Wednesday 24 – Sunday 28 August
Something special is coming to Polka this summer!
Join us for an exciting programme of events, plus plenty of free activities, at Polka’s first BIG DREAMS Early Years Theatre Festival.
Be immersed in an Irish performance in the morning and scintillated by a Swedish show in the afternoon! BIG DREAMS is a biennial festival curated by Polka Theatre which showcases and celebrates Early Years Theatre by leading UK and International companies. With inspiring shows for children, and fascinating talks and workshops for adults, this festival celebrates early years theatre for everyone
Tickets* (per person)
Enjoy the full festival experience with our multi-buy offers
1 show £9
2 show £15
3 show £21
4 show £26
5 show £30
* A £1.50 transaction fee applies to telephone and online bookings. Multibuy offer valid across different shows only i.e. one ticket per show.
Workshops
Alongside our programme of shows, we’ll be hosting a selection of workshops offering professional development opportunities for artists, educationalists, students and peers. Visit our website for more information.
Workshops: £20
Workshop & any show ticket £25
2 workshops for £35 (buy one, get a second at £15)
Talks: FREE but must be booked
Ready, Steady, GO!
Wed 10 – Thu 25 Aug
Ages 3-6
Back for a pre-festival run following its successful Polka premiere in Jan 2022 and a European Tour.
Join Sofia and her mum in a race like no other where natural environments are brought to life through textures and light.
We Touch, We Play, We Dance
Wed 24 – Thu 25 Aug
Ages 0-3
Sit back and watch or join in with this engaging, fun and mesmerising dance show created by UK based award-winning company Second Hand Dance.
Club Origami
Fri 26 – Sat 27 Aug
Ages 0-5 yrs
Enter a land made of paper and play with pioneering new dance experience Club Origami created by UK based artist Takeshi Matsumoto.
See what we can make with a single square of paper!
Rothar
Sat 27 – Sun 28 Aug
Ages 4+
In the little bike shop at the end of town, a world of adventure awaits.
Irish company, Branar, bring a joyful non-verbal production where two boys and their bikes travel the world.
Dreamy
Sat 27 – Sun 28 Aug
Ages 1-3
A room that transforms, it grows big and then small again.
Swedish company Teater Tre create a dream play and invite the youngest audience and their adults to a fantasy world inspired by dreams.
Workshops
Page One
Making Theatre for Early Years with Page One
Length: 2 hours
Date: Friday 26 August 2022
Times: 9:45am-11:45am
Branar
Clown for Young Audiences with Miquel Barcelo
Length: 1 hour
Date: Friday 26 August 2022
Times: 12pm-1pm
Small Plays for Small People
(Run by Sarah Argent and Kevin Lewis)
Length: 2 hours
Date: Saturday 27 August 2022
Times: 11am-1pm
Free Talks
Second Hand Dance
Long Table: Touch, interaction and consent within work for early years
Length: 90 minutes
Date: Friday 26 August 2022
Times: 3:30pm-5pm
Second Hand Dance
Focus on Second Hand Dance: Dance, digital and disability
Length: 1 hour
Date: Saturday 27 August 2022
Times: 3pm-4pm
Mapping Panel Discussion
Length: 1 hour
Date: Saturday 27 August 2022
Times: 4pm-5pm
Sarah Argent – A Profile
(Interviewer: Jeremy Harrison)
Length: 1 hour
Date: Sunday 28 August 2022
Times: 1pm-2pm