Use your imagination for children’s theatre festival

This year’s festival, which begins on Monday, boasts 14 world-class productions in venues across and beyond the city.

The highlights include, from Australia, This (Baby) Life at North Edinburgh Arts Centre (NEAC), and Grug at the Traverse; from England (Sunflowers And Sheds at the NEAC; from France, Traverse at the Traverse; from Italy, Kindur -The Adventurous Life of Sheep In Iceland at Musselburgh’s Brunton Theatre; from the Netherlands, Rumplestiltskin again, at the Brunton Theatre; from Sweden, Aston’s Stones at the Church Hill Theatre; and from Switzerland h.g. at the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art.

They will be joined by Scottish companies including Frozen Charlotte productions, which will present the critically acclaimed Paperbelle, while Ailie Cohen Puppet Maker presents Cloud Man, which follows the story of cloud expert Cloudia. Both at the Church Hill Theatre.

Also on the 2012 programme is Plutot la Vie/Howden Park Centre’s By The Seat of Your Pants, which takes children into the hilarious world of three men and a chair, at the North Edinburgh Arts Centre.

Mikey and Addie, meanwhile, is a fast-paced, funny and emotional tale which looks at the difficulties of growing up, at the Traverse.

For older children, Titus is the touching story of a 10 year-old boy that deals with issues such as love, loneliness, adolescence and death, all told with gentle humour and sensitivity. Also at The Traverse.

Tony Reekie, Festival Director says, “Once again we have the chance to celebrate brilliant work from home, standing alongside the best the world has to offer.

“Our Festival is genuinely for everyone, from the very, very young to the oldest carers who can share the enjoyment that the best in world theatre can offer.”

The Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival, various venues and times, Monday-May 14, for full programme and tickets details go to www.imaginate.org.uk/festival