New online theatre festival for children to stream over half term

Streamed across the region's theatres, libraries, museums and galleries, all the shows are low-cost or pay-what-you-feel

Written by I Love MCR
Last updated 3 years ago
Family & Kids, Theatre

Big Imaginations is a network of arts venues and organisations in the north and beyond dedicated to providing high quality, imaginative and affordable theatre to children and their grown-ups.

They programme and commission work that inspires children, young people and their families to explore the world in different ways, encouraging inquisitiveness and play.

Now, they’re bringing a new online festival of theatre filled with wonder, magic, adventure and stories for children and families over February half term.

Streamed across theatres, libraries, museums and galleries, all the shows in the festival are low-cost or pay-what-you-feel to allow as many people as possible to see amazing theatre from the comfort of their own homes.

#DustShow, by @LauraDockrill @hugowhitenoise, should have opened the day before Lockdown 1. So proud our @Z_arts_mcr co-pro is now being seen on a #digitaltour. It's a joyous show for 4-9s. https://t.co/Lcy1Ggqutg #FantasticForFamilies @LDN_Culture #OnlineTheatre #Family pic.twitter.com/SQ91PJDlDz

— Half Moon Theatre (@HalfMoonTheatre) February 9, 2021

Theatres and venues involved across Greater Manchester include Manchester Libraries, Tameside, Oldham Library and Z-arts, Manchester’s dedicated venue for children, families and friends.

Shows include Curious Investigators, suitable for ages 3 – 7 years and delivered via Zoom, and When We Started Singing, an uplifting short film featuring BSL, storytelling and song.

There’s also Mother Tongue Story Reading, a full day of songs, crafts, music, and videos from multilingual groups to celebrate International Mother Tongue Day streamed via Manchester Libraries, and Land of Nod, a beautiful online sensory storytelling show for ages 0-5 and their families exploring the magic of bedtime and the beauty of children’s imagination.

And kicking off the festival is Drag Queen Story Time, with Auntie Ivory back by popular demand and live-streaming her latest show from Z-arts.

Bringing the world-wide phenomenon that was started by author and activist Michelle Tea in San Francisco with the goals to “inspire a love of reading, while teaching deeper lessons on diversity, self-love and an appreciation of others” to children and families, it’s storytime for children and adults alike.

The festival runs from Saturday 13th February to Sunday 21st February, with low-cost or pay-what-you-feel tickets. Find out more and get tickets here.

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