The Bad Beginning opens Lemony Snicket’s much-loved series A Series of Unfortunate Events, adapted for the stage by Penelope McNamara and Mandy Gibson.

The tale follows Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, three clever siblings who lose their parents in a fire and must outwit the devious Count Olaf, determined to steal their fortune. This enduring classic, translated worldwide and inspiring both film and Netflix adaptations, comes alive on stage with The Launceston Youth Theatre Ensemble’s(LYTE) Riverside and Queechy Middle Companies, featuring talented performers aged 11–15.