Thousands Attend Inaugural Children's Festival

The Sydney Children’s Festival wrapped up on Saturday 11 October with about 9,500 visitors flooding CarriageWorks in the October school holidays. Entertainment and arts filled cavernous spaces at the refurbished railway workshops in Eveleigh for children aged 5-15. Executive Producer Loretta Busby estimates that ninety percent of audience feedback was positive and visitor numbers were far higher than their expected target of 3,500. “The testimonials were fantastic and we want more of it,” she said. Performers from Loose Canon Arts praised CarriageWorks for the festival organisation and were excited to be part of a creative community in a non-traditional theatre space. MC Leisel Badorrek said “People must have been gagging for some kind of theatrical or artsy event to take their kids to.” Resident theatre company Erth showcased their Petting Zoo of life-like dinosaurs, an inflatable garden complete with roving insect performers. Erth puppeteers teach children about prehistoric creatures from Australia. Wright said “It’s a learning process... we’re using the arts as a tool for education.” Erth encouraged interaction at the festival by inviting audience members onto the stage. Wright is convinced that children should be recognised as mature theatre patrons. “Their sophistication has been underestimated, forgotten or ignored. We’re changing people’s perspective on what children can be given.” With sell out shows and workshops signalling a promising future, CarriageWorks is embarking on a long term vision to inspire children as artists and audience. In the meantime Erth’s Petting Zoo is on tour every weekend until mid December and their next show Nargun and the Stars will premiere at Parramatta for the Sydney Festival in January 2009. For more information visit www.sydneychildrensfestival.com, www.erth.com.au or www.loosecanonarts.com.au Contact: Vanessa Kewan (0417557989 or vkew4996@usyd.edu.au)