Edinburgh International Children's Festival 2023
Imaginate PresentsAbout
The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival is back for 2023, with 14 live shows in theatres across the city and 4 at the Traverse! This year’s collection of performances hosts a wide variety of live theatre, dance, and storytelling for children to discover.
Many of the festival’s productions explore themes of identity and gender, with some covering the difficult and often taboo topics of war and mental health, all told through engaging and creative ways. Children will be given the access to see these topics through the medium of dance and theatre, gaining a deeper understanding of what these issues mean to them.
The 2023 Edinburgh International Children’s Festival will commence with Family Encounters on Sat 27 May. This is a free all-day interactive drop-in exhibition located at the National Museum of Scotland, showcasing dance, visual arts, and musical performances to celebrate the opening of the 2023 programme. Live performances will then run throughout the following week until Sunday, June 4th.
We look forward to seeing you at this year’s festival and hope you and the children in your care experience some unforgettable and exciting moments!
The Traverse Theatre is funded by Creative Scotland and The City of Edinburgh Council, and has received additional support from the Scottish Government's Performing Arts Venues Relief Fund and Creative Scotland’s Recovery Fund for Cultural Organisations.
At the Traverse
(links will divert from Traverse Website)
Somewhere Else
Somewhere Else is a touching story about a girl caught in the middle of a war. Through her eyes we observe a city marked by terror, violence and fear. But also hope.
BullyBully
Two world leaders meet in no man's land. A clash of culture, the collision of two world powers. What follows is an awkward encounter between two childish but powerful adults who gradually get used to each other and learn to meet in the middle.
Too Close to the sun
Inspired by the Greek legend of Icarus, this is the story of a girl weighed down by the responsibility of the environmental crisis. She dreams of the boy Icarus and begins to work out her escape. This is the story of a girl who’s learning to fly.
I... er... Me
A powerful performance exploring mental health for everyone who’s ever at odds with themselves. Featuring an incredible rotating set, this fast paced show cleverly portrays the main character’s battle with time and reality.
If you have access requirements, please contact our Sales and Welcome Team on boxoffice@traverse.co.uk or 0131 228 1404 so we can arrange reserved seating for you and discuss how else we can best support your visit.
Donate to Traverse Theatre Today
Help us to continue bringing exciting work to our stages, by making a donation to Traverse Theatre today!