Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left

Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left (TV series)

Company type	Television series
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	1992
Headquarters	Melbourne , Australia
Products	Television series

Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left is a 1985 novel written by Australian author Robin Klein, known for children's literature, which was later transformed into a television series aimed at young audiences.

The narrative depicts an extraterrestrial family escaping to Earth, settling in the modest town of Bellwood. Klein also penned a follow-up book titled Turn Right for Zyrgon.

Plot summary

The setting is the planet Zyrgon, governed by the interstellar authority known as The Law-Enforcers. The plot revolves around Mortimer, who has repeatedly defied the government lottery system. His family is headed by his 12-year-old daughter, X, who endeavors to prevent his incarceration.

Members of the family include Mother, whose interests lie in fashion design and who delegates many tasks to X; the oldest sibling Dovis, a cosmic pilot and poet; and Qwrk, the youngest brother, an eight-year-old prodigy with academic prowess.

X juggles Earthly routines such as attending school while fulfilling her responsibility to safeguard her family. The Zyrgonians possess powers like levitation, shape transformation, and telekinesis. Their home is a dystopian, highly advanced planetoid with a strong inclination toward gambling.

Major themes

A key focus of the novel is the theme of children assuming adult responsibilities prematurely. X experiences significant pressure but ultimately adapts and thrives in her new environment on Earth.

Television series

Produced in 1992 and broadcast between 1994 and 1995, the television adaptation became well-received in Australia and was also shown on CITV and TCC throughout the UK and Europe. Although it has not been released on DVD in English-speaking countries, select episodes were made available on VHS in the UK during the early 1990s.

The series consists of 28 episodes divided into two narrative arcs: the initial arc closely follows the original novel, while the second introduces new storylines, some of which were later incorporated into Turn Right for Zyrgon.

Filming occurred entirely in Melbourne. Interior scenes depicting Zyrgon and the family residence were shot at Crawford Productions' sound-stage; outdoor scenes set in Bellwood were filmed in Williamstown, with the family home's exterior located in Surrey Hills. After production, props and sets were stored but eventually dismantled.

The show was rerun on CITV in the UK from 2007 to 2008. Additionally, a 70-minute compilation comprising the first three episodes was broadcast on WIN Television as part of Christmas programming.

In Germany, the series was issued on DVD under the title Quer Durch die Galaxie und dann Links, available exclusively in German.

Cast

• Lauren Hewett as X
• Kellie Smythe as Jenny
• Che Broadbent as Colin
• Jeffrey Walker as Qwrk
• Bruce Myles as Father
• Jan Friedl as Mother
• Silvia Seidel as Dovis
  • Amanda Douge as Dovis (English Voice)
• Bruce Spence as The Chief
• Kerry Armstrong as Officer Jady
• Paul Kelman as Lox
• Diane Cilento as Principa/Authoritax
• Sandy Gore as Aunt Hecla
• David Argue as Yorp
• Spencer McLaren as Law Enforcer
• Alex Menglet as Mr Hohenhaus

External links

• Crawfords' Official Page
• Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left on IMDB