Top 5 Tips -Vancouver International Children’s Festival

A world-renowned festival of performing arts for young audiences, the Vancouver International Children’s Festival has been educating, entertaining and inspiring young audiences since 1978. The 36th annual event, takes place May 27 – June 2 on Granville Island .Professional performing artists from Norway, Africa, Germany and Canada will be performing12 shows in six Granville Island venues , including four indoor and two outdoor Festival environments. In addition, the Festival hosts over 15 hands-on arts activities such as shadow puppetry, an outdoor weaving sculpture, bicycle spin-art, origami, a sock puppet workshop, circus skills, the Twist & Toddle play area and much, much more. Wow, there really is so much going on, it hard to decide what you should do. So at R2R we have decided to give you a helping hand and pick our TOP 5 TIPS for Vancouver International Children’s Festival. Here we go –

Tip 1 – QUEEN OF COLOURS
This play stood out to us as it uses shadow puppetry and as you may recall we had Mere Phantoms media artists at R2R this year with their interactive shadow installations.They left us with a curiousity to discover more of this art and this play fits the bill. This enchanting world-wide hit has delighted audiences across the globe. Loosely based on Jutta Bauer’s children’s book, the play uses a blend of shadow puppetry, live music, painting, and video projection to create a magical event for young. Here a bossy, bored little queen lives in a monochromatic universe until the court painter, using audience requests, injects a painterly palette into her drab world revealing the emotional resonance of colour.
“…imagine an animated picture book being assembled on the fly … a remarkable accomplishment” ~Andy Probst, theatremania.com

Festival web page for more details – http://www.childrensfestival.ca/festival_events/performances/performances43.php

*For more Shadow Play check out the Exploration Zone and explore the magic of light through sound, movement and play using shadow puppets.

TIP 2 – JAMES HILL – UKULELE MAGIC
Zooey Deschanel plays one. So do William H. Macy and Mr. Schuester on Glee. Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder accompanies himself exclusively on one for his recent albums, Ukulele Songs. Meanwhile, every third TV commercial seems to feature a soundtrack of a strumming ukulele.With the Ukulele enjoying a surge in popularity in recent years and being a brilliant instrument for kids to learn, this show should be a delightful musical treat.
Barely in his 30s, ukulele master James Hill has four genre-bending albums to his name and a fan-base that spans the globe. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin calls him a “rare peer” of Hawaii’s premier ukulele players. His inventiveness and passion for sharing music through this fun, kid-sized instrument makes him an instant hit for all ages. Accompanied by Anne Janelle on cello, this pioneer of “ukulele in the classroom” will delight and surprise! “This is an exciting moment for the ukulele… A powerful new voice has emerged.” Leo McKay (April, 2011)

James Hill on youtube – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEK4nr3viyI&feature=youtu.be

Festival web page for more details – http://www.childrensfestival.ca/festival_events/performances/performances41.php

TIP 3 – EXPLORATION ZONE
There are over 15 creative arts station at Vancouver Children’s Festival so there is something to keep every child entertained and stimulated. From toddlers to tweens, kids of all ages can get creative or just have some fun at one of the many creative arts stations. We’ve picked 3 of our favourites –

Bicycle Spin-Art with Make at Granville Island – Create your own one-of-a-kind spin-art painting while riding a bike!
Hai! Origami – Experience the magic of learning the Japanese art of paper folding.
Sock it To Me! – Travel the sock circuit and choose from pipe cleaners, wiggly eyeballs, shiny objects and material to decorate your own unique sock puppet! Bring your own sock or use one of ours – we provide the rest. No smelly socks!

Festival web page for more details – http://www.childrensfestival.ca/festival_events/activities.php

TIP 4 – PYJAMA NIGHTS
At R2R this year we enjoyed great success with our Pajama breakfast party and it was so much fun to see everyone in their colourful and comfy pajamas. We are delighted to see that you can keep your jammies on and enjoy some events at the Children’s Festival too. It’s a jammies revolution! Dress the kids (and yourself) in their favourite jammies, and head down to Granville Island for the ultimate bedtime story with these special 6.30pm shows. Jammes optinal; snacks will be served!
Tue, May 28th – Bobs & Lolo
BC’s widely adored musical duo performs Nature Rocks, an action-packed musical experience.
Wed, May 29th – Queen of Colours
This world-wide hit uses puppetry, art projections and live music to tell a simple story about kindness and originality.

Festival web page for more details –http://www.childrensfestival.ca/festival_events/special_events.php

TIP 5 – VARIETY SHOW – SATURDAY, JUNE 1 – 6:30pm

If all else fails and you don’t have an opportunity to make anything during the festival then you can enjoy the Variety Show. It’s always a highly anticipated event.
Watch Festival performers cut loose at the annual Variety show! This year’s tour de force boasts dazzling acrobatics, traditional African music, cutting-edge ukulele and electrifying Acadian rhythms. Hosted by puppeteer Robert Morgan of Morgan’s Journey with acts by Cirque Zuma Zuma, Grand Dérangement, James Hill, Aboulaye Koné and Nathalie Cora of Baobab, this evening show is always a Festival highlight.

Festival web page for more information – http://www.childrensfestival.ca/festival_events/performances/performances50.php

Information on tickets – Tickets for featured performances are $25 per adult, $15 per child including tax and service charges, with exceptions for Sparrow ($25 adult, $5 child) and the Variety Show ($25 adult, $22 child). Show tickets include access to all hands-on arts activities so come for a show but stay for the whole day! For access to hands-on arts activities only: purchase an Activity Wristband for $8 per person (sold onsite only). Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online at childrensfestival.ca, by phone at 1.877.840.0457, in advance at Tickets Tonight, Plaza Level, 200 Burrard Street, Vancouver or during the Festival at our on-site box office located between Festival House and the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island. http://www.childrensfestival.ca/tickets_and_info/public_tickets.php

VICF SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS For more details visit www.childrensfestival.ca, on Flickr  on Facebook, on Twitter and on Pinterest.