Family Arts Festival Begins at Belgrade Theatre

Ghoulish Games, spooky stories, feuding families, hellish holidays, embarrassing parents moody teenagers, and madcap aunties...these are just some of the highlights audiences can look forward to as part of this year's Family Arts Festival at the Belgrade.

The UK-wide Family Arts Festival launches its second year from 17 Oct - 2 November with over 500 organisations hosting over 2,000 family friendly arts event across the UK. As part of the festival, the Belgrade Theatre will play host to laugh-out-loud new musical comedy This Is My Family penned by award-winning playwright Tim Firth (creator of Calendar Girls and Kinky Boots) running from Tues 28 Oct - Sat 1 Nov.

Nicky is a typical teenager - surgically attached to her mobile phone and mortally embarrassed by her moderately dysfunctional family. When she wins the chance to take her family on the holiday of a lifetime, she decides to take them to pretty much the last place they would expect...

Brought to life by a talented cast of six and a six-piece band, This Is My Family is a funny, heartfelt and hilarious new musical about the sheer horrific nightmare of a family going on holiday together, something that most of us have experienced at some point in our lives!

Budding young performers can also look forward to a spook-tacular half term of drama games and activities with a special Halloween-themed Autumn Camp running from Tues 28 - Wed 29 Oct.

The 2014 Family Arts Festival, running throughout October half-term, aims to build on the success of last year's festival bringing high quality arts with a mix of music, theatre, dance and visual arts events to attract families to participate this autumn. The Family Arts Network for Coventry and Warwickshire includes the Belgrade Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Warwick Arts Centre, Compton Verney, Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust, Coventry Transport Museum and the Herbert Museum and Art Gallery. A full list of events taking place across Coventry and Warwickshire can be accessed via the following website: www.familyartsfestival.com/coventry-and-warwickshire

Former Children's Laureate and bestselling author of War Horse, Michael Morpurgo comments: "I am delighted to be Patron of the 2014 Family Arts Festival. The enormous range of events presented across the UK means there will be something to delight, and share with, all members of the family across the generations. I encourage you to make a day - or a week - of exploring the fun, interesting and entertaining events in your area this autumn half term."

The festival was launched in 2013 as part of the Family Arts Campaign, an initiative of six national arts membership bodies and supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England; in 2014 the Family Arts Campaign and Festival are being supported in Wales through additional funding from Arts Council Wales.

This Is My Family will play on the Belgrade Main Stage from Tues 28 - Sat 1 Nov. Tickets are priced between £9 - £21.25.

Autumn Camp runs from Tues 28 - Wed 29 Oct 2014 and is open to ages 8-16 years. Autumn Camp is priced at £50 online and £55 in person or by phone for two days. Sessions will take place from 10am - 4.30pm with 8.45am drop off and 5.15pm pick up available at a cost of £10 per person for two days. A 25% discount is available on all drama classes on subsequent tickets bought for the same event for the same family.

Tickets for all of the above events are available to book via the Belgrade Theatre Box Office in person, over the phone on 024 7655 3055 or online at www.belgrade.co.uk where tickets are cheaper.

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