looking good for Zoe…

Her stepmother Sheila is so lazy she gets Zoe to pick her nose for her. The school bully Tina Trotts makes her life a misery – mainly by spitting on her head. And now the evil Burt from Burt’s Burgers is after her pet rat! And guess what he wants to do with it?

The clue is in the title…

The team behind The 13-, 26-, 52-, 78- and 91-Storey Treehouses, Mr Stink and The Midnight Gang bring David Walliams’ screamingly funny Number One bestselling book to life on stage for children 6+ and their families.

Age recommendation: 6+ and their adults
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes, no interval

Illustrations © Tony Ross 2014 / Lettering of author’s name
© Quentin Blake 2014 / Licensed by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

Jade Fuda – Zoe

Jade Fuda is a Sydney based actor with a Bachelor of Performance from the Australian Academy of Dramatic Arts. She has performed in, directed and collaborated on a number of new plays, films and Theatre in Education related work. In 2018 Jade was accepted into the Stella Adler Art of Acting Studio in Los Angeles where she completed the Film and Television Acting intensive program.

Jade has had the privilege of touring nationally with CDP’s productions of Magic Beach and The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and internationally with The 13-Storey Treehouse (dir. Liesel Badorrek). Jade's recent theatre credits include: Celia/Phebe - As You Like It (Sport for Jove), Benvolio - Romeo and Juliet (Sport for Jove), Sheila the Emu - The Tale of the Great Emu War (Fingerless Theatre), Eve - Paradise Lost (Poetry in Action/Legs on the Wall), Hermia/Starveling - A Midsummer Night's Dream (Sport for Jove) and Stacey in the Australian premiere of Girl Band by Katy Warner.

Nicholas Hiatt - Burt

Originally from Perth, Nicholas is a Sydney based actor and a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).

Selected Theatre Credits include: the national Australian tour of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (CDP/Monkey Baa), the premiere production of Too Human by Michael McStay (NIDA Emerging Artists Festival), Richard III (Scranton Shakespeare Festival, USA), Macbeth (Columbia Stages, NYC), Too Many Elephants in This House! (Parade Theatres), The Chimneysweep (Pinchgut Opera), Kill The PM (Unhappen Theatre Co), Othello, Cloud 9, Osama The Hero and Sunday In The Park With George (NIDA).

On screen he has appeared in the indie feature Milkwater, and several short films including Booth Reading and The Mistress of the Forest, the latter which he wrote and directed, winning Best Film at Short + Sweet Film Festival in Sydney and screening in festivals across the world (including the acclaimed genre film festival FilmQuest).

Mason Maenzanise - Albie

Mason is a vibrant 19-year-old hailing from Zimbabwe. His childhood was spent in the diverse western suburbs of Sydney, where he cultivated his innate talents. Mason is not just a dancer, but a singer and performer who can captivate an audience with his charisma.

He is filled with delight to join the Ratburger tour and is genuinely honoured to be stepping into the shoes of the character Albie. Mason's dedication to his craft led him to the esteemed National Institute of Dramatic Arts, where he received a Diploma in Stage and Screen Performance. This achievement marks a significant milestone in his journey.

Mason's debut in the acting world is none other than this very Ratburger production. His first acting gig, it's a testament to his hard work and determination. This is just the beginning for Mason, and he looks forward to embracing the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in his promising career.

Billie Palin - Tina/Sheila

Originally from Dubbo, Billie began her vocal training at the Macquarie Conservatorium and went on to complete a Bachelor of Music at the Australian Institute of Music.

Billie’s credits include HMS Pinafore (Ralph Rackstraw), Godspell (Jesus) and swing for both Dubbo Championship Wrestling and Jekyll & Hyde for Hayes Theatre Company, The Lovers Workshop for Bell Shakespeare, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (Muriel & Mrs Hatch) for Squabbalogic, A Christmas Carol for Ensemble Theatre, We Are (the end of) The World for Supply Evolution Productions and the national tour of Once (Darlinghurst Theatre Company).

Her powerhouse voice saw Billie crowned the 2019 winner of the Sydney Cabaret Competition with her cabaret From Dubbo to Death.

Christopher Tomkinson – Dad/Mr Grave

Christopher previously appeared for CDP in Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. Recent performances were Venus & Adonis (Sport for Jove), Holding Achilles (Legs on the Wall /Dead Puppet Society), EternityLand (Dancing Giant). Other performances include The Tempest, The Crucible, Cyrano de Bergerac, Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, As You Like It and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Sport for Jove); in Much Ado About Nothing and Actors at Work (Bell Shakespeare); Amy’s View, Juno and the Paycock and Surgeon of Honour (STC); Emily Eyefinger and The Monkey Tale (Monkey Baa); Losing Louis (Ensemble Theatre); The Real Thing (New Theatre); Kindertransport (DTC), The Fairy Queene (Pinchgut Opera); Eureka the Musical (Melbourne Arts Festival).

He recently directed Death of a Salesman for Hearth Theatre, which had seasons in Melbourne and toured regional Victoria and New South Wales.

His camera credits include Puberty Blues, Water Rats and A Country Practice; ABC telemovies Hunger and Princess Kate; the features Slaughtered and Venus and Adonis. Christopher is Carnival Director of Sport for Jove's Shakespeare Carnival - a NSW wide performance opportunity for high school students.

His play, The Orphan’s Orchard, has been published by Cambridge University Press. A graduate of WAAPA, Christopher also studied with Philippe Gaulier and Pantheatre through an ATYP/Lend Lease Scholarship.

Christopher has been a member of Equity since 1985.

We believe in making our shows accessible for children with additional sensory and learning needs.

A visual story for Ratburger will be available soon. Please check back for updates, or email us at info@cdp.com.au for more details.

Accessible performances may be available at some venues. Please check with your local venue for details.