Round the Twist | |
---|---|
Created by | Paul Jennings |
Developed by | Australian Children's Television Foundation |
Directed by | Esben Storm |
Starring | See Cast section below. |
Opening theme |
Round The Twist lyrics and music by Andrew Duffield sung by Tamsin West |
Ending theme |
Round The Twist lyrics and music by Andrew Duffield sung by Tamsin West |
Country of origin | Australia |
No. of seasons | 4 |
No. of episodes | 52 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Patricia Edgar |
Running time | 25 mins |
Production company(s) | Australian Children's Television Foundation |
Release | |
Original network |
Seven Network (1989) ABC (1992-2001) |
Picture format | 4:3 |
Original release | April 4, 1989 – May 2, 2001 |
External links | |
Website |
Round the Twist is an Australian children's fantasy television series about three children and their widowed father who live in a lighthouse and become involved in many bizarre magical adventures.
Only four series were made despite the show having an 11-year run. The first two series were based on fantasy stories written by author Paul Jennings; the latter two were based on a variety of authors' work. Its first series was made in 1989. A second series, with many roles re-cast, was made in 1992. A third series, again re-cast, was made in 2000, followed by a fourth (with some roles again re-cast) in 2001.
The show's distinctive theme song, with the lyrics "have you ever... ever felt like this?" was sung by Tamsin West, who played the lead female role of Linda Twist in the first series. It borrowed lines from popular nursery rhymes such as "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly", "Humpty Dumpty" and "Rain Rain Go Away".
Making a show about children which spanned more than a decade meant many changes in actors were required, as the child actors became too old for their parts. Overall, three sets of children (the Twists, the Gribbles and Fiona) were cast. Additionally, most of the major adult roles were recast at least once: overall, there were two Tonys, two Nells, three Fays, two Mr Snappers, two Harold Gribbles, and three Matron Gribbles across the series' run.
Before gaining fame in the series Ocean Girl, Marzena Godecki made a cameo appearance in season 2 as the character credited as "Beautiful Girl".
The show revolves around the four members of the Twist family:
Characters who appear briefly in each episode of a series:
Four seasons of Round the Twist have been made, each comprising thirteen episodes. Although each episode has a self-contained plot each series has a recurring theme, usually an object or character which appears briefly in every episode. This gradually develops the theme until the final episode of each season in which it is explained and resolved.