Bank of Scotland Children's International Theatre Festival 2007
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This is the UK's largest performing arts festival for children and young people. This year it took place from Saturday 19 May until Monday 28 May in Edinburgh before embarking on a Scottish tour until June. |
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‘Edinburgh’s annual Children’s International Theatre Festival has a reputation which would stand comparison with its illustrious cousin, the Edinburgh International Festival.’
Daily Telegraph |
The Festival
Grid Iron - Once Upon a Dragon
Catherine Wheels - Hansel and Gretel
International Work
Feedback from teachers
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'The Children's International Theatre Festival has established itself as an indispensable part of the Scottish and international theatre scene.'
The Scotsman |
The festival is directed by Tony Reekie, of Imaginate - an arts organisation that promotes and develops the performing arts for children and young people in Scotland.
Each year the Festival presents around:
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- 14 Productions from the UK and abroad
- 75 Performances for children aged between 3 and 14 years in theatres and arts centres in Edinburgh, attracting an audience of over 12,500
- Festival Performances on tour throughout Scotland
- Festival Performances in schools in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
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Scottish companies involved in this year's festival included Grid Iron, Catherine Wheels, Heather Fulton, Wee Stories, Puppet State Theatre Company and Visible Fictions. |
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‘There is palpable passion and energy about Reekie’s programming, and the fare on offer this year proves that he has lost neither his enthusiasm nor his judgement’
Sunday Herald |
Grid Iron's fairytale woodland adventure Once Upon A Dragon was the UK premiere of a play written by Pauline Mol from an idea by Moniek Merkx. It was performed outdoors, in the forest at Cammo Estate, Edinburgh.
'Grid Iron’s site-specific work for adult audiences has been acclaimed worldwide, now they’ve poured their skills into a fabulous treat for children.' - the Herald
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A word of warning: don’t go down to the woods today. Hansel and Gretel have been abandoned by their cold-hearted stepmother and spineless father. They’re all alone, and that forest is so scary and mean and full of ghastly surprises.
Catherine Wheels staged their promenade piece at Brunton Theatre, where the audience follow the abandoned children through the forest and to the witch's house. the show was based on Gill Robertson (Catherine Wheels' artistic director) and NTS's awarding winning Home:East Lothian. |
'It is funny, believable and as vivid as the forest full of creepy children's toys on our journey through the Brunton's main hall. Performed with conviction, the play gives full rein to the archetypal forces that drive this story about our transition into the adult world.' - The Scotsman
The Children's International Theatre festival also attracted companies from counties around the world, inlcuding Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Northern Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland, Belgium and Norway. For Tessa Rennie, General Director of Imaginate, two of the highlights from the international programme were Nada ... Nada! by Aracaladanza from Spain, and The Attic under the Sky by Carte Blanche from Denmark.
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Nada Nada - combined the magic of dance, puppetry and music, spectacular costumes and stunning visual effects, in a feast of seaside imagery that children. The show was a truly magical introduction to dance for the very young. |
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The Attic Under the Sky - a little girl is hiding in a tiny attic, where no one ever comes. It’s full of dusty old boxes and trunks, stuffed with broken toys and all sorts of junk and rubbish. But for the little girl it is a very special place. The Attic Under Sky combined puppetry, animation, mime and music to bring out the child in every member of the audience. |
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Some feedback that Imaginate has collected from schools:
'We were all taken away on a far journey from our serious lives into a suspended and hilarious reality.'
'A wonderfully engaging festival, offering children experiences to be shared with their friends.'
'An excellent performance – all three classes, from the age of 6 to 12, were totally absorbed.'
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