Expand your horizons at the Vancouver International Children’s Festival. Whether it’s the thrills and chills of the National Acrobats of Taiwan, the Chaplinesque artistry of Jamie Adkins in Circus Incognitus or a Robert Munsch story brought to life in A Promise is a Promise, there’s something fun for everyone.

After all, it’s a kids’ world!  

ACROBATICS
National Acrobats of Taiwan - National Taiwan College of Performing Arts – all ages
A breathtaking display of tumbling, spinning, dancing and death-defying feats leaves audiences around the world gasping in amazement. This renowned troupe has been compared to Cirque du Soleil for good reason: its astonishing young performers express their dynamic artistry with exquisite
costumes, creative choreography and unbelievable talent.

Circus Incognitus – (USA) – ages 7 and up
Cirque du Soleil veteran Jamie Adkins dazzles in his one-man tour-de-force as he uses everyday objects and discarded props to attempt acrobatic feats with hilarious results. Whether on the ground, on a ladder, or on a slack wire, Jamie has won the admiration of critics and the adoration of circus lovers from around the world.

DANCE
Aché Brasil – (BC) all ages
The exhilarating combination of martial arts, dance, music, and acrobatics known as capoeira is full of kicks, flips and vibrant colours. Performed to the music of drums and the ancient stringed berimbau, the lively dancers of Vancouver’s own Aché Brasil will knock your socks off!

Dancing Our Stories - Dancers of Damelahamid (BC) – ages 7 and up
This show celebrates the rich cultural treasures of the Gitskan Nation: dramatic dances, captivating narrative, beautiful button blankets and North West Coast art. Performed since time immemorial, these masked dances are thousands of years old and recount the oral histories that connect the
Gitskan with the Creator and govern their way of life.

MUSIC & MUSICAL COMEDY
Joie d’Afrique – (Africa/QC/BC) – all ages
It’s musical magic when master talents from Ivory Coast, Guinea and Montreal join forces for a celebration of West African music and dance. This exhilarating concert features the renowned Aboulaye Koné (guitar, djembe), Nathalie Cora (21-stringed cora harp), Fana Soro (balafon), Kocassalé Dioubaté (djembe, doundoun), dancer Jacky Essombe and much more.

Michel Lauzière – (QC) – all ages
Refreshingly quirky and rivetingly musical, Michel Lauzière will have you in stitches from start to finish. Known as a “master of unusual comedy”, this inventor, acrobat, comedian, juggler and musician flaunts some of the craziest sight gags around. With lots of antics and plenty of surprises,
Michel’s goofy hilarity has made him a resounding Festival favourite.

Charlotte Diamond and the Hug Bug Band – (BC) – ages 3-8
For more than 25 years, the multi-award-winning Charlotte Diamond has been inspiring children to sing, dance, care for each other and celebrate the diversity of Canada’s cultures. One of BC’s best-loved entertainers, Charlotte creates musical fun with new songs along with many of her popular
kid-friendly tunes.

Bobs & Lolo – (BC) - ages 3-8
Dynamic duo Bobs & Lolo leads the way on action-packed, musical adventures! Featuring hits from their award-winning albums, this energetic and interactive concert is sure to get everyone singing and dancing along. Regularly featured on Treehouse TV, Juno-nominated Bobs & Lolo are excited to bring their green-themed stage show home to Vancouver.

10TH ANNUAL VARIETY SHOW
Saturday, May 22 6:30pm – all ages
This high-energy showcase offers more bang for your buck with five of our headliners all on one dynamic bill. Our hosts for the evening, improv masters DuffleBag Theatre, will keep things rolling and provide laughs a-plenty. Enjoy the musical fun of Charlotte Diamond and the Hug Bug Band.
Aché Brasil will dazzle with the exhilarating kicks, flips and lively music of capoeira. Clap and dance along to the African rhythms of Joie d’Afrique. Then catch your breath to the thrills and chills of the world-renowned National Acrobats of Taiwan.
Special event ticket prices: Youth $18, Adult $20.

THEATRE & PUPPETRY
Alice in Wonderland - Théâtre Tout à Trac (QC) – ages 6-10
A tardy rabbit... an egg on a wall that fears his fall... a grinning cat… a Mad Hatter… a Queen of Hearts … and a young girl who refuses to do her homework… This quick-paced and slightly off-kilter adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic sparks the imagination in a set that resembles a pop-up book!
For children and adults who still enjoy chasing white rabbits.

A Promise is a Promise – Rag & Bone Puppet Theatre (ON) – ages 5 and up
This is the tale of Allashua, a young Inuit girl who meets the legendary Qallupilluit: short, stumpy monsters that live under the sea and grab disobedient children through cracks in the ice. Based on the well-known book by Robert Munsch and Michael Kusugak, this magical tale will have you howling with laughter and screaming with delight.

Peter Pan – DuffleBag Theatre (ON) – ages 5 and up
Ever see yourself as Captain Hook or Tinker Bell? In this refreshing adaptation of the classic adventure tale, no one has to grow up as audience members are invited on stage to play the main parts! The resulting excitement and spontaneity creates a hilarious experience for all.

King Arthur’s Kitchen – Axis Theatre (BC) – ages 5-12
Amidst the hustle and bustle of Camelot’s basement kitchen, the cook regales his two assistants with stories and songs of how young Arthur became king. Using kitchen utensils to represent objects and symbols from Arthur’s legendary feats, the trio is transported into the stories – and thus the
adventures begin, complete with great feats of daring, damsels in distress and good food!

The Princess and the Pea – Matthias Kuchta (Germany) – ages 4-8
Welcome to the enchanted world of master puppeteer Matthias Kuchta whose near life-sized figures bring this classic fairy tale to life. Told with engaging storytelling and animated puppetry, will the young princess feel the tiny pea buried under the many layers of mattress?

A Space To Play – Kellie Haines (BC) – ages 3-7
Join Kellie and her puppet friends Kamilla the frog and Magrau the bird as they embark on a journey into outer space to a mysterious planet. Complete with singing, dancing and plenty of high jinks, the trio will take the audience flying through the constellations in this lively, interactive performance.

SITE ACTIVITIES
All show tickets include free access to the Festival’s colourful site programming with roving circus artists, stilt walkers, circle shows, and much more every day. Take in one or all of our many hands-on arts and cultural activities with plenty of favourites and some new surprises to inspire creativity.

The Coast Capital Savings Bandshell free stage will be rockin’ all week long with terrific music and dance. This is a great spot to hang out with your kids and take in some of the finest professional talent showcased alongside emerging youth performers.  Singer-songwriter Jay Mankita will perform
tunes from his newest album Eat Like a Rainbow and more all weekend long.

 
There’s a park-full of fun for everyone at the Children’s Festival!
Visit www.childrensfestival.ca for details

SHOW TICKETS ONLY $16* – includes site admission!
*plus service charges, incl. G.S.T. Not valid for Variety Show. Site admission tickets $10.
FAMILY PACK!
Buy 4 tickets to the same show for only $56*
**plus service charges; not valid for Variety Show.
Tickets available through www.ticketmaster.ca, charge-by-phone  
or on site at the Festival from May 17-24.