Tulloch, Richard 1949- (Richard George Tulloch)

Personal

Born September 1, 1949, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; son of Ian Mitchell (a doctor) and Cecily Muriel (a social worker) Tulloch; married Agnes Blaauw (a drug and alcohol counselor), October, 1977; children: Telma, Bram. Education: Melbourne University, B.A., 1972, LL.B., Dip.Ed., 1973.

Addresses

Home—Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Amsterdam, Netherlands. Agent—Cameron's Management, 163 Brougham St., Woolloomooloo, New South Wales 2011, Australia.

Career

Actor, director, teacher, and writer. Freelance actor and musician in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and Europe, 1975-78; National Theatre, Perth, Western Australia, Australia, associate director, 1979-80; Toe Truck Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, artistic director, 1981-83; freelance actor, theater director, and writer, 1984—. Teacher of children and adults at Center Europeen d'Ecriture Audiovisuelle, Paris, France, and at University of New South Wales, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand; Unitec, New Zealand; and Australian Film, Television, and Radio School.

Member

International Theatre Institute (member, Australian committee, 1990-92), Australian Writers Guild (member, management committee, 1990-92), Actors Equity (Australia).

Awards, Honors

Australian Writers Guild AWGIE awards, for stage adaptations of Hating Alison Ashley and Talking to Grandma While the World Goes By, both 1988, and for Body and Soul; Annie Award nomination for best screenplay, for Ferngully II: The Magical Rescue; Kids Own Australian Literature Award nominations, for Danny in the Toybox, Being Bad for the Babysitter, and Barry the Burglar, and shortlist, 2001, for Cocky Colin.

Writings

FOR CHILDREN

Stories from Our House, illustrated by Julie Vivas, Cambridge University Press (Cambridge, England), 1987.

Stories from Our Street, illustrated by Vivas, Cambridge University Press (Cambridge, England), 1989.

Rain for Christmas, illustrated by Wayne Harris, Cambridge University Press (Cambridge, England), 1989.

The Strongest Man in Gundiwallanup, illustrated by Sue O'Loughlin, Cambridge University Press (Cambridge, England), 1990.

The Brown Felt Hat, illustrated by Craig Smith, Omnibus Books (Norwood, South Australia, Australia), 1990.

Danny in the Toybox, illustrated by Armin Greder, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1990.

Being Bad for the Babysitter, illustrated by Coral Tulloch, Omnibus Books (Norwood, South Australia, Australia), 1991, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1992.

Barry the Burglar's Last Job, illustrated by Coral Tulloch, Omnibus Books (Norwood, South Australia, Australia), 1992.

Our New Old House, illustrated by Sue O'Loughlin, Macmillan Australia (South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia), 1992.

Barry the Burglar's Big Mistake, illustrated by Coral Tulloch, Omnibus Books (Norwood, South Australia, Australia), 1995.

Wishes and Dreams, illustrated by Kris Wyld, Random House (New York, NY), 1996.

Mr. Biffy's Battle, illustrated by Andrew McLean, Puffin (Ringwood, Victoria, Australia), 1997.

Parpity-Parp!: A Road Safety Book, illustrated by Fiona Quigley, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1997.

Scruffy's Way Home, illustrated by Craig Smith, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1997.

Dorothy's Garden, illustrated by Peter Townsend, Golden Press (Pymble, New South Wales, Australia), 1998.

Cocky Colin, illustrated by Stephen Axelsen, Omnibus Books (Norwood, South Australia, Australia), 1999.

Mixy's Mixed-up Rhymes, illustrated by Jonathan Bentley, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1999.

Rodney's Runaway Nose, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1999.

Luke's Amazing Smell, illustrated by Stephen Axelsen, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 2000.

Tortoise the Hero, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 2000.

Barry the Burglar's Bumper Book, illustrated by Coral Tulloch, Omnibus Books (Norwood, New South Wales, Australia), 2001.

Dash in a Flash, illustrated by Steve Moltzen, Funtastic Publishing (South Oakleigh, Victoria, Australia), 2004.

Noisy Night, illustrated by Steve Moltzen, Funtastic Publishing (South Oakleigh, Victoria, Australia), 2004.

Weird Stuff, illustrated by Shane Nagle, Random House Australia (Milsons Point, New South Wales, Australia), 2004, Walker Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Windy Wash Day, illustrated by Steven Moltzen, Funtastic Publishing (South Oakleigh, Victoria, Australia), 2004.

Awesome Stuff, illustrated by Shane Nagle, Random House Australia (Milson's Point, New South Wales, Australia), 2005.

Freaky Stuff, illustrated by Shane Nagle, Random House Australia (Milson's Point, New South Wales, Australia), 2005, Walker Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Beastly Tales, illustrated by Terry Denton, Random House Australia (Milson's Point, New South Wales, Australia), 2006.

"BANANAS IN PYJAMAS" SERIES; BASED ON THE TELEVISION SERIES

Dr Bananas, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1993.

Magic Carpet, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1993.

Bananas in Pyjamas Storybook, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1994.

Café Rat, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1994.

Pyjama Party: A Bananas in Pyjamas Counting Book, illustrated by Felicity Meyer, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1994.

Wishing Pool, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1994.

Circus Time, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1995.

Play Time, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1995.

Pony Ride, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1995.

(With Simon Hopkinson) Bananas in Pyjamas: Wish Fairies, illustrated by Peter Townsend, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1996.

Magic Mystery, illustrated by Simon Hopkinson, Random House (New York, NY), 1996.

Adventures with Bananas in Pajamas, illustrated by Simon Hopkinson, Random House (New York, NY), 1996.

The Dinner Party, illustrated by Leonie Worthington, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1997.

Space Bananas, illustrated by Leonie Worthington, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1997.

News Bananas, illustrated by Leonie Worthington, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1998.

Banana Zoo, illustrated by Paul Pattie, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1998.

The Bananas and the Beanstalk, illustrated by Paul Pattie, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1999.

Cinder Bananas, illustrated by Paul Pattie, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1999.

Little Red Riding Banana, illustrated by Paul Pattie, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1999.

Banana Farm, illustrated by Paul Pattie, ABC Books (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 2001.

PLAYS

Year 9 Are Animals, Heinemann (Richmond, Victoria, Australia), 1983, published as The Fourth Year Are Animals, [England], 1988.

If We Only Had a Cat, Currency Press (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1985.

Face to Face: Five Australian Plays, Cambridge University Press (Cambridge, England), 1987.

(Adaptor) Moving On (based on the play by Dave Williams), Cambridge University Press (Cambridge, England), 1988.

(Adaptor) Hating Alison Ashley (based on the novel by Robin Klein), Penguin Books (Ringwood, Victoria, Australia), 1988.

(Adaptor) Space Demons (based on the novel by Gillian Rubinstein), Omnibus Books (Norwood, South Australia, Australia), 1990.

The Cocky of Bungaree, illustrated by Peter Tierney, Currency Press (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1990.

Could Do Better, Currency Press (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1992.

(Adaptor) Stage Fright!: Plays Based on the Stories of Paul Jennings, Puffin Books (Ringwood, Victoria, Australia), 1996.

(Adaptor) Midnight (based on the novel by Randolph Stow), Penguin (Ringwood, Victoria, Australia), 1997.

Body and Soul: A Musical Play, music by Saxon Francis, Currency Press (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), 1998.

OTHER

Letter to Santa (screenplay), Nine Network, 1986.

The Miraculous Mellops (television series), Ten Network, 1991.

Author of television series, including Bananas in Pyjamas, 150 episodes beginning 1991; The Magic Mountain; and Playschool, all for Australian Writers' Guild. Author of screenplays, including of animated film Fern-Gully II: The Magical Rescue. Author of radio plays for Kindergarten. Also author of Talking to Grandma while the World Goes By.

Adaptations

The Bananas in Pyjamas television series was the basis of picture books by other authors, all published by ABC Books for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Sidelights

One of Australia's most popular children's book authors, Richard Tulloch has won over legions of loyal young fans as author of the long-running Bananas in Pyjamas television series, which has aired around the globe. Among the dozens of book he has written for younger children, Danny in the Toy Box, Being Bad for the Babysitter, and Cocky Colin have been honored with awards. Tulloch's books for middle-grade readers, which include Weird Stuff and Freaky Stuff, share the humorously outlandish adventures of likable and sometimes amazing narrator Brian Hobbie. In addition to writing for young people, Tulloch is also an award-winning playwright as well as an actor, director, and storyteller. His many talents have also made him an inspiring educator; Tulloch teaches creative writing at schools both in his native country and elsewhere.

Readers first meet Brian in Weird Stuff, as the young soccer buff gains an inkling that he is someone special. A superstar on the soccer field, Brian is less at home in the classroom … that is, until necessity forces him to borrow a pink rollerball pen from a classmate. The pen,

it turns out, is actually the purloined property of the classmate's romance-novelist mom, and when Brian uses it to complete a science test, his answers gain a certain literary flair. Soon, Brian finds himself in a special class for literary types, where the main attraction is the super-smart girl he has a crush on. His pink pen and newfound writing skill has more practical uses elsewhere, however: he turns it to penning convincing tardy notes for his fellow students. In her School Library Journal review of Weird Stuff, Emily Rodriguez called the book "an interesting premise couched in a contemporary, comical narrative," while a Kirkus Reviews cited the teen's "bemused" narration as well as his "triumphant" creative epiphany: Brian's writing ability turns out to be more talent than magic: he has it no matter what pen he uses.

Brian's adventures continue in Awesome Stuff as hopes of gaining a glance from his intellectual heartthrob make him the only boy enrolled in drama class. The teen's talent for writing excuse notes comes in especially handy here, allowing him to balance the gender scales by strong-arming some class-skipping friends into taking drama class with him. Things continue looking up for Brian when he is cast in the lead of Cyberno, a play written by his favorite author, Lancelot Cummins. Unfortunately, Brian's penchant for written confabulation seems to have a down side when combined with this new role: like the well-known and famously unattractive character Cyrano de Bergerac, on whom Cyberno is based, Brian's real-life nose seems to have enlarged. And like Pinocchio, the growth of Brian's nose seems to be related to his fibbing frequency. Freaky Stuff continues Brian's saga, his further adventures brought to life in quirky line drawings by Shane Nagle.

"I became a writer by accident," Tulloch once told SATA, admitting a similarity to the likeable Brian. "I grew up in the sports-mad city of Melbourne, and although I was a fair student, my main ambition was to play cricket for Australia. By the time I'd been dropped to the school's B cricket team, I'd changed my aim to something more reasonable—playing field hockey in the Olympic Games. I tried hard but never made it.

"During my last couple years at university, I discovered studying law was pretty boring and acting in plays was fantastic fun. Soon after graduating, I found myself working in a small professional theatre company, usually making up our own plays and performing them in theatres, schools, and out on the street….

"A friend became director of the National Theatre in Perth, Western Australia, and offered me a job as an actor there. So I packed up again, this time with a Dutch wife and daughter, as well as the yellow fiddle. Although I loved acting, my writing and directing started to develop during our two-and-a-half years in Perth. I wrote six plays and became associate director of the company.

"In the early 1980s I wrote some short stories for very young children and submitted them to a radio program called Kindergarten. Most of my stories were rejected but enough were accepted to give me some encouragement. My son, Bram, was then about a year old. I tried in these early stories to see things from his point of view. Things which an adult may take little interest in—a line of ants on the kitchen floor, the garbage a dog has pulled from a bin in the street, a broken mug—could be fascinating for a little boy, and gave me ideas for stories.

"A lucky break got me into writing children's books," Tulloch continued. "My daughter told me that one of her friends at school had a mother who was an artist. That mum turned out to be Julie Vivas, who was already one of Australia's most successful illustrators. I was flattered when Julie asked to see the stories I'd written for Kindergarten and even more flattered when she said she'd like to illustrate them for what became my first children's book—Stories from Our House.

"Soon after Stories from Our House was published, I was asked to go and talk about my writing at a school. The children had lots of questions about how I write (and the usual one about how much money I earned) but the most fun we all had was when I read them some of my stories. I discovered the joys of being a story-teller, and now I spend a day or two most weeks doing this work. I learn all my stories by heart, devise simple ways to act them out, and inflict them on audiences in schools, theatres, and libraries. It's a way to combine my twin loves of performing and writing. Perhaps one day I'll find a way to work playing Olympic hockey into the act too!"

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, March, 1990, review of Stories from Our Street, p. 69; July-August, 2006, Loretta Gaffney, review of Weird Stuff, p. 520.

Horn Book, January, 1990, p. 238; July, 1990, pp. 42, 56; spring, 1992, p. 50.

Kirkus Reviews, April 15, 2006, review of Weird Stuff, p. 417.

Magpies, July, 1993, review of Barry the Burglar's Last Job, p. 28; September, 1993, review of Could Do Better, p. 34; March, 1997, review of Mr. Fiffy's Battle, p. 27; May, 1999, review of Cocky Colin, p. 23; November, 2004, Michael Janssen-Gibson, review of Weird Stuff, p. 417; May, 2005, review of Freaky Stuff, p. 39; November, 2006, review of Beastly Tales, p. 23.

Publishers Weekly, July 24, 1987, review of Stories from Our House, p. 186.

Quill & Quire, spring, 1989, review of Stories from Our Street, p. 25.

School Library Journal, February, 1988, Bonnie Wheatley, review of Stories from Our House, p. 66; February, 1992, Liza Bliss, review of Danny in the Toybox, p. 78; August, 2006, Emily Rodriguez, review of Weird Stuff, p. 131.

Times Educational Supplement, May 13, 1988, review of The Fourth Year Are Animals, p. B8; October 6, 1989, Ann Thwaite, review of Stories from Our Street, p. 32.

ONLINE

Random House Australia Web site,http://www.randomhouse.com.au/ (May 2, 2007), "Richard Tulloch."