Half term – Online Theatre Festival for Children

Big Imaginations is a network of 22 arts venues and organisations dedicated to bringing high quality and affordable theatre to children and their grown-ups. This half term, between Friday 12th February and Sunday 21st February, Big Imaginations is excited to present a new Online Festival of Theatre for children and their families. Filled with wonder, magic, adventure and stories, there are loads of brilliant digital shows to watch!

Streamed across theatres, libraries, museums, and galleries, all the shows in this 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.

Check out what the festival has to offer.

Curious Investigators
Meet “Investigator Toni”, who is stuck at home with nowhere to go – but is still determined to discover something amazing. She needs your help to solve a problem with a home-made marble run. But watch out – there may be a surprising discovery when you do….
This new interactive show made especially for online audiences is sure to ignite your family’s imaginations!
Curious investigators is delivered via Zoom, directly into your home.
Tickets for Curious Investigators are £3 per screen. It is suitable for ages 3 – 7 years.

Wednesday 17th February – Burnley Youth Theatre
Thursday 18th February – Oldham Library
Friday 19th February – Z-arts
Saturday 20th February – Touchstones @ 10.30am and Touchstones @ 1.30pm

Dust

When Little Titch and her scruffy rucksack arrive at the giant, pink house it is not what she expected – a blanket of thick grey dust covers everything in sight, and it is wild and overgrown. Her new home is cold and unwelcoming until she meets Nelly, a flamboyant and loveable hoarder. Together the pair discover they have more in common than they first thought, and that friendship can heal hidden wounds.
Dust will be made available in a password protected Vimeo link, which will be sent to you following your booking. Tickets for the show are pay-what-you-feel. It is suitable for ages 4 – 9.

Saturday 13th – Saturday 20th February – Z-arts
Monday 15th February – Tameside
Thursday 18th February – Theatre Deli

When We Started Singing
An uplifting short film featuring BSL, storytelling and song.
Mr Popple is a kind, elderly man who lives alone with just his pet tortoise, Tommy, for company. When his neighbours suddenly find themselves housebound, he notices their struggles and sets out to share some joy. His acts of kindness transform strangers into friends (and pop stars!) and a community is born. This production has been made specifically as a short film to be broadcast.
Tickets for When We Started Singing are pay-what-you-feel. It is suitable for ages 5+.

Sunday 14th February – Theatre Deli and Z-arts

Land of Nod
Join Nod on his magical journey where his imagination can take him anywhere… deep into the beautiful sea where the colourful fish live or up high into the night sky to play amongst the stars.
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. Inspired by the poem Wynken, Blynken and Nod by Eugene Field.
This show incorporates sensory storytelling and features integrated Makaton.
Land of Nod will be live-streamed via Zoom. Tickets for Land of Nod are £3. It is suitable for ages 0 – 5 years.

Tuesday 16th February – Z-arts
Thursday 18 February – Burnley Youth Theatre
Friday 19th February – Theatre Deli

When Trolls Try to Eat Your Goldfish
In the middle of the night there is a noise – a snuffling and a shuffling and a splintering of wood…. A line of troll-prints leads out the door, across the lawn and into the deep, dark night. When a grotesque gang of greedy trolls steal all the village’s pets (including Nikki’s favourite goldfish, Great Bumbleduke the Third), who is going to come to the poor animals’ rescue?
Armed with only a pen, some paper, and our collective imaginations, Dommy B invites YOU to help save the day!
When Trolls Try to Eat Your Goldfish will be streamed via Zoom. Tickets are £3 per screen.

Monday 15th February – Burnley Youth Theatre
Thursday 18th February – www.horseandbamboo.org/2021/02/08/when-trolls-try-to-steal-your-goldfish-by-dommy-b-thursday-18th-february-11am-2pm-on-zoom/
Saturday 20th February – Z-arts

Drag Queen Story Time
Auntie Ivory is back by popular demand, and live-streaming her latest show from Z-arts to kick off the festival! 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. Storytime for children and adults alike.
Drag Queen Story Time will be streamed via Zoom. Tickets are £3 per screen. Suitable for ages 3+.

Saturday 13th February – Z-arts

Mother Tongue Story Reading
It’s a full day of songs, crafts, music, and videos from multilingual groups to celebrate International Mother Tongue Day!

Monday 15th – Saturday 21st February – Will be streamed via Manchester Libraries