Every season, the Arden Theatre books popular shows and artists to entertain and enlighten children.
This year, the Family Series four-pack encompasses amazing stories and inspiring themes through funky music, vivid puppetry, clowning theatre and the whirlwind of circus.
The Arden’s new professional programming presenter, Casey Prescott, also former artistic director of the Canmore Children’s Festival, has a love of munchkin theatre rooted in his own childhood visits to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
“As a young child seeing the magic of live performances and being transported into different worlds was a kind of crack. It’s still a big part of our development as humans. It changes you. It’s not a passive experience. It engages you, and to be part of it is great,” Prescott says.
Opening the season is Grammy Award-winning Linda Tillery on Saturday, Oct. 30. The African American songstress is planning an afternoon of upbeat, Motown rhythms, fun R&B twists and funky beats. “She’s a communicator and she’ll have sing-alongs and audience interaction. It’s going to be a lights-up-and-let’s-have-a-conversation type of show.”
The Australian-based Circa, a dizzying spectacle of circus tricks, arrives Saturday, Jan. 29. As the clock ticks, performers whip through 46 circus acts combining tumbles, dives, juggling, magic, acrobatics and slapstick. “It’s fast-paced mayhem and lots of laughs.
On Sunday, Feb. 20, Mermaid Theatre presents Leo Leonni’s whimsical puppets in Swimmy, Frederick and Inch by Inch. Swimmy is a tiny, unimportant fish in a big ocean. Frederick is a poetic mouse that makes every day an artful experience, and Inch is an inchworm that measures everything. “He’s a great storyteller and he really speaks to youth.”
Closing the season on Sunday, March 27 is Axis Theatre’s King Arthur’s Kitchen, a tour of the fabled Camelot as seen by the castle’s kitchen staff. “It’s very physical, very exaggerated, exuberant with lots of mayhem.”
Single tickets are $20/adults and $18/children. The subscription package is $60/adults and $54/children. Call 780-459-1542 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca
