Swap Shop is an Australian children's television series that screened on the ABC from 1988. The show features comedy, stories, animation and has musical guests performing original songs. It debuted on 20 June for an initial 12 episodes. A Christmas episode aired on 23 December and the second season began on 1 May 1988.
Contents
Synopsis
Aunt Mimi and George run a shop where things are swapped instead of purchased.
Cast
Melissa Jaffer as Aunt Mimi
Tim McKenzie as George
Cecily Polson
Ernie Dingo
Jade Gatt
John Ewart
Kym Valentine
Laura Vazquez
Liddy Clark as Dot
Paul Chubb
Penny Cook
Stephen Leeder as Mr Bradshaw
Wendy Playfair
Reception
Sian Watkins of the Age said, "The Ideas behind Swap Shop are hardly innovative — Sesame Street has been doing similar things for years — but nevertheless it's light and fun a hint of something comic." Judith Whelan from the Sydney Morning Herald, commenting on tangents from the main story lines, wrote, "It is these extra bits that make the series work." Commenting on the first episode of the second season Jim Schembri of the Age notes, "Most of this episode is congenial but disposable and a bit too down beat."
Soundtrack
An EP (1988) and a record (1989), both titled Swap Shop, were released featuring songs from the show.