“Wide-Eyed Wonder: The Power of Nature and Art in Early Childhood”
Theatre Direct, a leading creator and innovator in theatre for young audiences, has announced the programming for the 2016 WeeFestival, a theatre and culture festival entirely dedicated to engaging children 0 – 5 years.
From May 16 – 23, 2016, the WeeFestival will feature productions by acclaimed companies specializing in theatre for the very young from Belgium, Scotland, Italy, Germany, Québec, Manitoba and Ontario. Whether for babies and toddlers, preschoolers, or kindergarteners, each show has been created with the emotional and social developmental needs and interests of young children and are presented in intimate venues to ensure every child is close to the action and fully immersed in the experience.
This second edition of the festival features two musical works for babies and toddlers with the immersive and stimulating performance Hup from the pioneering company Starcatchers, (Scotland) and the enchanting Nest from Theater de Spiegel, (Belgium).
La Baracca-Testoni Ragazzi (Italy) and Helios Theatre (Germany), two leading European theatres creating for very young audiences, featured in the inaugural festival in 2014, return with new performances. Helios offers two distinct shows, Traces, an exploration of memory through sand, sights, and sound, and Woodbeat, an epic tale about a brave little creature overcoming large obstacles with puppetry and music. La Baracca-Testoni Ragazzi, brings a beautiful dance/theatre work exploring the magic of light with Under a Different Light.
The festival is proud to feature Urban Indigenous Theatre (Manitoba), a dynamic new company creating and performing work for young people that celebrates First Nations culture with the production of Jumping Mouse. This adaptation of a traditional legend promotes the values of, friendship, courage, and the rewards of persistence.
The 2016 WeeFestival sustains its commitment to strengthening ties with its Québec-based counterparts by featuring two companies from la belle provence. Isabelle Payant of Le Théâtre des Petites Âmes brings her beautiful tale of Pekka, a little turtle on a big journey to audiences of 2 -4 years old, while the artists of Le Chemin qui Marche weave together two stories told through music and puppetry with Tree/Arbre & Inuksuk. Shows by both of these companies will be performed in French or English.
Rounding out the line-up of feature productions in the 2016 WeeFestival is Table Top Tales, a new family show from the Snack Music Collective. In this fun-filled romp into the world of family stories, children and parents are invited to share their stories which are then brought to life through puppetry and an original musical score!
In addition to engaging theatre productions, the festival will offer a range of multi-disciplinary programming designed to engage little ones and their parents including the “Walk, Stop, and Wonder” photography project, nightly “Cozy Concerts” at bedtime at the Theatre Centre, Animez-Vous! a animation and movement program at Alliance Française, a variety of literary events within the Children’s Wonder Garden, playful interactive installation in the Theatre Centre’s Incubator, and an exhibition of the Charter of Children’s Rights to Arts and Culture from La Baracca-Testoni Ragazzi.
Of the festival’s themes, Lynda Hill, Artistic Director of Theatre Direct says:
“Socrates said “Wisdom begins in Wonder” and there are no two forces more capable of invoking wonder in a child than art and nature. Indeed, the wonder and mystery of nature is the central theme for our second edition of the WeeFestival. Stories flowing from a simple piece of wood, forest creatures on epic journeys, a nest filled with song, memories traced in sand, or dreams painted with light, this festival is a week celebrating beautiful art inspired by nature created especially for the very young. We can’t wait to share these theatrical gems with the very youngest of our audiences!”
Venues for the festival include The Theatre Centre (festival HUB), Tarragon Theatre’s Extra Space and studios and the Artscape Wychwood Barns, home of Theatre Direct’s Wychwood Theatre. Additional venues hosting festival activities will be announced soon.
The week will also feature a one-day conference for theatre educators, scholars, creators, and presenters featuring keynote addresses from Ben Fletcher-Watson, a leading researcher of Theatre for Early Years, Rhona Matheson, Chief Executive of Starcatchers, Scotland, and Columpa Bobb, Artistic Director of Urban Indigenous Theatre.
The 2016 WeeFestival will close May 23rd with a full day of performances and activities from Child-focused, community-based organizations at the Artscape Wychwood Barns.
Theatre Direct is pleased to have the generous support of The Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council and the following cultural partners as co-presenters: Istituto Italiano di Cultura for La Baracca Testoni Ragazzi’s production of Under a Different Light; and the Goethe Institut for Helios Theatre’s productions of Woodbeat and Traces.
Additionally, the company would like to recognize the programming sponsorship and support from Koffler Centre of the Arts, Prologue to the Performing Arts, Toronto District School Board, Toronto Public Library, Rainbow Caterpillar, Bureau du Québec, and the festival’s community network partner, the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts.
Additional arts funding to Theatre Direct is received from our Government Arts Councils including the Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts and Toronto Arts Council.
About Theatre Direct
Now entering its 40th year, Theatre Direct Canada is one of the Country’s leading theatres for young audiences whose productions have reached audiences in schools and theatres touring throughout Ontario, across Canada and overseas. Within its theatre and education studios in the Artscape Wychwood Barns, the company’s productions engage students from over 25 local schools while its year-round drama school and community-based education involve over 300 children and their families.
Theatre Direct’s work has been recognized with numerous Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations and have won 6 Dora Mavor Moore Awards for outstanding Production in the TYA category, 10 Chalmers Canadian Play Awards, as well as, the Canada Council Theatre for Young Audiences Prize.
About the WeeFestival
Out of a passionate belief that children in their early years of development should be exposed to aesthetically-rich and stimulating arts artistic experiences, Theatre Direct conceived the WeeFestival of Theatre and Culture for Early Years. The festival launched in 2014, and now returns for its second installment with an exciting line-up of events and performances from internationally celebrated artists.
See more here:
Theatre Direct Announces 2016 WeeFestival of Theatre and Culture for Early Years-