“… nothing short of school holiday magic.”
Theatreview, Deborah Rea, April 2026
“Before I walked into the theatre, I was curious as to how, exactly, a monster was going to eat an abstract concept, on stage, in front of a packed audience of children and parents in Circa Two. I was also immensely excited to see the imagination of beloved children’s author and illustrator Ruth Paul brought to life, of which the show does a rollicking job. Between the charismatic cast (Tadhg Mackay, Te KuraHuia Henare-Stewart, and Paul herself), energetic musical numbers (composed by music director and sound designer Charlotte Yates, with lyrics by Paul and Yates), age-appropriate engagement with anxieties about the tech industry, fart jokes, and a moving performance by a mouse Velcroed to a remote-control car, Help! A Monster Ate My Story is wild, whimsical, and completely worth a watch!”
–Regional News, Dani Yourukova, 9 April 2026
HELP! A Monster Ate My Story is my new play for young audiences. With audience help, Lion, Jellyfish, T-Rex and Kiwi join me on stage to overcome the MishMash monster and save their stories. With songs by Charlotte Yates, costumes designed by WoW veteran Fifi Colston and stage direction by Jacqueline Coats the show is a celebration of creativity, imagination and collaboration.
Ruth Paul Picture Books NZ 