Join 8-year-old Ellen and her trusted crewmembers Neil Armstrong, Yuri Gagarin, Valentina Tereshkova and Laika the space dog on an extraordinary journey, past the edge of the unknown, and onto the surface of the mysterious and dangerous planet, Vitanonan X.
The Valentina has made the leap from stage to sound, with The Rebel Alliance now releasing it as an audiobook. The production, which blends everyday family life with a whimsical journey into outer space, retains its playful charm in this new format. As a listening experience, it captures the imagination in much the same way as a bedtime story, though its humour and the occasional darker detail place it more comfortably in the hands of slightly older children and adults.
The story centres on Ellen, a young girl with her head in the stars. She is fascinated by space, dreaming of figures like Valentina Tereshkova and Yuri Gagarin, and sketching spaceships that soon blur into something more real. Her world, though grounded in a modest home and school life, is filled with extraordinary touches: her mum, who types at super speed after losing a hand to a shark; her dad, who lost an eye in a zoo mishap; and her own boundless imagination, which carries her from the classroom to the far reaches of the cosmos.
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The audiobook unfolds in short, distinct chapters, each often only a few minutes long. This structure works well for listening in small doses. Almost like a collection of mini-adventures that build into a larger story, it makes for an excellent fit for bedtime listening, where the darkness creates an opportunity to let the imagination roam free.
The audio style reflects its theatrical origins. Performances are expressive and energetic, leaning into humour and exaggeration in ways that echo live theatre. Character voices are distinct, with parents, teachers, and space heroes all given their own flair. Music and sound effects are used sparingly but effectively, helping to transport listeners from a family kitchen to a Soviet potato field or the deck of a spacecraft. Rather than layering on complex sound design, the audiobook lets performance drive the atmosphere, which gives it a direct and personal feel.
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Visually, the production is supported by sketches and drawings that appear in a kind of low-frame-rate stop-motion. These illustrations set the mood but change very slowly, sometimes lingering for half a minute while the audio pushes ahead into new scenes. The result can feel slightly disconnected, as the images freeze while the story carries on at its own pace. It is not enough to undermine the listening experience, but it does raise the question of whether the visuals add much beyond what the aural performances already achieve.
For some, the stillness might be a chance to lean into imagination, while for others it may come across as an unnecessary extra layer. The visuals, though not essential, may add an occasional point of focus for those who prefer something to look at. For others, the drawings may feel too static, and the story arguably shines brighter when left to the mind’s eye.
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One of the joys of this story is its playfulness with history and science. We hear Yuri Gagarin wander into a potato field for tea, Neil Armstrong complain about lukewarm water for his brew, and Laika the space dog curl up in a basket aboard Ellen’s dream ship. These figures from space history are brought together with affection, becoming part of Ellen’s creative world rather than distant icons. It keeps the story light, accessible, and entertaining, while still sparking curiosity about the real-life achievements behind the names.
The humour is pitched at different levels. Children will enjoy the silliness of a father embarrassing his daughter by pretending to be cool at the wheel, or the jokes about lions and sharks. Adults, meanwhile, will smile at the satire woven into news broadcasts about trillionaires launching fast-food chains into space, or the wry comments about office life and management reports. It attempts to keep both audiences engaged, which is not an easy balance to strike across such a wide age range.
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Where the story stands out most is in its willingness to fold moments of absurdity alongside darker notes. Ellen’s parents’ missing body parts are mentioned casually, but they hint at real danger beneath the humour. Space itself is both wondrous and perilous; the story dips into the frightening, and it acknowledges both the fun and danger that comes with an adventure.
What remains clear is that the production’s heart lies in celebrating imagination and curiosity. Ellen’s dreamlike encounters with space pioneers capture the way children stitch together scraps of history, fantasy, and family into stories that make sense of their world. In that sense, the audiobook is less about outer space and more about the resilience and creativity needed to dream big, even in the face of everyday limitations.
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The Valentina is a warm, funny, and sometimes poignant listen. It invites families to journey together into a world where the kitchen table might sit next to a rocket launch pad, and where history’s great explorers drop by for tea. It may not be perfect, but it is full of charm, and it reminds us that the best adventures often begin with nothing more than a story told in the dark.
The Rebel Alliance have adapted their award-winning family play The Valentina into an illustrated audiobook, designed to be enjoyed online as part of We the Young, a brand new Auckland Live arts festival.
6 months access to the La Valentina illustrated audiobook is available for purchase until September 28 here