The colors, music and rhythms of theatre ‘round the world will be the theme of this year’s Haifa International Festival for Children’s Theatre. The festival will take place from April 8 – 10, 2012, with three days of fun including: 6 new original Israeli plays for children in the festival competition, guest performances from international and Israeli theatres, and outdoor performances. New this year are shows for the very young – ages 2 – 3. All events will take place in and around the Haifa Municipal Theatre.
Outdoor performances promise to be quite a treat, with “Theatre Around the World” as its theme. In addition to a spectacular opening event, the area surrounding the Haifa Theatre will take visitors on a journey through different eras and styles of theatre, from Classic Greek Theatre to Commedia dell’Arte and more, with performances along the route. All outdoor performances are free and open to the public, look up performance times on the festival website.
New Israeli Plays for Children at the Festival:
Father of Amelia is Going to Australia – “Aba Shel Amalia Nosea LeAustralia” by Lior Gerty, based on the book by Eshkol Nevo, directed by Ori Amnuti, performers: Avigil Arieli, Ziv Meir, Naama Shitrit and Yuli Saker. The play is about a young girl’s longing for her father.
Corduroy – an object-theatre creation by multidisciplinary artist Shahar Marom, inspired by Don Freeman’s wonderful book “Corduroy.”
The Lost Socks Land – “Eretz Hagarbayim Ha’avudim” by Shai Lahav and Yoni Zicholtz, directed by Ra’anan Ferrera and Moshe Ben Shoshan, performers: Albert Cohen, Noga Roth-Gur, Avri Arbel, Yair Mossel, Or Mashiach and Noga Milstein. An adventure story – a boy arrives in a magical land whose residents are all socks.
Fool Moon – The Chelem Legend – “Hachamim baLayla” by Naomi Yoeli and Galia Vered-Levi, directed by Naomi Yoeli, performer: Galia Vered-Levi. Funny stories from Chelm with a unique paper-theatre approach and klezmer orchestra of Eyal Talmudi of Oy Division.
Neighbors – “Shchenim” by Roy Segev, Yuval Cohen and Amnon Wolf, directed by Roy Segev, performers: Amnon Wolf and Yuval Cohen. A humorous story without words of two neighbors who learn that together can be better than alone.
The Witch Next Door – “Hamachshefa Babayit Mimul” by Yoav Bar-Lev and Irit Kaplan, directed by Yoav Bar-Lev, performers: Irit Natan Bendak, Roni Merhavi, Itay Shor and Yakir Portal. An amusing and suspenseful adventure – three lonely kids discover the power of friendship.
Haifa International Children’s Theatre Festival is produced by the Haifa Municipal Theatre. Festival Management: Nitza Ben Zvi – CEO Haifa Theater; Moshe Naor – Artistic Director, Haifa Theater; Zvia Huberman – Festival Artistic Director.
Haifa Theatre, 50 Pevzner Street, Haifa. Tickets and information: 04-8600500. www.haifakids.co.il
