FlickerKids 2017

Flickerfest have another day of school holiday entertainment sorted this Sunday with the FlickerKids short film program at 2pm at Bondi Pavilion. We have a double pass to give away to one lucky family. For your chance tell me what film you are looking forward to in the program and why - email info@artsrocket.org by Friday 6th Jan.

Full program here: http://flickerfest.com.au/programme/flickerkids-2017/

Erth Dinasour Zoo / Seymour Centre

This September 27th to 1st Oct the Seymour Centre is hosting the wildly acclaimed Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo.

My children ages 3 and 7, and I were luckily enough to go and see Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo at the Seymour Centre yesterday. It is suggested that it is suitable for children 5+ but I took a chance with my 3 yr old daughter, and she loved it!

Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo is technically a very elaborate puppet show, but these are no naive puppets on strings, these are amazing and exquisitely made walking roaring dinosaurs! The look, sound and move like absolutely "alive” prehistoric creatures. We enjoyed the production very much. The show is hosted by a charming and funny palaeontologist, with interesting facts and educational dino info for the kids, plus some tongue and cheek laughs for the adults. 

The show starts with the the introduction of the smaller Dino’s to help the kids settle into being comfortable and curious about these highly lifelike creatures. It then moves on to the bigger and scarier dinosaurs where you might be deceived to thinking these are live creatures for a while as they look so real. Even though the host is openly reminds up these are only puppets, the dinosaurs delight the kids with their realism of movement and loud scary roars. 

My 7 year old son knew they were puppets but he enthusiastically played along letting them scare him out of his seat! The talented designers, makers and puppeteers of Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo have done an amazing job here to delight us into believing we are being entertained by these “alive” creatures while we are in the theatre. 

For $22 a ticket for this 60min show, I would definitely recommend the whole family to go along and enjoy this amazing Dinosaur experience these school holidays. Even though it says 5+ I think kids from 3yrs will be ok also. Also, make sure you stay back after the show as the kids are able to interact, pat and take photos with the smaller Dino’s, it was a great experience and all of us we thoroughly loved the show.

by Virginia and family

Erth Dinosaur Zoo / Seymour Centre

Erth | Prehistoric school holiday action

This September school holidays, the Seymour Centre will presenting the roar-inspiring Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo from 27^th September – 1^st October.

For children aged 5+ the show features prehistoric creatures ranging from cute baby dinos to some of the largest carnivores and herbivores that ever walked the planet! In this fun and educational show, children will learn how to feed and interact with Erth’s amazing array of unmistakably ‘alive’ creatures.

We have three double passes to attend the performance on Wednesday 28th September at 12.30.
Let us know what you child's favourite dinosaur is for your chance by Sunday 26th Sept - email info@artsrocket.org (conditions). The winner will be notified via email.

For more info visit: http://www.seymourcentre.com/events/event/erth-dinosaur-zoo/

Friday Finds

+ Spot on Festival from the 27 Sept - 2 Oct at Riverside Theatres. So much quality stuff on for over the festival. We are looking forward to Slingsby Theatre Company's Oscar Wilde's  The Young Kimg and $10 movie tickets.
+ Lights and  Lanterns / Dandenong Festival of Lights 26 August - 9 October
+ Film in Revolt / A platform for teens who are intersted in film

Friday Finds

image credit: Raquel Caballero

+ My youngest son adores animals and did a vet workshop with these guys a few years ago. New programme out for 2017 AND they are also offering two scholarships.
+ My daughter would love these graphic tights. Too many choose from!
+ Our friend Lilly Blue from BIG Kids magazine will lead participants through theatre games, collaborative invention and art making in response to SCAF's immersive installation, After Voices. 
+ My daughter is my new photographer for my project Hello Bookshop (That's her pictured). It was very exciting to work with her.  We will give you a heads up when our first conversation is up.
+ If you are in Penrith this is your last chance this weekend to catch The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer. We loved  it in 2011 at the Sydney Festival.
+ We will be in Melbourne this weekend and will be popping along to Circus Oz's open house in Collingwood.

Friday Finds

+ Assignments from artist Miranda July's project, Learning to Love You More
+ Beautiful online games for younger children
+ Grab a camera, jump on a train and create your own 52 Suburbs
+ Like a TED for mums. A collaborative community for creative mothers
+ Keep your teen busy for 100 days
+ Kidtopia festival in October

Australian National Maritime Museum - Wildlife Photographer of the Year

images by Mischa

This week over the school holidays I took my two youngest children (15, 12) on an adventure. An adventure like we used to do when they were younger. I didn’t tell them where we were headed just to take their cameras.

As we approached the Maritime Museum they were little apprehensive. They had been before there when they were younger and saw no sense in going again.

We were stamped at the front counter, which gave us access to the whole museum – boats and all. With our map in hand our first stop was the submarine (which is quite an experience, imagining people working and living within the space), we then hit up the HMAS Vampire and the HMB Endeavour. The submarine was our favourite.

Inside the museum we wandered through the regular exhibitions heading towards the main purpose of our visit – to see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

On loan from the Natural History Museum in London, this beautiful exhibition showcases the most amazing photographs from around the world. The kids are into photography at the moment and I knew they would appreciate the skill it takes to capture rare natural moments on film. It was also an opportunity for us to view parts of the world that are rarely seen.
  

Australian National Maritime Museum
Darling Harbour, Sydney

Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition runs until the 16th  October 2016 

Friday Finds

image: Abbey Vella

+ Forget the Archibald's! Meet the Young Archie's
+ One of my teens will be at Genext this Sunday - maybe she will share her images
+ Evening sorted = Back to the Future at Golden Age Cinema
+ For your photographer in the family
+ Palace movie club - discounted movies

Shapeshifters

Get  immersed in 3D printing at the Australian Design Centre over the school holidays.

BIG Kids Magazine - Contribution call out

BIG Kids Magazine have announced their next issues (issue 10) theme is HUMAN.

1. *CREATE and CONTRIBUTE your response to the theme Human. You can write, film, paint, dance, draw, sew or sing your contributions which will be considered for publication on their blog, and/or in the pages of BIG Kids Magazine.

2. SEND high resolution print quality images, sound bites, videos or word docs  of your work to submit@bigkidsmagazine.com including the title of the work, your name, age (if you’re a child) and location.

Friday Finds

image: Nick Miller

+ A new music and arts festival - The Lost Lands - shared experiences for families of creatives, music-lovers and the adventurous. When: October 28-31 2016, Where: Werribee Mansion (Melbourne)

+ hotDocs - Most documentaries are classified for under 18's 

+ Unicorn Youth - weekly radio show dedicated to giving young LGBTQIA+ people a voice

+ Why poetry is great for young children - Lilly Blue on Kinderling radio

+ If you have a shutterbug aged under 11 - get them snapping for this

+ JAM Online courses for kids

+ Studio Ghibli week at Golden Age Cinema in Surry Hills

+ How to talk about teenage mental health 

+ Aphex Twins first video in 17 years directed by a 12 year old YouTuber

Friday Finds

image: Ben Williams

Way Out West Festival at Casula Powerhouse

Girl Asleep screening at Sydney Film Festival - We are Windmill Theatre fans and are very excited to see Girl Asleep on the big screen. We will also be at the theatre production at the end of the year at Belvoir

My daughter (14) is reading and loving I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

ACMI in Melbourne have a fantastic kids line up over the school holidays

getting creative online

NGA Kids Art Zone

QAGOMA kids

MOMA

We have some exciting new  projects that we will be revealing very soon! 

Friday Finds

image from The Cinema Travellers

Finding Dory at IMAX 3D - SUNDAY FUNDAY

This weekend - MCA Zine fair

Cinema Travellers at Sydney Film Festival

We are headed to Melbourne for a few days in July --- just found a 24 hour ramen restaurant in my research. Ramen for breakfast please!

We will also be in Brisbane for the Cindy Sherman exhibition... but we will be missing out on the Teen Exclusive Backstage pass on the 24th June (for 13 - 18 year olds)

Centre of Photography School Holiday photography courses

White Rabbit Gallery is on my list - the teahouse has my daughters name written all over it

The Secret Life of Suitcases | Monkey Baa Theatre

My children are no longer little (17, 14 and 12). When they were younger we went to see a LOT of children's theatre. We still do but they also see a lot of adult theatre with me.  I  now keep my eye out for children's productions that I feel will carry across all ages. When my eldest son (17) was in the foyer of Griffin recently for The Witches he was not impressed to be surrounded by children running under his feet.  But after he saw Guy Edmonds on stage he quickly changed his tune. He loved it.

We were invited to the production of The Secret Life of Suitcases and I took along my youngest son(12) and his best friend. I was concerned they may be too old, but I was wrong.  The Secret Life of Suitcases had everyone in the audience drawn in from the beginning.   It was wonderful to sit in the audience to hear parents and children (of all ages) laugh, gasp and 'get' what was going on -  every element of the production worked.

The story follows Larry (in an almost George Orwell 1984 setting) - Larry is busy working, VERY busy. He has no time for anything outside work.  One day out of the blue a suitcase arrives that changes the course of his life. That is all I will reveal in this adventure as you will need to experience it for yourself.

Created by Lewis Hetherington and puppeteer Ailie Cohen (with a collaboration with Unicorn Theatre) The Secret Life of Suitcases is delightful  - please go see it with your kids - young or old.

The Secret Life of Suitcases
28 Sept - 2 October 2015
Monkey Baa
Darling Harbour Lend Lease Theatre
Sydney

suitable for  4 years of age (and older!).


Learn more about this production here.
There's an app you can interact with after the performance!

Spot on Children's Festival | Riverside Theatre

The Spot On Children's Festival returns this year at Riverside Theatre - the festival offers performances and activities for all ages.  We love the Be Kind Rewind Film Festival that will feature classics that every family should experience together - The Goonies, The Karate Kid, The Princess Bride, Labyrinth, The Never Ending Story and E.T.

For younger kids (4 - 9 years) Curious Jac from Lilli Pang, a bilingual storyteller (performed in English with some Spanish, Hindi and Twi language)  brings her show to the festival about being curious.  Other performances for little ones include Ali McGregor's Jazzamatazz! and Lah- Lah Live in concert.

Our friends at the festival have given us a family pass  (four tickets)  to give away  to Curious Jac for Friday 2 October at 10am.  Just email info@artsrocket.org before Friday 25 September with why you want your family to go Curious Jac.  (only the winner will be notified)  Terms.


Spot On Childrens Festival 
Riverside Theatre
Parramatta
29 September - 4 October 2015

Full program 

Be Kind: Re-wind Film Festival – 29 September, 10am to 6pm

Mr Snot Bottom’s Stinky, Silly Show! - 30 September to 1 October, 10:30am & 1pm daily (Relaxed Performance on 1 October at 1pm)

But Wait… There’s More! – 1 October, 7pm; 2 October, 1pm; 3 October, 1pm & 7pm

Ali McGregor’s Jazzamatazz! – 1 to 2 October, 10am & 12:30pm daily

Curious Jac – 2 to 3 October, 10:30am & 1pm daily (Relaxed Performance on 3 October at 1pm)

Lah-Lah Live in Concert – 3 October, 10am & 12:30pm

Sorcerers and Wizards: A Family Concert with the SSO Fellows – 4 October, 3pm

Seymour Centre | Page to Stage over the school holidays

This school holidays the Seymour are bringing the pages of two popular children's books to the stage alongside free activities within their courtyard and foyers.

The Very Cranky Bear (Crank Bear) is being brought to life by South Australian theatre company Patch Theatre who are known for their delightful productions (Mr Mcgee and the Biting Flea, Emily likes to Bounce!, Who Sank the Boat?). We loved their production of  Me and my Shadow way back in 2011.

For older children,  Brisbane's Shake & Stir Theatre Co. will take on Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts.  My 11-year-old son is keen to catch this production and it is on our list for over the holidays.

What we love: Affordable family theatre.  Live music (The Vegetable Plot) and Parkour in the courtyard from Team 9Lives.

Seymour School Holiday Program
22 - 26 September
Tickets from $20.

Monkey Baa | The Witches

Monkey Baa's The Witches is theatre at its most theatre like.  Theatre stripped bare.  Based on Roald Dahl's book of the same name, one actor (Guy Edmonds) takes on the entire story, playing over ten characters with limited costumes and props. 

My almost six-year-old sat on my lap and from the moment the actor started performing he was enthralled. My ten and twelve-year-olds enjoyed it too.  I enjoyed that they had to work for understanding.  That there were no fancy props, nothing literal.  It was as far from television you could get and while the little one got a bit lost sometimes at the end he understood enough and he experienced a version of what might be becoming the lost art of storytelling. 

In our after-show discussions the children liked the effects, which are pretty limited, but my ten-year-old also pointed out the skill of a one-person show being able to tell an entire book of characters and this, I think, is why it's worth taking your kids to see it.

After a  sell-out season at the Griffin Theatre - The Witches makes a return to Monkey Baa in Darling Harbour over the school holidays.

Sarah and family.

DATES & TIMES: 30th June - 4th July (10:30am, 1:00pm)
VENUE: Lend Lease Darling Quarter Theatre
(across from the Children’s Playground in Darling Harbour)
TICKETS: $25pp / $90 Family 4 / $110 Family 5 / $23pp Groups 10+
www.monkeybaa.com.au

Creative school holidays

We are always impressed when we visit the QLD Gallery of Modern Art and its surrounds - jump off at South Brisbane and you have run of the galleries, library, museum and theatre.

The David Lynch exhibition - In Between Worlds is a great exploration for older teens. We can make a future  - Japanese Art after 1989 is perfect for all ages. Don't stop there - keep moving through the gallery to find amazing worlds for your kids to get lost in.

Back in Sydney, the Australian Centre of Photography has extensive workshops for kids that love to express their creativity through photography. Photograms, darkroom techniques, foto rally adventures, pinhole and camera craft.

The Art Gallery of NSW have events related to their The Photograph and Australia exhibition. Drop in and make retro cardboard cameras for younger children and for teens an instagram competition. Art Express also runs until the 19 April.

Sydney Festival 2015 for families

The 2015 Sydney Festival opens next week and has again another wonderful year for families with young and/or older children. Masquerade will be on the top of most families list  and Tabac Rouge will be magnificent.
Ali McGregor's Jazzamatazz! will knock the kids socks off and The Luck Child looks like fun.

This year we will be catching The Kitchen - in 2010 we all went as a family for Roysten Abel's The Manganiyar Seduction and we were all wowed.

There are plenty of free options across the city to keep you busy over the school holidays as well.
The Vegetable Plot - Melodies and vegetables
Hotbed Designs - Blocks prints and fabric paint
Dear Hope Street - A modern day message in a bottle
Australian Museum in the Village - Discover Hyde Park as a scientist
City of Sydney Lawn Library - Books take a holiday outside
Cool down with the Waterfall Swing at Darling Harbour
More free options.

To explore the full family festival program visit: http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/2015/family

Sydney Festival
8 - 26 Jan 2015

The Australian Ballet | The Nutcracker

Last week my daughter (13) and I went along to our first ballet and we were delighted that is was a dress rehearsal for  The Australian Ballet's production of The Nutcracker. The dress rehearsal was a wonderful insight into the energy and commitment that it takes to pull off the perfection that flows on stage from opening night.

The Nutcracker is a beautiful Christmas story set on Christmas Eve where the audience joins Claire on her adventures in a world conjured up by the magician, Drosselmeyer.

The evening ended with French lemon and sugar crepes from the Sarazine food truck.

Perfect!