My date for the event will be the very wonderful Wolfgang and Rose - hope to see you there!
"Artists and co-creators of BIG Kids Magazine Jo Pollitt and Lilly Blue will be hosting the first Mother Artist Network forum at the MCA. Joined by artists Emma Magenta and Emma Gale, the panel will explore the challenge and rich terrain of navigating motherhood with an ongoing professional art practice. The Mother Artist Network (MAN)) was launched in 2011 as a platform to provoke dialogue about creative practice and motherhood."
The Sydney Film Festival revealed their full program last week. I was hoping that there would be a full family/youth program - it's important for kids to watch films beyond the Disney repertoire - to have the opportunity to view different worlds.
We have gone through the program to let you know the films that under 18's are permitted to attend due to classification restrictions.
Finally after being away for a month we are back in the swing of things. Jet lag has passed and we are getting out and about enjoying what Sydney has on offer in Summertime and discovering some fun Friday Finds.
Blaxland Riverside Park - Cool Hunter: Absolutely loving the images from The Cool Hunter of this fantastic playground in Homebush. The designers worked with the earth rather than against it to produce an amazing space for kids to go wild.
Moss Terrariums: This is a project that has been on our list of things to try for a while. Create your own little worlds and add plastic figures to the mix.
If the weather turns this Summer and you are stuck inside get inspired by the beautiful work using cardboard boxes by artist Annalise Reese.
Michelle Schoeps Organic: Beautiful blog that features Michelle's family recipes using amazing produce.
If your kids are allowed to stay up late then let them take in a Drive in Cinema experience. The classic Stand by Me will be screened on the 1st December.
The Contemporary Art Festival - Art Month Sydney have announced their exciting program with a selection of Art Adventures for families.
Highlights include: Paper Cutting with Gregory and Watts | 10th March 10am 11am
Kids get creative with paper exploring textures, colour and shapes with artists Gregory and Watts.
Gallery: Chalkhorse | 8 Lacey St Surry Hills
Ages: 7 - 11 years
Cost: Free
Bookings: admin@chalkhorse.com.au
* parents are required to stay with children
Mobile Phone Photography | 24th March 10am 12pm
Teens will get to make the most of their mobile cameras with this workshop. Inspiration will be taken from the current Trent Parke exhibition.
For younger childrenTali Gallery on the 17th March 10am will be running various workshops from Earthbeats and Boobook - making mosaic owls inspired from Dreamtime Owl stories. Older children can get an introduction to learning the didgeridoo. Arthouse gallery on the 3rd March 10am will also have a book reading of "A song for Lorkie"
If you live in the Blue Mountains or planning a visit check out the beautiful Laughing Children's Garden launched yesterday. The garden is situated at Mount Tomah Botanic Garden in the Blue Mountains.
The aim of the garden is to be interactive and to encourage play and creativity by providing aesthetically pleasing pieces of sculpture which enables kids to develop their imagination while using their motor skills through developing games and playing with each piece of sculpture.
I reckon Polly Stenham must have had a pretty twisted childhood, or else she's got a huge imagination. Her 2nd play is recommended for 14 years plus and definitely has themes more suitable to this age group and older touching on sex, madness, abuse and perhaps not quite so proper family relationhips.
Three kids, 15 year old Eliot, 14 year old Maggie and 7 year old Finn have moved house and their mother has gone missing. The play is has witty and poignant moments, though it does lose a little pace in the second act.
Having said that, its worth seeing - offering food for thought on family dynamics
Sydney Theatre Company and Australian Theatre for Young People present Tusk Tusk by Polly Stenham
Director Shannon Murphy Airlie-Jane Dodds and Kai Lewins. Cover - Airlie-Jane Dodds, Kai Lewins and Miles Szanto.
Location: Wharf 1, Sydney Theatre Company, Pier 4/5, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay Dates: 13 August - 4 September 2010. Contact: Box Office 02 9250 1777 sydneytheatre.com.au
This school holidays we will be checking out the Winterland at CarriageWorks to do a bit of ice skating. This year I am shedding my ice skating fears and joining my kids who will be whizzing around the rink. Tickets for this event can be pre-booked which is good for families who like to plan ahead on the holidays.
WIN TICKETS
Our friends at CarriageWorks have given us 2 double passes for ice skating to give away..To win email info@artsrocket.org with your name and postal address before Friday 18 June 2010.
Winterland is Sydney’s coolest festival, at CarriageWorks from 5-31st July. Experience all the magic of a glittering European winter in the heart of Sydney’s inner west!
The centrepiece of Winterland will be a dazzling indoor ice rink in the CarriageWorks foyer, surrounded by design and craft markets, a huge line-up of family live music and food stalls serving deliciously warming winter treats. Find all of the info at www.winterland.com.au.
It is an breathtaking sight standing in front of St Mary's Cathedral at night, watching it change colour and pattern in front of you. The size of the historical architectures, the lights, the history and story each changing projection tells...if there's an enjoyable way to discover and celebrate Sydney's history and legacy of Governor Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie this is it.
MACQUARIE VISIONS starts from St Mary's Cathedral, through Macquarie St to The Australian Consevatorium of Music where historical building are artistically lit up with changing light projection visuals and stories as part of VIVID SYDNEY. Did you know that Governer Macquarie by the end of his term had started at least 200 public projects? Neither did I!
This festivity of light is a great and visually stimulating way to get to know our city in every way. You'll also be visually inspired with the Downer Arch that starts Macquarie St- yes arching from one side of the road to the other! Take the kids between Friday and Sunday and the journey will be light littered with street performers. Keep an eye or ear out for The Organ Grinder performer on Macquaries St, he'll add some musical joy to this visual storytelling journey.
The Sydney Film Festival have announced their program today and there are some magical films for little kids but it would have been great to have seen a wider selection for older children within the family programming. The festival is a fantastic opportunity to introduce your children to different experiences and worlds. We are all very keen to check out Twigson, a box office hit in Norway about a young boy who has moved to the country and befriends a twig!
The Writers Festival brings to Sydney a exciting selection of workshops and events for children and their families in May. This is a great opportunity for children and teens to meet their favourite authors and to encourage a love for books and writing.
Highlights include: Spend a morning with Andy Griffiths Sunday 23 May | 10 am - 11 am | No bookings - all ages | Free | Walsh Bay
Draw your own chicken with Leigh Hobbs Sunday 23 May | 1 pm - 2 pm | No bookings - all ages | Philharmonia Choir Studio
Tashi Tales with Anna Fienberg and Kim Gamble Sunday 16th May | 12.30 - 1.15 pm | Visit the website for cost | Blue Mountains
For more information on the full program visit the festival website
PREVIEW TICKETS - APRIL 9th, 6.30pm | $10 TICKETS QUOTE "magpie" WHEN BOOKING
Children can come to this performance FREE! | Bookings: Seymour Centre 93517940
FOX is an internationally acclaimed book for young readers written by Margaret Wild and illustrated by Ron Brooks. In 2010 the Monkey Baa team will present an outstanding adaptation which opens at the Seymour Centre in April 2010 before a 30 week national tour.
The haunting text is set to music by Daryl Wallis and the action of the story is presented through a series of poetic visual and striking physical images. Beautifully designed and imaginatively conceived this is a story of friendship and courage.
In this wordless production we see a man leave his oppressive country to set up a new life for his family in an unknown country. We follow him on his journey where at first he is lost, wandering attempting to decipher new languages, foods and rituals. Along the way he meets other immigrants who befriend him and guide him in his new life and we also learn of what horrors have forced them to flee their own lands to this new one.
The Arrival is a beautiful piece of theatre that incorporates an ingenious set design, puppetry, dance and physical theatre to tell this universal story of overcoming hardship.
Some parts of the story may go over the heads of children under the age of 8 but they will still enjoy the visual beauty of The Arrival.
My son (aged 11) announced to me on Sunday that "The Book of Everything" was the best play he has ever seen. There are so many elements in this production that will win many hearts during the season at the Belvoir.
Adapted from the novel by Dutch author GuusKuijer, The Book of Everything tells the story of Thomas, an imaginative, curious and sometimes scared nine year old boy. Thomas documents his life and how he sees the world through his eyes in his Book of Everything.
To escape the oppression himself and his family endure from his over pious and abusive father, Thomas finds comfort that comes in the form of chatting with Jesus, falling in love with the girl with the leather leg, learning about the beauty of books, overcoming fear from his new friends and writing in his Book of Everything.
References to Emil and the Detectives will delight readers of the novel by German author Erich Kaestner.
Kim Carpenter's set design is an absolute knock out and fills the stage with wonder. The interaction between the cast and the audience is fun and lures you right into Thomas's world. We fell in love with Julie Forsyth as Mrs Van Amersfoort, Matthew Whittet as Thomas and John Leary is hilarious as Jesus. The whole cast were all wonderful.
Suitable for adults and children> The Belvoir recommends audiences aged 8 and over - If you have younger children the domestic abuse scenes and themes may be too confronting.
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Season | 27 Dec 09 - 31 Jan 10
Belvoir Theatre, Surry Hills | Bookings or 9699 3444
Special children tickets prices and family packages available
Directed by Neil Armfield | Adapted by Richard Tulloch
Showcasing 112 Post Impressionist masterpieces from artists including Van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, Cezanne, Seruat and more, all from the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.
The gallery is also hosting a wide range of childrens activties to compliment the exhibition.
Check out the programs, see a few shows and enjoy what is going to be an exciting year.
Sydney Festival 2010 tickets go on Sale Monday 9th Nov....The family strand of the festival seems to getting better every year. I also discovered some other performances within the program that are also family friendly.
One of the highlights of the festival is The Arrival based on the illustrated book by Shaun Tan, a universal migrant tale set in a fantastical time and place presented by The Red Leap Theatre, New Zealand.
"The Arrival has no actual dialogue and combines a highly physical cast with music, movement, puppetry and shadow play."
Where: CarriageWorks | Jan 10 at 5pm, Jan 11, 14, 16 at 7pm; Jan 13, 15 at 11am and 3pm; Jan 17 at 3pm
For booking details visit: http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/artist/1380238?brand=sydneyfestival2010
My daughter (aged 8) and I went along to Windmill’s production of THE WIZARD OF OZ By L. Frank Baum presented by the Sydney Theatre Company on Friday evening.
Windmill have mastered children's theatre and there are no expectations with the Wizard of Oz. The performance captivates not just the children in the audience but also the adults. I was laughing throughout most of the show. The set was clever- lots of colour, media installations and enough variety to make you feel you where moving to a different destination. The cast were all wonderful and Ursula Yovich shone as Dorothy and the wicked Witch played brilliantly by Geoff Revell was also our favourite.
If you have younger or restless children, I would recommend the 10.30am, 1.00pm or 5.00pm sessions as the 7pm could be a little late in the evening as the performance spans just over 2 hours.
Kick your heels up at the Sydney Children’s Festival Opening Party on Saturday 3 October. The celebration will be led by Georgie Parker and the Sydney Children’s Festival Choir, who will have every foot in the house tapping. The celebration will continue with a huge dance party where kids can go wild and parents can enjoy a flashback to their partying days. Plus, there’ll be a sneak preview of Erth’s Amazing Room for curious kids. There are oodles of fantastic workshops, performances and activities to get involved in throughout the festival. See the amazing Circa perform 46 Acts in 45 Minutes, warm up your vocal chords in free morning singing workshops, or kick start your acrobatic career in a week of workshops with Legs On The Wall!
Odosketch is a fun online tool that lets the user draw on the screen as if they were using a sketch book. Great rainy day distraction!
Odosketch seeks to recreate the decidedly non-digital experience of working with a sketchbook. Its papery textures, variety of brushes and intentional imperfections make you forget you're working on a screen.
Erth, the creators of the famous dinosaur Petting Zoo, are looking for kids to be part of the creation of the Amazing Room – a new component of the upcoming Sydney Children’s Festival. Erth are busily designing this crazy, silly play space, and are seeking some input from kids .
This coming Tuesday 21st July at 6.30 pm, come down to CarriageWorks with your child, aged 6 – 12years, and take part in a 1hr workshop where Erth’s Artistic Director, Scott, will be asking "What would kids do if they could do Anything?".
Yummy pizza and drinks with be provided. Email scott@erth.com.au by Tuesday to participate. There's room enough for 10 kids plus their parents to participate and you must register with Scott to attend.
Now a MIFF institution, the Next Gen program within the Melbourne International Film Festival provides stimulating films for younger generations of cinema viewers. I felt the SFF this year had a disappointing range of family /childrens films within the program so it is refreshing to see a festival that encourages mature cinema for older children.
The festival presents an extensive range of international films for older children they may not ever get the chance to see.
Highlights include: Cheeky Girls - Germany Based on a bestselling German book series, this raucous rock ‘n’ roll adventure is about friends, crushes and surviving high school.
Mommo - Turkey A touching true story about the bonds between a brother and sister, set amid the picturesque beauty of a remote Turkish village.
Jermal - Indonesia A young boy learns self-reliance in this extraordinary story filmed in a unique location – at sea, amid the platform-fishermen of Indonesia. -- July 24th until August 9th 2009 Full the full Next Gen program
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