Page added on February 16, 2012
Spark Childrens Arts Festival 10th Birthday – Fun & Adventure Coming To Leicester
Dancers swinging through the sky, opera for eight year olds and a show where the star is a potato (a real potato) - it can mean only one thing – The Spark Children’s Arts Festival!
This year The Spark is celebrating its 10th birthday and to mark its first decade, the festival is promising a fortnight to remember. This year’s Spark will feature world-class international artists and leading UK companies who will delight young audiences at venues across Leicester from 28th May until 10th June.
Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson’s magical stories are brought to life in Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales at Curve together with the premier of an epic visual adaptation of the classic Gulliver’s Travels as well as the inspirational dance show Clouds (Nubes) from Spain’s incredible Aracaladanza dance company. There is plenty of festival fun for under 4s with the quirky puppetry of Potato Needs A Bath and magical playtime with The Presents both at Embrace Arts. Embrace Arts also hosts a mesmerizing multi-sensory show for children of all abilities – Crazy Hair and there will be an extraordinary opera adventure for over 8s My Mother Told Me Not to Stare at The Y.
This year’s festival has lots of unique events and opportunities to try something completely different. There is an incredible magical ‘swinging’ dance show Fly By Night to delight audiences at Curve, and music for all the family in the wonderfully ‘funky’ tale of Anansi The Spider at smaller venues. Curve is the festival’s hub ‘The Play-ground’ with lots of free family activities to enjoy during half term. BBC Radio Leicester is teaming up with Takeover Radio to provide a Spark newsroom for young reporters to keep Leicester up to date with all festival news. Look out for lots of drop-in activities and free events such as the weekend of digital delights at Phoenix Square, our very own Little Artists exhibition at Pedestrian Gallery and don’t miss the totally ‘ace’ Retro Computer Museum.
The festival is helping to celebrate the Olympic spirit with the impressive Games Time event taking place in Loughborough. The large-scale outdoor performance features local people in vivid costumes together with stunning pyrotechnics and is part of a year-long project funded by Legacy Trust UK. The Spark is also thrilled to be a partner in the new Jump In festival, part of the Cultural Olympiad, which is bringing leading international work to the East Midlands. The festival also visits schools and smaller venues across the city, so there are lots of opportunities to enjoy the 10th birthday fun.
Commenting on this year’s festival programme, new Director Adel Al-Salloum said:
“This year’s festival will be particularly special as the organisation celebrates its 10th birthday. We’re so excited about this year’s programme – bringing such an inspirational mix of high quality events and visiting companies to Leicester this summer. Most of all we’re looking forward to seeing the audiences’ reactions as they experience some of the best work created for children and families – that’s what it’s all about.”
