Imaginate Festival 2014 – one week in May
This year marks an amazing 25 years since the first Imaginate.
Scotland’s international festival of performing arts for children and young people, will run from Monday 5 to Monday 12 May 2014 at venues across Edinburgh and then on tour to venues across Scotland as part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme.
The Imaginate Festival, formerly know as the Scottish International Children’s Festival, began in 1990 and will celebrate this very special anniversary with an equally special programme of fourteen inspiring and entertaining productions from the UK, Europe and Australia.
Joining the party, as always, will be outstanding work produced by Scottish companies:
macrobert and Frozen Charlotte present Too Many Penguins created especially for 1 – 4 year olds. Winner of 2012 Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland for Best Production for Children and Young People;
Starcatchers and Theater o.N. present a small story – eine kleine geschicht, a world of objects and visual storytelling created and performed by Andy Manley and Ania Michaelis (for everyone 2 – 4 years);
The Letter J presents Grandad and Me – the story of a little girl who loses her Grandad. Using original music, choreography and animation inspired by the illustrations of Jon Bishop [AKA The Grey Earl] (for everyone 5 + years);
Barrowland Ballet presents Tiger Tale – a high-octane dance performance about a family whose everyday world is turned upside down when a tiger comes to visit (for everyone 7 +);
Rosalind Sydney presents Up to Speed – a funny, moving and captivating tale about a boy and a girl and what it’s like to be the odd one out (for everyone 8 +). Commissioned by Imaginate and supported through the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund and the City of Edinburgh Council.
From Australia, The Last Great Hunt presents The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer – a heartwarming and beautiful story about love and loss and a remarkable pocket masterpiece of inventions, staging and performance (for everyone 9+);
From Australia and Italy, Compagnia TPO and Insite Arts present Saltbush – Children’s Cheering Carpet – a beautifully crafted interactive journey through the culture and landscape of Aboriginal Australia, celebrated through live dance, music, song and stories (for everyone 4 – 8 years);
From England, Unicorn Theatre presents Not Now Bernard – loved by children, adults and monsters for over thirty years, David McKee’s iconic picture-book is vividly brought to life on stage. (for everyone 2 – 5 years);
From Denmark, Gruppe 38 and Carte Blanche present A True Tale Tale – an extraordinary fairytale set among celestial projections told as you watch in wonder from your hammock below.
From Germany, Theater o.N. presents Cocoon – with few words and live music, Theater o.N. take their very young audience on a journey: from the very beginnings of life, passing through stages of metamorphosis, from dreaming to dancing (for everyone 2 – 5 years);
From the Netherlands, Arch 8 Dance Group presents two extraordinary dance pieces, Tetris – a high-energy performance that begins as a game of interlocking shapes (for everyone 6+) and O Snap – a dance performance about finding your own identity in an overloaded world (for everyone 12 +);
From the Netherlands, Theatergroep Kwatta presents Manxmouse –an adventurous play about a brave mouse without a tail, featuring puppets, animation and music. (for everyone 6 +);
From Norway, Katja Brita Lindeberg presents If Only Rosa Could Do Magic – a charming, funny and slightly bittersweet story about a girl who, some might say, has everything she could ever dream of… (for everyone 5 – 9 years);
And, after previous successful Fringe events, families can join in the fourth Fringe for Families on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May 2014. Free, fun packed and full of variety, this is always a very popular event and takes place in the nooks, crannies and open spaces of the Traverse Café Bar during the Festival weekend.
Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop said:
“Imaginate enriches children’s lives, supports their development and can help them take the first steps towards realising their creative potential. The Festival supports Scotland’s economy and works to promote our nation’s rich culture, heritage and distinct identity on the world stage.
“The Scottish Government is proud to continue to support the Festival via the Expo Fund and will be providing £95,000 towards the Festival’s annual programme of creative development and performance – promoting, developing and celebrating the performing arts for children and young people.”
Janet Archer, CEO, Creative Scotland, said:
“We are delighted to support Imaginate Festival in their 25th year, this year’s programme is full of extraordinary work from Scotland, England, Europe and Australia, there is something to capture the imagination of every child and the child in all of us”
Tony Reekie, Festival Director said:
“Welcome to the 25th Festival. We know it’s a special occasion, but we also know that every year is special and every show must be special for an audience who deserve the very very best. I hope you agree that this year’s Festival is as special as it must be.”