DreamBIG Children’s Festival 2021 program unveiled
DreamBIG Children’s Festival, one of Australia’s greatest festivals for young people, will inspire curiosity and wonder again as children reconnect and return to the world of arts, with the 2021 school program unveiled today.
One of the first festivals to be announced for South Australia since COVID-19 restrictions began, more than 50 shows, events and workshops will be on offer during the celebration to be held from May 19 until May 29.
Full Family and General Public Program
The Adelaide Festival Centre event will present 10 world premieres, two Australian premieres and 10 Adelaide premieres with the full family and general public program to be launched in February 2021.
Be Curious Theme
Next year’s theme of “Be Curious” encourages children to ask questions about the world through circus, puppetry, music, dance, play, poetry, quirky creatures, orchestras, technology, robots, monsters, a magic beach and a galaxy far, far away.
DreamBIG Children’s Festival Creative Producer Susannah Sweeney is ecstatic to welcome children and schools back to the festival to reconnect through joy, fun and theatre following a difficult 2020:
“We are living through strange times that highlight how essential the arts are if we want our young people to have strong, curious, empathetic minds.
“Being able to offer the schools of South Australia an inspiring 2021 DreamBIG Children’s Festival that encourages curiosity and empathy, is a wonderful and important thing to be doing.”
DreamBIG Opening Event at Adelaide Oval
The DreamBIG Opening Event, at Adelaide Oval’s Telstra Plaza on May 19, will see school children gather and The Mighty Choir of Small Voices, ably guided by the Public Primary Schools Music Festival team, sing a new arrangement of David Bowie’s Space Oddity. It will finish with an uplifting gig by 2019 Australia’s Got Talent finalist Mitch Tambo who will perform with a group of young dancers from SA’s own fabulous Kurruru Dance Ensemble.
Program highlights include:
- Magic Beach – from the team behind The Gruffalo and the Treehouse series, this play is based on the best-selling book by Alison Lester, where the quintessential Aussie holiday is brought to life on stage. The show will also head to Port Lincoln.
- Wolfgang’s Magical Musical Circus – Circa returns with a new show that combines brilliant acrobatics and physical comedy performed to Mozart’s beautiful scores.
- Spirit – A moving show weaving together storytelling, song and dance with fire, language and ceremony by Yellaka.
- Project Ludwig – an interactive show featuring SA performers from The Australian String Quartet that allows students to choose their favourite Beethoven playlist.
- Still Point of a Turning World – An immersive performance installation where three performers create poetic stories that inspire students to question who they are.
- Tröll – An Adelaide premiere, this show follows the story of a young pre-teen exploring the jittery edges of the online world with the help of Icelandic folklore, music and puppetry.
- We Come from Far, Far Away – A moving tale about the refugee experience, exploring
themes of survival, fear and friendship in an Australian Premiere. - Listen to See – A beautiful and intimate participatory dance piece by SA’s Restless Dance Theatre.
More than 2000 performers and students are involved in the 2021 program. While the majority of shows and activities are being held at Adelaide Festival Centre, some will take place in venues around the city, surrounding suburbs and regionally.
Stay up to date with general public on sale dates, to be announced shortly.
dreambigfestival.com.au