Family Fiesta brings children’s literature to life this July school holidays
The annual festival, which runs from June 30 – July 3rd, celebrates children’s literature, music and theatre Melbourne families are in for a literary treat these July school holidays, with the annual ‘Family Fiesta’ set to return to Monash University’s Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts.
From Wednesday June 30 until Saturday July 3, Family Fiesta will celebrate children’s literature through performance and participation, with a range of free and ticketed events happening each day.
As well as live author and illustrator events from acclaimed talent including Bruce Pascoe, Heidi McKinnon, Andrew Hansen and Jessica Roberts, families will be thrilled by exclusive theatre and music performances, ensuring that every part of the Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts is filled with stories, theatre, music, circus and entertainment throughout the entire event.
Event highlights include; Beep by Windmill Theatre Company, a live puppetry performance that tells the story of what happens when someone new comes to town. Told with Windmill Theatre Company’s trademark design, gentle storytelling, music and puppetry, Beep is suitable for children aged 2-7 years, Lullaby Project by Nat Bartsch, a Melbourne-based pianist and composer who blends postclassical and jazz genres. After becoming a mother, Nat launched ‘Lullaby Project’ – a composition of pieces designed to encourage babies to sleep which is influenced by music therapy and an author event from Bruce Pascoe, author of Young Dark Emu.
Spearheaded by Paul Grabowsky, the Executive Director of the Monash University Performing Arts Centres, Family Fiesta has been curated as part of the MLIVE (Monash Live) 2021 season.
Mr Grabowsky Said:
He and the Programming Team worked together to create an event that celebrates the importance of children’s literature, art and theatre in an accessible and safe way, while also embracing the early days of the Alexander Theatre.
He Said:
Before 2017, Alexander Theatre was very well known for its children programming and theatre, so we wanted to create an event that would bring back that audience.
We want to give Melbourne families access to incredible, unique performances, including live readings from children’s authors and illustrators and educational theatre shows, and Family Fiesta is that. The entire event is designed for children and young families, and is one of the few events across Australia that focusses specifically on children’s literature.
Other event additions include a concert performance of ‘Peter and the Wolf’ by The Inventi Ensemble, a beautiful story of young Peter, his grandfather and their friends – duck, bird abd car, as well as Sensory Concerts® developed by Grace Kim with a team of musicians and therapists, which are designed to create high quality and relaxed concert experiences for children and adults with special education needs and disabilities.
There will also be live author and illustrator performances and conversations from renowned authors like Andrew Hansen and Jessica Roberts (Bab Sharkey and the Egyptian Animal Mummies: The Prickly Battle), Heidi McKinnon (I Just Ate My Friend), Sue Whiting (The Book of Chance), Aseel Tayah (Amal’s Journey), Alison Croggon (Threads of Magic), Claire Saxby (Kookaburra) and Boori Monty Pryor (The Story Doctors).
There will also be a number of free events running each day. Be entertained by Miss C and the Bubblegum Circus, spend a quiet moment in the Family Fiesta Book Nook, grab a free rainbow babyccino from Script @ The Count’s, and check out their delicious children’s menu or pull up a chair in the Fiesta Mini Cafe to do some colouring, while the grown-ups relax. There is also free lunchtime music in The Count’s by Mickey & Michelle and The Tuck Shop Ladies.
After the children are entertained, parents are encouraged to check out Script @ The Count’s, a sophisticated restaurant and bar within the Ian Potter Centre for a drink and a bite to eat.
Season Details
Venue: Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts, Clayton Campus
Date: 30 June – 03 July 2021
For more information Click HERE
