Sydney Children’s Festival
Sydney Children’s Festival finds a new home at the Seymour Centre in 2014 with a week long program of performances, workshops and free activities for kids aged 5-12.
In its inaugural year at the Seymour, the Festival runs from 23-28 September and celebrates artistic excellence and innovation for and by young people. The venue’s diverse theatre spaces, rehearsal studios, expansive foyers and sunny courtyard will all be utilised to provide an immersive arts experience that puts young people in the spotlight.
At the Festival’s core are three high quality theatre works. Direct from New York, the cabaret for kids Still Awake Still! is funny, anarchic musical theatre that delights adults and children alike.
KAPOW! sees three friends become everyday superheroes with acrobatics, clowning and circus, while brand new work Twinkle invites young people to be part of a performance that explores stars, galaxies and the world above through music, script and song. These performances are presented alongside inspiring workshops from Shaun Parker & Company and Australian Theatre for Young People plus collaborative visual arts projects, a silent disco, a touch of magic and a whole lot more.
Says the Seymour Centre’s Artistic Director Tim Jones: “Festivals play an important role in the cultural life of any community. They connect us all with the risky, unusual, exceptional and adventurous arts experiences unlikely to be found at other times of the year. Sydney doesn’t currently have a major arts festival dedicated to young people, so we have tailored an event that offers them the opportunity to imagine out loud and engage in the best the arts has to offer as audience, participants and creators.”
The Seymour’s courtyard will be a hive of activity during Sydney Children’s Festival. The Kazador Circus Tent takes up residence under its leafy trees, and fans of up-close-and-personal theatrics can roll up and find a ringside seat to see daredevil jugglers, awesome acrobats and whipcracking hula hoop stars. It’s also the perfect spot for lunch, with food and drink available on site so families can picnic outdoors. The City of Sydney Lawn Library sets up shelves in the courtyard, offering a great spot to read or relax.
The Festival also welcome St. George Bank on board as a sponsor in 2014 and attendees can expect a few surprises from them throughout the event. With accessible ticket prices, plenty of free stuff and loads of parking and public transport options, Sydney Children’s Festival provides the ideal unique school holiday experience that is enriching, entertaining and loads of fun.
SYDNEY CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL 2014
23-28 September, from 10am
Seymour Centre, Cnr Cleveland St and City Rd, Chippendale
TICKETED PERFORMANCES:
Still Awake Still!
23-27 Sep, 10.30am & 1.30pm
Everest Theatre $22/20* (Groups 4+)
KAPOW!
24-28 Sep, Wed-Sat 1pm & 3pm
Sun 11am & 1pm
Reginald Theatre $22/20* (Groups 4+)
Twinkle
26 & 28 Sep, 4.30pm
York Theatre $22/20* (Groups 4+)
Kazador Circus Tent
23-28 Sep, Various times from 10am
10 x 15 min performances daily
$5 entry per person per show, payable at entrance to tent
WORKSHOPS:
Let’s Dance w/ Shaun Parker & Company
27 & 28 Sep, 10am-4pm (single day workshops)
$30* (limited places available, ages 8-12)
ATYP Theatre Making: Caped Escapdes
22-26 Sep, 9.30am-3.30pm (five day workshop)
$300/$320 (Bookings direct through ATYP: atyp.com.au, limited places available, school years 3-6)
Twinkle Workshop & Performance
25-26 Sep (Thu 10am-2pm: workshop, Fri 1.30pm-5.30pm: performance)
27-28 Sep (Sat 10am-2pm: workshop, Sun 1.30pm-5.30pm: performance)
$30* (limited places available, school years 3-6)
Paper! Tape! Torch! Still Awake Still! Workshop
23-27 Sep
11.45am-12.30pm (5-8 yrs)
2.45pm-4pm (8-12 yrs)
$30* (limited places available, includes a ticket to Still Awake Still!)
FREE ACTIVITIES
Make Your Mark – Mural & Sculpture Workshops
23-28 Sep, 10am-4pm
Disco Au Go-Go (Silent Disco)
23-28 Sep, 10am – 4pm except Fri, 10am-3pm
Hoop Workshop with Heidi Hoops
23-28 Sep, 11am & 1pm
Awesome Animations & Clever Creations (Pine Street Creative Arts Centre Exhibitions)
23-28 Sep, 10am-4pm
City of Sydney Lawn Library
23-28 Sep, 10am-4pm