Joe GallopSouthbank Centre has announced the return of its annual Imagine Children’s Festival, which this year will include specific sensory-adapted shows, BSL-interpreted and non-verbal performances.
For the first time, organisers said all events across the festival are relaxed, meaning people are allowed to enter and leave the auditorium freely, with an “open attitude towards audience noise and movement”.
Taking place from 8-18 February, the event will feature more than 100 events across literature, theatre and other artforms. Live events include CBeebies’ YolanDa’s Band Jam, magician and TV presenter Stephen Mulhern, the ‘world’s youngest DJ’ DJ Archie and scientists Ben Garrod and Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock.
Children’s literature events hosted by Michael Rosen, Cressida Cowell and Zanib Mian will also take place, along with theatre shows by Julia Donaldson’s Tales from Acorn Wood, Hermit and Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish.
The Southbank Centre head of public programming Ruth Hardie said, “Imagine Children’s Festival is about children and families exploring new ideas and experiences together and, with half of the festival’s events free and all performances relaxed, the festival continues its mission; to give every child a space to play, create and express themselves.”