Our History...
In 1996, two women from opposite parts of the globe came together in a shared vision. Within months of arriving in Vancouver from South Africa, British actress Jane Noble met fellow actress Laurie Brazzill. They immediately established an artistic rapport and also discovered a mutual concern for the staggering literacy statistics in North America. Over 45 million adult North Americans are illiterate.
Jane and Laurie felt they could not make a significant difference to these figures at the adult level, but they could inspire children to read. Their aim was to draw them away from computer games and TV shows and hook children back into the world of the imagination and the magical land of books. And so it was that HOOKED ON BOOKS was born.
Jane & Laurie combined their artistic and educational talents and after much brainstorming, they developed the unique booktrailer format that their company is known for. Similar to a movie trailer, a booktrailer brings to life a brief but imagination tickling excerpt that captures the very essence of a story, its humour and its style, but does not give everything away. Some booktrailers are left as cliff hangers so the children have to read the book to find our what happens!
Since Hooked on Books was created, the company has performed to rave reviews for over 600,000 children throughout western Canada and the Pacific Northwest United States. The company has toured extensively to over 1600 venues, from tiny one roomed schools in the far north to the Festival of Trees at the Tacoma Dome.
Hooked on Books is a full member of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance and Artstarts in Schools.
Nine Hit Shows
Laurie & Jane have written, directed and produced 9 hit shows.
- 1996 ... LEAD ON, READ ON
- 1996 ... MAD, BAD SCIENTISTS
- 1997 ... PAPERBACK POWER
- 1998 ... BOOK CRAZY
- 1999 ... SEE STARS & TICKLE ME PINK
- 2000 ... MICE, MOONS & MUDDY BOONS
- 2001 ... TALL TALES & WACKY WHISKERS
- 2004 ... SHAKE, RATTLE & READ
- 2004 ... BANANA - READ - A - RAMA
Behind The Scenes
Jane and Laurie have also designed & sewn costumes • built props, masks and set • played everything from pigs & paupers to babies, bullies & bees • filed, chiselled, pasted and glued • planned tours, made bookings, designed brochures, drunk wine • liaised with teachers and librarians, attended conferences, drunk more wine • written songs & lyrics, made sandwiches, made repairs • cast & employed over 40 actors • signed autographs, changed tires, made coffee, made repairs • supported charitable arts causes and driven thousands of miles • and they still can’t think of a job they’d rather do.
