IT is well known that working with children can be a challenge but a young local director has taken that all in his stride.
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He needed to, as his latest play has a cast of up to 39 young people.
But Jerry Ray knew that from the outset; as he based his second production on the 1957 novel by Italo Calvino, The Baron in the Trees, and adapted it to suit the stage.
Well-known in Italian literature circles, The Baron in the Trees tells of a 12-year-old boy named Cosimo Piovasco di Rondo who decides to spend the rest of his life up in the tree tops.
He escapes his life as the future baron of Ombrosa, along with his family - a bizarre group of nobles.
Cosimo lives the rest of life out up in the trees, falling in love with Viola, getting into fights and befriending famous brigands.
Set in the 1700s, the story is full of adventure and excitement as Cosimo encounters an array of vibrant characters.
Ray said the cast was made up of eight- to 18-year-olds from Hunter Drama, who play both the younger and older versions of the characters as they age throughout the production.
He said he had been impressed by the work ethic of the cast, despite their age.
"Most of them have worked in productions before and come to set with a professional attitude," he said.
■ The Baron in the Trees is on at the Civic Playhouse April 15 to 18. Tickets are on sale through civictheatrenewcastle.com.au or by phoning 4929 1977.