Just Imaginate …

‘Children’s theatre is not just for Christmas!’ says new Imaginate Festival Director

Tickets for the Edinburgh’s International Children’s Festival, which runs from 28 May to 5 June 2016, are now on sale to the public with popular shows expected to sell out quickly.

The festival celebrates the innovative and wonderful world of children’s theatre and dance, and showcases 14 shows from 9 countries. The Festival Director has travelled the world to select the best shows for young people and bring them to Edinburgh for a 9 day extravaganza that will delight the young and young at heart.

All shows add their own wonderful character and zest and have been specifically created for children to give the perfect mix of excitement, innovation and fun. A friendly forest creature going on an adventure, a lonely man who befriends a dog, stunning dancers on stilts with giant wings, a retelling of Scotland’s history, a magic show with a twist… there’ll be something for every taste.

And for the first time this year, the festival  funded by Creative Scotland opens with a Family Fringe weekend at the National Museum of Scotland, with performances and free drop-in activities all day including live music, walk-about with performers, storytelling, hands-on arts activities and more – perfect for 0-12 year olds. If you’ve never been to the festival, the Family Fringe is the perfect way to give it a try.

Incoming Imaginate Festival Director Noel Jordan said: “This year’s festival, and my first as festival director, offers a feast of international performances for all ages and tastes, hand-picked by outgoing festival director Tony Reekie. Scotland has a great tradition of pantos, but we shouldn’t confine family theatre outings to Christmas. In fact this is only one end of the spectre.  Dedicated artists are creating stunning and adventurous works that the Festival aims to showcase.

“Children have huge emotional and intellectual capacities and their ability to connect with really complex stories and artistic concepts is incredible. Imaginate Festival’s role is to feed audiences hungry for great theatre and dance that’s deeply engaging and beautifully presented.”

One of the highlights of this year’s festival will be a high-energy dance duet about friendship, specially commissioned by Imaginate with support from Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund. The show will be touring to Shetland, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Lothian and Glasgow and help spread the festival magic to children across Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, said: “Edinburgh is known as a world-leader in festivals and the Imaginate Festival has played a significant role in securing our international reputation for children and young people’s theatre. This year’s programme will continue this hard work by bringing high-quality storytelling from around the world to our doorstep in what I’m sure will be an exciting nine days for both children and adults alike.

“The Scottish Government is proud to continue to support the Imaginate Festival, and Edinburgh’s Festivals, through the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, to showcase Scottish-based artists who consistently create work of a world class standard.  I am thrilled that children across Scotland will get to experience this wonderful high-energy dance show as it tours the country.”

Laura Mackenzie-Stuart, Head of Theatre at Creative Scotland, said: “At 27 years young, this year’s Imaginate programme continues to reach new audiences by taking the festival out and about.  The Family Fringe at the National Museum of Scotland is a tremendous opportunity to offer taster sessions and for the team to sprinkle their festival magic over a new generation of festival goers. We welcome Noel Jordan whose international experience will ensure that the very best work continues to be seen in Scotland.”