Imaginate announces two new Scottish commissions for its 2025 Childrens Festival

Imaginate has announced it has commissioned two new shows which will open at the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival in May 2025.

Article Source: Imaginate
Last Updated: 18 November 2024 14:49

Imaginate has announced it has commissioned two new shows which will open at the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival in May 2025 and go on tour across Scotland. Both productions are a treat for the eyes and full of humour and explore themes such as fitting in, friendship and multi-culturalism. The commissions will reach audiences beyond the Festival with touring venues confirmed in Aberdeen, Paisley, Glasgow and Inverness.

Tongue Twister is one man’s attempt to say tongue twisters in as many different languages as possible. Whilst also trying to dance. And play live music. And do all the costume changes without leaving the stage. A delight for the eyes and ears, this humorous and colourful show is a celebration of the musical beauty of language for children aged 6-12 yrs.

Tongue Twister’s creator and performer Greg Sinclair is a performance artist, composer and cellist from Edinburgh. Speaking about the commission, Greg said: “I feel incredibly proud, excited and a little bit nervous about receiving one of Imaginate’s festival commissions. I can’t wait to share Tongue Twister with audiences very soon.”

The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl is the fantastical and touching story of two outsiders – a girl who wants to be a monster and a boy who wants to fly. Exploring the universal yearning to belong and sharing the joy of friendship, this is a breathtaking and visually stunning aerial show for children aged 9-15 yrs.

Co-creators and performers Vee Smith and Sadiq Ali are contemporary circus artists based in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Speaking about the commission, they said: “It’s already been an incredible journey working with Imaginate on this show and we are so excited to share the final vision at this year’s festival. We get to perform a work that is really special to us and we hope will also become really special to audiences. This is our first show for young audiences, and we’re delighted to share our optimism and joy about discovering your true self. We are humbled to receive this commission and can’t wait to bring this piece to life for the Children’s Festival."

Children’s Festival Director Noel Jordan said:
“When Greg Sinclair first shared his short film ‘Seashells’ with me I genuinely laughed out loud. Together with costume designer, Alison Brown, Greg had crafted eight highly visual characters delivering tongue twisters in eight different languages. The film was screened on a loop at our 2023 and 2024 festivals and family audiences agreed: the work was joyous. How you then transform this into a live production with multiple costume changes and multiple languages is the task ahead of Greg and his collaborators and I for one can’t wait to see what promises to be hysterical results.

Vee Smith and Sadiq Ali were our 2023 Accelerator artists. Over the course of a year this dynamic circus team explored the development of a new work for young audiences about friendship, otherness and living your true self. Sadiq had previously captivated family audiences with a Chinese pole duet at our Family Day in 2023. His ability to explore clear themes of friendship and bonding through circus skill was genuinely moving. Together, Vee and Sadiq’s first work for young audiences promises high level risk, great visuals with an authentic heart.”

Tongue Twister is produced by Scottish Theatre Producers, in partnership with Aberdeen Performing Arts, in association with Kloden Teater and supported by North Edinburgh Arts.

The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl is produced by Catherine Wheels Theatre Company, in association with National Theatre of Scotland and supported by Assembly.

Both commissions are supported through the Scottish Government's Festivals Expo Fund.

The Children’s Festival full programme will be announced on 25 March at www.imaginate.org.uk

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