International WeeFestival of Theatre and Culture for Early Years Returns for 3rd Edition

Toronto's first contemporary arts festival dedicated to early childhood returns for its third edition with a not-to-be-missed line-up from May 11 to 21, 2018.

Theatre Direct Canada launched The WeeFestival in 2014 connecting Canada with an international network of professional theatres creating for very young audiences, advocating the cultural rights of all children, promoting "Arts from the Start". The biennial festival has since increased in scope and audience attendance. In the most recent edition, productions of Hup (Scotland) and Nest (Belgium) were recognized with Dora Award nominations.

The Festival brings productions from across the globe and around the corner that delight, stimulate, and inspire the youngest of theatregoers between the ages of 0 to 6 years. Performances in this international festival cross the disciplines of music, theatre, dance, installation/performance, puppetry, and aerial arts - all designed with the early developmental stages of childhood in mind and with events and activities for the whole family throughout the week!

Highlights of the 2018 WeeFestival include:

International works: Knock! Magnet Theatre (South Africa), CutOuts (Italy), Mokofina (Pays Basque/France), Ssst! (Germany)

WeeFestival premiers and commissions: Tweet! Tweet! (Femme de Feu), Flying Hearts (Theatre Direct), Baby Berio (Xin Wang), and Biinoojiinyag Gitgaanmiwaa (Leslie Kachena McCue)

Community outreach: Magnet Theatre's production of Scoop, will welcome infants and their caregivers from various social service organizations and initiatives serving young parents. Children from local daycares and kindergartens will attend performances throughout the week.

Professional development for early childhood educators and theatre artists: 25 early childhood educators will participate in workshops and attend performances while theatre artists will have the chance to learn and create for very young audiences with Magnet Theatre.

A full delegate programme of conference activity for producers, presenters, artists, and educators exploring themes of access, inclusion, and reconciliation in arts for early childhood

Full schedule/details: http://weefestival.ca/shows

The heartbeat of the Festival Hub will be Biinoojiinyag Gitgaanmiwaa - translating to "Children's Garden" - the first commission of its kind at a children's festival. This transformative space for young children and families curated by Leslie Kachena McCue will take place in the Theatre Centre's Incubator. Biinoojiinyag Gitgaanmiwaa is a relaxed performative space to explore, engage and to experience Indigenous culture through interactive experiences. Families are encouraged to visit the garden for a brief moment, a full performance, an activity or for the full week!

Early evening special events include: Baking Time Family Fun Night! with special musical guests Sing-Along-Tim and the Pacifiers on Saturday May 12; an all-ages one night only performance of Millan & Faye present: The Opera! From Twinkle to Stardom on Thursday May 17, sponsored by the Canadian Opera Company. The annual WeeFestival Family Day wraps the festival on Victoria Day, May 21st, with a celebration of arts and community at The Theatre Centre and Lisgar Park featuring West-African artist Fana Soro, a family dance party featuring music from around the world, a chill lullabye concert, and an array of hands-on activities for little hands.

Due to high demand from previous editions, this year's line-up expands the festival week to over 10 days, including performances over Mother's Day Weekend and the Victoria Day Long Weekend. The WeeFestival will present in seven venues across the city core - Alumnae Theatre, Theatre francais de Toronto Studio 21, Wychwood Theatre, Factory Studio Theatre, Intergalactic Artist's Collective & Small World Music Centre inside Artscape Youngplace, Pia Bouman School of Dance, and the Theatre Centre will act as the Festival Hub in May 2018.

Photo: KNOCK! Magnet Theatre, South Africa

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