Maddigan's Quest

Set in a post-apocalyptic future, Maddigan's Quest follows the circus troupe ‘Maddigan's Fantasia', who come from the last city on the planet, Solis.

Each year, the Fantasia leave Solis to perform and earn a living. But this year they have a secret mission. They must bring back a solar converter to replace the existing converter - the only source of power in Solis - which is failing.

At the centre of the quest is 14-year-old Garland (Rose McIver) - the final member of the Maddigan family line. As the Fantasia is attacked, two mysterious boys, Eden and Timon, appear with their baby sister Jewel.

Garland learns they are from the future, journeying back in time to help the Fantasia. They bring magical powers and a Talisman that must be protected at all costs. But they also bring danger.

Maddigan's Quest (originally titled Maddigan's Fantasia) was created by Margaret Mahy and developed for television by Gavin Strawhan and Rachel Lang. The book Maddigan's Fantasia by Margaret Mahy was published in New Zealand in 2005.

Visually lush and brilliantly entertaining, what this series lacks in circus action it makes up for in stunning special effects and excellent use of location shoots.

Maddigan's Quest's stars include some of NZ's most accomplished actors. The child actors, especially Rose McIver (later to feature in The Lovely Bones) and English actor Jordan Metcalfe give standout performances.

The show screened on CBBC in the UK, and was also aired on TV3 in New Zealand, and Nine Network (Australia). The series has sold internationally to many broadcasters including HDNet in the US, MBC in the Middle East, IETV Israel, LNK Lithuania and Proxima in Bulgaria.

Maddigan's Quest had its world premiere on CBBC in January 2006. The first episode had a promising start with an average audience of 700,000 of which 200,000 viewers were children. Overall, the episode took a 10.1% share amongst children.

At the 2007 New Zealand Screen Awards, Maddigan's Quest won four awards: Best Children's Programme, Contribution to Design, Original Music, Contribution to Sound Design.  It also won the Best Dramatic Presentation - Long Form Award at the 2007 Sir Julius Vogel Awards for New Zealand science fiction and fantasy.

Maddigan's Quest won two Bronze World Medals at the prestigious New York Festival's 2006 Television Programming & Promotion Awards in the categories Youth Programs (Ages 7-12) and Best Art Direction. Maddigan's Quest also received a Finalist Certificate for Best Direction.