Kids TV legends reunite for rare snap 23 years after hit 90s show and musical spin-off
AN AUSTRALIAN children's TV show is back with a bang - decades after being a hit on the small screen.
The beloved Aussie show - which revolved around a single father Tony Twist, twins Linda and Pete, 14, and little brother, Bronson, 7, - quickly became a staple watch.
The 90s kids' classic Round the Twist, based on the family who lived in a lighthouse - has been turned into a new stage musical based on the much-loved 1980s TV show.
Stars of the retro series reunited at Brisbane’s QPAC to mark the new stage performance including the three ‘Lindas’; Tamsin West, Joelene Crnogorac and Ebonnie Masini.
Former Bronson Twist star Jeffrey Walker, who joined the show in the second season in 1993, joined in the celebration of the musical.
The former actor went onto direct movies Riot, Lambs of God and nine episodes of Modern Family.
Read more on TV
Jeffrey's directorial journey began in the mid-2000s with episodes of the long-running Australian soap opera, Neighbours.
He has since directed multiple episodes Modern Family, as well as The Big Bang Theory spin-off, Young Sheldon.
The musical is headed up by Paul Hodge and based on the series created by author Paul Jennings.
The weird and wonderful musical is directed by Simon Phillips and produced by RGM’s co founder Garry McQuinn (Priscilla Queen of the Desert).
Most read in Drama
Round the Twist: The Musical premiered Down Under and plays until December 8th.
Trio Tamsin West, Joelene Crnogorac, Ebonnie Masini - all played Linda as the show recast the character three times.
Tamsin, 50, appeared on one season as Linda Twist and sang the iconic Round The Twist theme tune. After a brief stint on Ramsey Street, she quit acting in 1995.
Joelene Crnogorac, 45, was Linda 2.0 in the second season, but left shortly after.
She went onto star alongside a young Hugh Jackman and Guy Pearce in Snowy River: The McGregor Saga, plus Aussie dramas Ocean Girl, Blue Heelers and Neighbours.
The third and final Linda Twist was played by Ebonnie Masini, 40, for seasons three and four. She went onto appear in Blue Heelers and Shock Jock.
The former actor is now a fashion designer and launched a label, Masini.
The award-winning TV show became a global sensation that was picked up from Sweden to Sri Lanka.
Hodge said about creating the stage show: “I didn’t realise when I started writing it how well known it is outside of Australia.
“It was probably even bigger in the UK than it is in Australia. It premiered on the BBC first, because Channel Seven was dragging their feet about airing it – so the BBC had already aired it, and was already asking for a second season, before Australia had even seen it.”
READ MORE SUN STORIES
In each episode, the kids encountered all sorts of the surreal and supernatural, from a tree spirit that impregnates whoever urinates on its tree, to a magical chapstick that makes every woman fall under your love spell.
Round the Twist had four seasons, the first two airing between 1989 and 1993, and the latter from 2000 to 2001.
