Latest news with #Children'sFestival
Scotsman
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Theatre reviews: Tongue Twister Shades of Shadows Saria Callas
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Tongue Twister, North Edinburgh Arts Centre ★★★★ Grown Ups, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh ★★★ Shades of Shadows, The Studio, Edinburgh ★★★★ Saria Callas, Oran Mor, Glasgow ★★★ It's Children's Festival time; and at the sparkling new North Edinburgh Arts Centre, one of Scotland's leading makers of theatre for children, Greg Sinclair, is rolling out his latest show Tongue Twister. It's a remarkable show at many levels, both because it uses and reflects on language in ways that international theatre for children often tends to avoid, and because of the lavish, surreal energy of its visual and physical response to that verbal content. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tongue Twister | Imaginate Sinclair begins by telling us that he has been fascinated by tongue twisters ever since since his grandad taught him to say 'She sells sea shells on the sea shore"; and on designer Karen Tennant's luminous stage - backed by two huge sun-like circles in which words occasionally appear - he runs through a series of wild and hilarious visual variations on the theme, rolling around the stage in great frothy layers of sea-blue and white fabric. He goes on to to introduce tongue twisters in a dozen different languages, from Japanese and Swahili to Gaelic, riffing merrily, for example, on images suggested by the French tongue-twister 'dans ta tente ta tante t'attend'. In the end, what Sinclair and his team create is a glorious 50 minute tribute to that wonderful, universal, playful moment when human beings pause in the grown-up business of dealing with the content of language, and begin to amuse themselves by toying with the forms of it. And Tongue Twister not only celebrates that moment, but explodes it into whole episodes of visual and verbal silliness, as wild and surreal as they are funny, and joyfully human. Grown Ups | Imaginate If Greg Sinclair is a children's theatre maker who works by effectively becoming a child for the length of the show, I was also struck by two EICF shows, this week, which invited children to laugh (which they did, most heartily) at the sight of adults making a complete hash of being grown up. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Grown Ups, by the Compagnie Barbarie and Bronks of Belgium, is a slightly overlong but brilliantly staged piece pf slapstick about a team of four grown women failing to cope with a series of mysterious water leaks onto the stage. Shades of Shadows at The Studio, meanwhile - by Tangram Collective of France and Germany - is an exceptionally beautiful and clever shadow-play piece about two women trying to sit down for a cup of tea together, that had the children in the audience chortling with pleasure, for a blissful 45 minutes. Shades of Shadows | Florian Feisel And out beyond the children's festival, this week's Play, Pie and Pint drama came as a harsh reminder of how repressive societies can simply forbid essential forms of play and creativity, including those as basic as singing and dancing. In Sara Amini's powerful but awkwardly structured monologue, Saria Callas, she plays an Iranian woman brought up under the repressive rules of the Islamic Republic, yet as rebellious as any teenage girl, and desperate to become a singer. As an adult, and a single mother in London, she finds that her beloved son has inherited her love of performance, and - like her - wants the freedom to express himself as he is, whatever the cost. And although Saria's story takes a while to reach this crisis-point, there's no doubting the tremendous strength and charisma of Amini's performance, as a woman not only inspired by the greatest singers of both Iranian and European culture, but fully capable of making the same kind of impact on an audience, given half a chance.
AsiaOne
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
What To Do This Weekend (May 30 to June 1), Lifestyle News
Ready for the weekend? Here's what you can look forward to this week. 1. Jurassic World: The Experience Visit Gardens by the Bay's mist-shrouded Cloud Forest for the debut of Jurassic World: The Experience. This immersive event brings to life the cinematic wonder of the Jurassic World film franchise through life-sized animatronic dinosaurs nestled within the iconic cooled conservatory. Surrounded by lush greenery and misty waterfalls, get ready to be transported hundreds of millions of years back in time to an era when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. You can look forward to 13 exciting and interactive zones to explore, with highlights including an awe-inspiring 8.5-metre-tall Brachiosaurus, a hands-on nursery where you can spend time with baby dinosaurs, and a face-to-face moment with the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for tiny Compsognathus, or "Compys", hidden throughout the lush garden pathways. 2. i Light Singapore 2025 i Light Singapore is back to illuminate the city after sunset from now till June 21. Themed "To Gather", this year's festival unites 17 dazzling light installations by local and international artists, with the colour red at the centre of these pieces. You can also look forward to the return of the Gastrobeats Festival alongside the main festival, where you'll embark on a culinary adventure to feast on irresistible flavours ranging from tasty street food to culinary delights, accompanied by the pulsing rhythm of live music performances that keep the energy pumped up all night long. Till June 21. 3. Lilytopia Step in the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay to be surrounded by gorgeous and sweet-scented lilies. Float across the canals of La Serenissima — the "Most Serene", or what Venice was called back in the day — as the heady scent of lilies in full summer bloom transports you to one of the most beautiful places in the world. As you traipse through the narrow cobblestone streets of a charming Italian town, colourful lily breeds like the pink-and-white Lilium 'Mikaela', yellow Lilium 'Beverly Gold', and orange Lilium 'Caddy' line your route. Till June 15. 4. Children's Festival @ GBTB Looking for family-friendly fun to entertain your kids this June holidays? Check out the free Children's Festival at Gardens by the Bay's Supertree Grove. You're invited to immerse yourself in a vibrant, tropical atmosphere as the Supertree Grove transforms into an outdoor festival with interactive installations inspired by Disney's Lilo and Stitch. Your kids can ride a massive Ohana Wave slide, explore a forest-themed inflatable playscape at the Forest of Belonging, embark upon a space-themed mission at Space Adventure to power up as many light beams as they can, and much more. Till June 15. 5. Gallery Children's Biennale The 2025/2026 season of National Gallery Singapore's Gallery Children's Biennale is back from May 31 to March 29, 2026. This season's Biennale is themed "Tomorrow we'll be...", and invites your kids to explore the possibilities of their futures through the values of joy, kindness, dream and love. You can look forward to 8 immersive and multisensory installations by local and international artists, as well as a series of engaging programmes throughout the season like storytelling sessions, dance performances, hands-on workshops, and more. May 31 to March 29, 2026. [[nid:718281]]
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Scotsman
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Scottish circus festival show cancelled after 'performer injury' in 'stunning' aerial display
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A festival circus act described as a 'stunning aerial show' has been cancelled after one of the artists was injured during a performance. The planned three-day run of The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl at the Edinburgh International Children's Festival (EICF) was cancelled at the weekend ahead of the festival's official opening night on Monday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad EICF said the cancellation of the two-person performance by Vee Smith and Sadiq Ali, which features aerial displays in harnesses and modern circus-style performance, was due to 'performer injury'. It is understood Mr Ali had to attend accident-and-emergency (A&E) after an afternoon show in Johnstone on Wednesday last week and has been advised by doctors not to perform. Commissioned by the National Theatre of Scotland, the show was due to run on Monday and Tuesday nights and Wednesday afternoon. The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl was due to be performed this week. | Edinburgh International Children's Festival A statement from the Catherine Wheels Theatre Company and the Edinburgh International Children's Festival said: 'It is with a sad heart that we have had to cancel the performances of The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl at the Children's Festival, due to performer injury. We know this is disappointing news for the artists involved, our audiences and ourselves, but the health of the performer is paramount. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are lucky that the show Grown Ups from Belgium, an absurd tragi-comedy about what happens to grown-ups when children are not looking, is able to step in at the last minute for the opening night of the festival tonight.' The show is also due to be performed during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August, when it will be part of the Made in Scotland showcase. The statement added: 'For those with tickets for the performances, we will be in touch with information on alternative shows or refund options. The Unlikely Friendship is performing at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of Made in Scotland, so an opportunity to see the work will still be possible. We hope to see some of you at the other inspiring and joyous shows taking place at the Children's Festival this week.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Aimed at children aged nine and over, the show tells the story of a girl who wants to be a monster and a boy who wants to fly. The description in the festival's brochure said: 'Exploring the universal yearning to belong and sharing the joy of friendship, this is a dynamic and visually stunning aerial show.' A performance of the same show, due to take place in Glasgow's Tramway as part of Dance International Glasgow, was also cancelled last week, as was a second evening performance in Johnstone Town Hall on Wednesday last week. The hour-long EICF performance was due to be staged at the Assembly Roxy.
STV News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Children step into politicians' shoes for festival performance
It's a political debate like you've never seen before. Young performers have stepped into the shoes of politicians for the day as part of their performance Elections at the Edinburgh International Children's Festival. Performer Reel told STV News: 'It was about kids being politicians and acting all silly with neon colours and fun moustaches and it's about showing what we want. We have a line where we say we should vote because it's our future and we feel like adults are voting for our future even though it's about us but they have more control than we do.' Aimee added: 'It was really fun and we were just looking at how we actually want to change the world and how we can make an impact on that.' STV News Reel enjoyed performing as part of Elections STV News Artistic director Bishop May Down said: 'The young people have such profound views about the world and they are really clued up and I think that's not necessarily appreciated as much by adults, adults think that children can't engage in political conversations and political thinking so I really wanted to challenge that and put them in a place where the power dynamic is a bit flipped and they can say what they want about the world.' It's just one of dozens of performances taking place at the festival – which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. Kicking off the nine-day event is Family Day at the National Museum of Scotland, which featured pop-up performances from swinging aerial artists, resilient mushrooms and party shrimps. Noel Jordan from the festival said: 'The vision of the Children's Festival is to promote theatre and dance for young audiences and to really nurture children's development through access to culture. Whether they come with a school's performance or if they're coming with their families on the weekends or in the evenings, we really want people to appreciate that art for children can be extremely high quality, risk taking, experimental and fun.' The festival will run at locations across the city until June 1. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Gardens by the Bay's Children's Festival has 7m-high slide and Lilo & Stitch-themed play spaces
The Stitch-themed outdoor festival is also the first in the Asia-Pacific region. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Gardens by the Bay's Children's Festival has 7m-high slide and Lilo & Stitch-themed play spaces SINGAPORE – Kids can zip down a 28m-long slide from nearly 7m high, circling one of the world-famous Supertrees. It is among the highlights at Gardens by the Bay's 11th annual Children's Festival from May 24 to June 15, featuring free play activities and installations inspired by Disney's Lilo & Stitch. The live-action movie, which opens in Singapore cinemas on May 22, is a reimagining of the 2002 animated classic of the same name. The Stitch-themed outdoor festival is also the first in the Asia-Pacific region. Stitch, the beloved blue extraterrestrial which helps a lonely Hawaiian girl mend her broken family, will likely feel at home in the Supertree Grove. After all, some visitors have described its other-worldly architectural design as resembling an alien landscape. Kids aged six to 12 can zip down The Great 'Ohana Wave, a 28m-long slide that is nearly 7m high, circling one of the world-famous Supertrees. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI The Great 'Ohana Wave slide, designed for children aged six to 12, was unveiled in an exclusive preview for The Straits Times on May 21. For safety, kids must wear helmets and use round floats to go down the gentle slope. The other three play spaces are open to kids of all ages. In a nod to Stitch's extraterrestrial origins, Space Adventure engages children in a cosmic mission where they navigate swing cars and compete to strike numerous light beams. Seth Wang (left), five, and Aiden Heng, eight, race in swing cars in Space Adventure during ST's exclusive preview of Gardens by the Bay's Lilo & Stitch-themed Children's Festival. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Forest Of Belonging is a forest-themed inflatable where children can uncover hidden messages and the meaning of 'ohana, a Haiwaiian term for family. Finally, Stitch's Mischief Makers offers a beach-themed play area with kinetic sand to encourage children's creativity and sensory development. Kids can look forward to receiving a free activity booklet which complements the installations. Present the completed booklet at the redemption counter to receive a sticker sheet, while stocks last. They can also meet Stitch and snap a photo with the character on June 7 and 8. Sisters Sophia, nine (left), and Sonia Wang, seven, explore the forest-themed inflatable playscape, Forest of Belonging. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Ms May Yeo, assistant chief executive at Gardens by the Bay, said: 'Through play at the thoughtfully curated installations, we hope that kids will receive a deeper appreciation of the true value of friendship and family, and the confidence to be who they truly are – just like in the story (of Lilo & Stitch).' The play spaces close at 7pm daily, but do stay on to catch a special edition of the 15-minute Garden Rhapsody shows, titled The Way To 'Ohana, at 7.45 and 8.45pm. The lights on the Supertrees are programmed to synchronise with music from the 2002 Lilo & Stitch movie soundtrack. Kids can play with kinetic sand at the beach-themed Stitch's Mischief Makers at Gardens by the Bay's Children's Festival. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI And inspired by the film's Pacific setting, there are Plants On The Move! sessions on May 31 and June 14, led by Gardens by the Bay's Hawaii-born plant researcher. Sign your kids up for the free 35-minute programme, which uses storytelling to teach them about plants brought by early settlers from South-east Asia to the central Pacific Islands. Book it/Gardens by the Bay's Children's Festival featuring Disney's Lilo & Stitch Where: Supertree Grove, Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive When: May 24 to June 15, 10am to 9pm daily (play spaces close at 7pm) Admission: Free; separate charges apply for carnival games and selected workshops Info: Get the ST Smart Parenting newsletter for expert advice. Visit the microsite for more
