Snugglepot and Cuddlepie at Vivid Sydney 2018

May Gibbs' Iconic Snugglepot and Cuddlepie to Light Up Sydney

In celebration of their 100 year anniversary, May Gibbs' iconic and immortal characters, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie and their stalwart companions come to life during Vivid Sydney 2018 on the façade of Customs House, as they journey through the Australian Bush and encounter the weird, the wonderful, and things quite unknown altogether. This whimsical piece will be narrated by renowned Australian film and television actress Noni Hazlehurst AM, Patron of the Australian Children's Laureate, and beloved by Play School devotees far and wide.

The Snugglepot and Cuddlepie light installation will be projected onto the beautiful sandstone exterior of Customs House during Vivid Sydney which runs from Friday 25 May to Saturday 16 June.

2018 commemorates 100 years of May Gibbs' beloved book, Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.

May Gibbs most famous book, Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie was first published in 1918 following her Gumnut Babies series of booklets. It sold out immediately, as did two more printings. The reviews were universally good, including one from Miles Franklin, who bought the complete set of books and showed them to her friends in London.

"We thought what better way to celebrate this anniversary and our Festival's 10th birthday, than to feature May Gibbs' magnificent works in this year's Vivid Sydney Festival," said Destination NSW CEO, and Vivid Sydney Executive Producer, Sandra Chipchase.

"We've had to keep the news secret for quite some time," said CEO Northcott, Kerry Stubbs. "It's great we can shout about it now and we hope it will reinvigorate the appreciation and love of May's beautiful works," she added.

Rob White, CEO Cerebral Palsy Alliance, added "We are very grateful for May's amazing legacy, which continues to provide vital support and benefitting the lives of so many children, and their families living with disability".

May Gibbs' themed products will be available for sale during Vivid Sydney 2018. Proceeds from the sale of these products will support Northcott and Cerebral Palsy Alliance to continue their work to enable people with disability to realise their potential.

Quintessentially Australian, the delightful tales and bush fantasy world of May Gibbs has been a source of continual fascination for generations of children. May's is a world filled with fears and excitement and adventures both extraordinary and everyday. A world peopled with small creatures where the real mixes tantalizingly with the imaginary and provides a window to the magic we all believe still exists in the bush.

Now combined in one edition, The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, features the original tale along with its two sequels, Little Ragged Blossom (1920) and Little Obelia (1921) and has never been out of print.

Born in 1877 in Kent, United Kingdom, May arrived in Australia at the age of four. She drew and painted as a child and went on to study art in Western Australia and in the UK before settling in Sydney as a children's books author and illustrator.

On her passing in 1969 she bequeathed 50% of the copyright of all her works to The Northcott Society and 50% to Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Through her foresight and generosity, proceeds from the sale of May Gibbs products have supported thousands of Australian children with disability and their families.

May Gibbs official website www.maygibbs.org
For more information about Vivid Sydney, head to www.vividsydney.com