Since its inception in 1992, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) has provided national leadership in the area of early childhood arts education through its biennial Out of the Box Festival for children eight years and under. For five days from Tuesday 26 June, this year’s Festival is jam packed with in-theatre experiences, workshops, activities and exhibitions.
Highlights of this year’s festival includes: The Arrival – a beautiful production recreated with New Zealand’s Red Leap Theatre Company and Out of the Box, adapted from the award-winning novel by Shaun Tan; Air Play – a large-scale circus-style spectacle that brings to life the very air we breathe; and Our Corka Bubs – an Aboriginal contemporary dance work for babies under two years and their carers.
A new theatre work especially created and commissioned by Out of the Box, Duck is a world premiere adaptation of Janet A. Holmes’ touching book, illustrated by Jonathan Bentley – about the beloved things in our lives, and who we are without them; Slapdash Galaxy – embark on an epic quest across the galaxy with the award-winning Bunk Puppets; King of the Kids features guitar, kazoo and rock n’ roll rhymes; and Madame Lark takes vocal flight with her musical saw.
Other Festival activities include: Dance… Like No One is Watching – featuring giant dance parties; Little Yawar – seeing children from various Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations across Queensland gathering to share and celebrate their culture; and various relaxing and fun Play Spaces.
Out of the Box workshops include: Guru Dudu’s Silent Disco Walking Tours with headphones; and Here I Am Self Portraits celebrates the wonderful diversity in our society. Jarjum Life Museums curated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children provides an intimate, funny and honest view into the lives, experiences, ideas and dreams of these young people today.
The Out of the Box program is designed for people to create an itinerary of connected experiences offering tailored engagement and learning opportunities for children and their families. The new Day Pass provides access to Festival performances, workshops and activities where participants can plan and enjoy a whole day of discovery.
The 2018 Out of the Box Festival runs 26 June – 1 July. For more information and complete program, visit: www.outoftheboxfestival.com.au for details.
Image: courtesy of QPAC