A beloved children’s book will take centre stage during the April school holidays as City of Newcastle provides a range of activities to keep kids active and entertained.
The Civic Theatre is showcasing a new theatrical adaption of You & Me and the Land of Lost Things from writer Andy Griffiths and illustrator Bill Hope on 14 April, featuring a wild quest through a world of snapping turtles, flying socks, treasure-hungry pirates and a very anxious bull.
Nicholas Starte, Mym Kwa, Mathew Lee and Catherine Dominguez in the You & Me and the Land of Lost Things theatrical production. Photo credit: Phil ErbacherTo complement the production, Newcastle and Wallsend Libraries are offering illustration workshops on 7 and 8 April, while on 15 April a special event inspired by the book will offer participants the chance to learn basic navigation and map reading skills to take part in a treasure hunt.
At Newcastle Museum children can create their own version of the adventure gear that features in the popular children’s tale on 9 April, with participants also in the running to win a signed copy of the book.
Community and Culture Strategic Advisory Committee Chair Councillor Jenny Barrie said City of Newcastle is offering plenty of fun for families.
“City of Newcastle’s cultural facilities will be hubs of entertainment and education these school holidays for Novocastrians enjoying a staycation,” Cr Barrie said.
“The Civic Theatre has a range of options for children of all ages, including spectacular magic in Circus of Illusion, Hunter Drama’s Once Upon A One More Time at the Playhouse, a new live touring dance show called The Next Step: Legacy World Tour and a K-Pop Icons performance.
“City and Wallsend libraries have a packed scheduled, from LEGO challenges and hands-on workshops with a sea theme, to creative sessions that challenge Minecraft fans to build their own Model Newcastle inspired by the Newcastle Museum exhibition.”
There’s plenty more on offer at the Museum, including the ever-popular science shows, which will help children discover the structure of the Earth using custard and chocolate or allow them to test their knowledge of dinosaurs.
A two-day program called Marionette Melodrama will see recycled materials used to create a puppet with its own distinctive personality.
There’s also a writing workshop for teenagers and an upcycling session where participants can bring old clothes back to life.
Primary school children will have more than one reason to visit Newcastle Art Gallery with two different workshops running in the first and second week of the holidays.
Art Gallery educators will deliver ‘Frame It’ sessions where children can design and create their own frame box to explore how artists use the foreground, midground, and background to create stories in their works of art.
Inspired by collection artist Nell’s sculpture currently on display at the Gallery, the ‘Ghosty’ holiday workshops will give children the chance to create their own puppet, as well as a special case for Ghosty to live in and travel home safely.
For more information on all the school holiday activities visit The Civic Theatre, City of Newcastle Libraries, Newcastle Museum and Newcastle Art Gallery websites.