Z-arts Big Imaginations Festival 18 Oct-5 Nov - North West Family Theatre

9 Shows, 18 Days, 26 Venues. The Z-arts Big Imaginations Festival launch was at Just So Festival last weekend and I was lucky enough to be there to watch Joseph Coelho, producer of one of the shows, kick start the launch with readings from a couple of his poems. We'll be reviewing another show, Children Of The Divide, with our 7 and 8 year old boys.

Here is a rundown of what will be on offer over 2 weeks full of the highest quality affordable theatre for children and families. No single venue offers all shows, so check with the festival website to find what's on near you.

The venues taking part are:

Lancashire: Burnley Youth Theatre / Kingsfold Library / Lancaster Arts, Lancaster Uni / Skelmersdale Library / The Boo, Waterfoot / The Bureau, Blackburn / The Dukes, Lancaster

Merseyside: Chester Lane Library, St Helens / Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Hope St / The Atkinson, Southport / The Citadel, St Helens / Unity Theatre, Liverpool

Manchester: Astley Cheetham Gallery, Stalybridge / Leigh Dance Enterprise Hub / Longsight Library / Tameside Library / The Edge, Chorlton / The Turnpike, Leigh / Touchstones, Rochdale / Waterside Arts, Sale / Z-arts

Cheshire: Ellesmere Port Civic Hall / Ellesmere Port Library / Goodwill Hall, Northwich / Lion Salt Works, Marston / Tarvin Community Centre / Whitby Hall, Ellesmere Port

The Shows are:

Child of The Divide Age 6+ Running Time: 1hr 25m
A story of family, identity and belonging; marking the 70th anniversary of the partition of India. Summer 1947 and 16 million people are on the move between India and the newly-formed Pakistan. Amid the violent political upheaval young Pali’s fingers slip from his father’s hand, and his destiny changes forever.
We have reviewed this, you can find our review here - Child Of The Divide Review.

Tales of Birbal Ages 6+ Running Time: 50m
Timeless and treasured fables from the Indian sub-continent. Using humour, puppetry, music and the occasional fake beard, Mashi and Bhanji bring to vivid life these famous tales that have been treasured for generations.

Body of Light Recommended for children of all ages and their grown-ups. Running Time: 45m
Light, technology and dance combine in this beautiful little show suitable for tiny people and big people too!

Handa’s Surprise Ages 2-6 and their grown-ups. Running Time: 35m
Travel to Kenya and follow in Handa’s footsteps as she journeys to see her best friend Akeyo, in the next village.

Happily Ever After Ages 5+. Running Time: 50m
Once upon a time, in kingdom on top of the highest mountain in all the land, there lived a grouchy Queen, and her son, the Prince.

Fairytales Gone Bad: Grannylocks/The Monstrous Duckling Ages 3+. Running Time: 45m
Join award-winning performance poet Joseph Coelho as he unravels familiar fairytales to create fresh contemporary classics in an enchanting performance for young and old alike.

Fairytales Gone Bad: Zombie-rella / Blood red Hood Ages 6+. Running Time: 45m
A mysterious vaudeville storyteller with a magical top-hat and coat unwinds the true stories behind the happily ever afters, which are maybe not as charming as you remember!

Big Imaginations Jazz Club Ages 2-5. Running Time: 34m
Award winning clarinettist Arun Ghosh brings his exciting energy and original music to the Big Imaginations Festival.

Catapluf’s Musical Journey Ages 5+. Running Time: 50m
Explore rhythms and sounds of the world with Catapluf, whose imagination takes you to places where music can be found in everything: pans, water, drums, even the body.

Big Imaginations festival promises families loads of fun while they transport them to lands full of fairy tales, light shows, music from around the world, beautiful puppetry and ancient fables. You can find out more and book tickets on the Big Imaginations Festival website.

Joseph Coelho

I wasn't paid to promote these events, I just think it's an excellent initiative which is affordable for everyone and exciting.