The ŻiguŻajg international festival for children and young people continues throughout this week and comes to an end on Sunday.
It features over 150 performances and workshops at various venues by critically acclaimed international and national companies.
Details are available at www.ziguzajg.org. Tickets may be purchased online or from St James Cavalier’s box office (tel. 2122 3200).
The following are a few highlights of the programme.
Goodbye Berlin
With the birthday party of the most beautiful girl in the whole class coming in less than three weeks and the beginning of the summer holidays, Maik, a diffident 14-year-old teenager, has definitely a lot on his mind.
To make matters worse, Maik’s mother, a caring but alcoholic tennis nut, is in and out of the beauty farm, also known as the rehab facility, and his father, who is a real estate developer, is simply indifferent.
Under those circumstances, the unexpected arrival of a new classmate, Tschick, creates quite a stir when the two class rejects boldly decide to hit the road in an old, ‘borrowed’, light blue Lada, going from uncool to cool in a split second.
As they set off on an unforgettable joyride in East Germany’s great outdoors, without a mobile phone or a map, the boys learn about self-confidence, mutual friendship and the excitement of youthful love, in what will be, hands down, the best summer ever.
Film screenings: Today and on Saturday at 5.30pm at the St James Cavalier cinema. (Language: German with English subtitles. Duration: 95 minutes.) The screening on Saturday will be followed by a question and answer session with the film’s protagonist, Anand Batbileg.
Little Max
Max is ‘different’: she has a flipper for a foot. She creates her own world from other things the world has no use for and a metal forest becomes her refuge, where she feels liberated from the critical gaze of others.
But Max’s loving nature means that she has to struggle with a constant desire for company. Only when an intruder invades her small, fragile world does Max understand that she never really wanted to be alone.
The show invites the audience to look into the heart of people like Max and learn about the challenges they face.
Performances: Today and tomorrow at 5pm and on Saturday and Sunday at 11.30am and 10am respectively at the City Theatre Studio. (Suitable for children aged 2+. Language: non-verbal. Duration: 40 minutes).
Murikami
The show reflects the unique style of dance company Arch 8. From the subways of Montreal to the alleys of Africa and to the streets of Europe, the performers evoke dream worlds, layering them upon ordinary urban space.
This work invites audiences to step into the daydream that unfolds before their eyes. Using the magical, surrealistic stories of Haruki Murakami as a source of inspiration, the company creates an intensely physical and absurd performance trail.
In each new city, the work is adapted to the local context. In each version of ‘Murikamication’, a diverse and curious audience is overwhelmed by surprising scenery in the streets of their own city.
Performances: Today and on Sunday at 5pm and noon respectively. This is a free promenade performance but is still subject to booking. Those booking this show are to gather at the St James Cavalier entrance at Castille Square. (Suitable for children of all ages. Language: non-verbal. Duration: 60 minutes).