Festival of family theatre under way at Unity Theatre

May 28 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Andrew Gledhill and Louise Garcia, as a polar bear, in Treasure at The Unity Theatre in Liverpool _320

SPLATTERFEST, Unity Theatre’s annual festival of "full-on, family friendly theatre events" gets under way this week with a range of children’s theatre, crafts, play days and even a jumble sale.

This year’s extended programme features international theatre from Denmark, Canada and Belgium, Play in a Day workshops, the To Do Market, a Brilliant show for young children and Unity’s own in-house show, Treasure.

Splatterfest!08 marks the fourth year of the city’s only festival of theatre for children.

Treasure, which plays to public and schools from tomorrow until Saturday, June 7, follows in the footsteps of previous in-house successes Fabulous Beasts and Through the Door.

The show takes children, aged 4 to 7 years, on an exciting, interactive, magical, musical adventure in the specially transformed theatre space that will encourage the audience to be part of the story for what Unity says will be "an intimate and unique theatrical experience for all".

Today only is the chance for children to take part in Splatterfest’s Play in a day workshop, which gives the 8 to 12- year-olds the chance to create a play in an introduction to theatre.

New for Splatterfest!08, The To Do Market on Thursday between 11am and 1pm promises to be "a big jumble sale of fun", where there will be craft activities, storytellers, cake decorating and face painting as well as lots of other activities for the whole family to get involved with.

Back on stage, Brilliant, which comes in June, is described as a beautiful show about light and dark that combines live music, lighting, movement, and captivating imagery, and has been created specifically for pre-school 3 and 4 year olds. It plays to public and schools from Wednesday, June 11, to Saturday, June 14.

In Thrice Upon a Time, presented by the Dynamo Theatre of Canada, three young people are forced to confront their fears to overcome an evil witch.

The show is suitable for 6 to 11 year-olds and has two showings on both June 17 and 18.

On Saturday, June 28, Dadunk from Denmark present Clumsy Hans, an interpretation of the fairytale by the famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.

Finally, 1900 (Novocento) is a gentle, funny and touching play from Belgium company Ultima Thule for over-12s on July 5, telling the story of a unique man who never sets foot on dry land.

More info and online booking can be found at unitytheatreliverpool .co.uk.

For a copy of the free splatterfest brochure please call the ticketoffice on 0151 709 4988.

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk