Saturday 24 – Saturday 31 October
October half term sees the return of The Atkinson’s annual children’s festival and this year it is bigger than ever, with events and activities with authors, poets, monsters, bears and bubbles for all ages.
This year the venue is working with Southport BID to celebrate Halloween and the Southport Children’s Comedy Festival to bring you and your family lots of spooky funny fun!
We literally kick off the festival events with ComedySportz on Saturday 24 October at 4.30pm. This all ages, all improvised show were two teams battle it out for laughs as players create quick-witted sketches, scenes and songs from whatever suggestions are thrown at them by the audience. It’s a show that’s fast, feel good and always unpredictably funny. There’s a referee on hand to steer the entertainment, call any fouls and help the audience decide the winner. The show can’t start without you! Tickets: £8 (£6 children / £24 family) plus booking fee *
Bear and the Butterfly on Monday 26 October at 2.30pm is from Theatre Hullabaloo & Theatre by the Lake. Bear and Butterfly become best friends but one day Caterpillar stops munching and looks sick. But if by magic, Caterpillar grows and stretches and from the leaves emerges a beautiful butterfly. Can Bear come to terms with this new version of his friend who flies high above the trees and has stories of his own?
Puppetry, live music and beautiful storytelling combine in this charming tale about love, loss and friendship, for ages 4+ and their families. Tickets: £8 (£6 children / £24 family) plus booking fee *
We are delighted to bring Louis Pearl, the Amazing Bubble Man to The Atkinson on Wednesday 28 October for two performances at 11.30am & 2.30pm, as he embarks on a tour of the UK with his unique show that has been delighting audiences of all ages around the world for thirty years.
The world’s leading ‘Bubbleologist’ has been delighting family audiences around the world with the art, magic, science and fun of bubble since 1983. He explores the breathtaking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy and artistry with audience participation and enough spellbinding bubble tricks to keep everyone mesmerized. Tickets: £8 (£6 children / £24 family) plus booking fee *
Get your wands at the ready as we show Cinderella (U) on Tuesday 27 October at 2.30pm. This live-action feature film inspired by the classic fairy tale, Cinderella brings to life the timeless images from Disney’s 1950 animated masterpiece. Tickets: £3 plus booking fee*
On Thursday 29 October at 11am Living Story Music Ensemble brings I Have A Duck Who Can Roar! A quirky story about the world’s strangest duck, wonderful illustrations by Ann Gilligan and a jaunty musical score performed by an amazing ensemble. Expect some very silly activities, super storytelling and improvisations that will entertain all ages. Tickets: £8 (£6 children / £24 family) plus booking fee *
Join Ballet Theatre UK in their beautiful re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairytale ballet, The Snow Queen on Thursday 29 October at 6pm. This spectacular production follows the story of Gerda and her quest to find her friend Kay, whom the Snow Queen has placed under an evil spell! Tickets: £15 / £12 under 16’s / £45 family plus booking fee*
Blunderbus Theatre Company invite you to a Halloween treat with My Pet Monster and Me on Saturday 31 October at 2.30pm. One day, Sophie finds an egg. She keeps it warm, and out pops a cuddly, toothy, burpy, baby MONSTER! And this is when the fun begins.
Join us down on the farm for adventures with Sophie and her new friend George, the most lovable monster in the land! This big-hearted fairy-tale is especially for little monsters aged 3 – 7, and their grown-ups. Told with magical songs, enchanting music and exquisite puppetry. Tickets: £8 (£6 children / £24 family) plus booking fee *
Join us for hours of creative fun that the whole family will enjoy, from workshops and creation trails – there’s so much to do!
On Saturday 24 October from 10:30 am – 12:30pm we invite you to a morning of creative funny fun with Spooky Creation Trail with the Creation Station and the Playtown team and Spooky Cartoon Workshop with Southport cartoonist Paul Hardman.
The Spooky Creation Trail is happening in different places around The Atkinson and gives you and your family the chance to take part in free arts and craft activities and ghoulish face painting. While the Spooky Cartoon Workshop is in The Art Box. Both events are part of The Southport Children’s Comedy Festival. Suitable for children and adults of all ages and both FREE!
Why not stay for a special Halloween themed afternoon tea for all the family in the Bakery throughout the festival. We will be serving monstrous muffins, spooky sandwiches, creepy cupcakes, gingerbread ghosts and lots more. Plus we have our new children’s menu available from October half term with lots of tasty treats!
Come along to our Halloween Spooky Bunting Workshop on Saturday 24 October from 1:3 pm – 3:00pm in the galleries. This is a chance to make Spooky Bunting that will send shivers up your spine with an artist on hand to help! Tickets: £4.50 per child / £3.50 for sibling / £3 extra adult (1 adult per child goes free) plus booking fee* Suitable for Ages 5-14. Materials provided.
It’s not just for the little ones… The Atkinson is also home to the Southport Children’s Comedy Festival Young Persons Stand Up Comedy Workshop on Sunday 25 October, 1pm – 3pm. Come and learn the ropes from a professional comic in this fun and friendly workshop. FREE (limited capacity) for ages 10 – 16. Please visit southportcomedyfestival.com to book your free place.
The Atkinson’s Children’s Library is welcoming the award winning author Cathy Cassidy for a book talk and signing on Monday 26 October at 4.30pm. You will hear about all her new books this year… and find out what’s coming next! Books will also be on sale for signing. FREE (limited capacity) for ages 8+
Then on Friday 30 October at 11am we support local author Donna Gowland as she launches her children’s poetry book Goats Don’t Wear Capes the first in her picture book trilogy, The Couture Collection. Join us for a fun-filled afternoon in which we shall design our own outfits for animals, play dressing up and finish with a reading of her hilarious poem.FREE for ages 3 – 6
The popular Story & Rhyme Time sessions get a Halloween makeover and will be telling Spooky Tales on Tuesday 27 October / Wednesday 28 October / Thursday 29 October – 10.30am. There will be stories, rhymes, singing, instruments and colouring in. FREE for all ages
Don’t forget to visit our Discover Ancient Egypt Gallery and take part in the interactive family displays. Plus our new exhibitions ELEMENTAL by Antony Gormley, Ghosts of a Restless Shore Modern History Vol.II and Rediscoveries are all on display.
Kidsfest is kindly sponsored by MumsintheKnow.co.uk and Southport Visitor.
For more information about Kidsfest or to book any of the events and activities, please visit theatkinson.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01704 533333. Tickets can also be booked over the counter during The Atkinson opening hours.
Please be advised that there is booking fee of £1 per ticket online/phone & 50p over the counter.
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LISTING INFORMATION
Southport Children’s Comedy festival
Spooky Creation Trail
Saturday 24 October
10.30am – 12.30pm
Free
Southport Children’s Comedy festival
Spooky Cartoon Workshop
Saturday 24 October
10.30pm – 12.30pm
Free
Halloween Spooky Bunting workshop
Saturday 24 October
1.30pm – 3.30pm
Tickets: £4.50 per child / £3.50 for sibling / £3 extra adult (1 adult per child goes free)
ComedySportz
Saturday 24 October
4.30pm
Tickets: £8, £6 children / £24 family
Theatre Hullabaloo & Theatre by the Lake
Bear and the Butterfly
Monday 26 October
2.30pm
Tickets: £8, £6 children / £24 family
Cinderella (U)
Tuesday 27 October
2.30pm
£3
Louis Pearl – The Amazing Bubble Man
Wednesday 28 October
11.30am & 2.30pm
Tickets: £8, £6 children / £24 family
I Have a Duck Who Can Roar!
Thursday 29 October
11am
Tickets: £8, £6 children / £24 family
Goats Don’t Wear Capes
Friday 30 October
11am
Free
Blunderbus Theatre
My Pet Monster and Me
Sunday 31 October
2.30pm
Tickets: £8, £6 children / £24 family
*Please be advised that there is booking fee of £1 per ticket online/phone & 50p over the counter.
The Atkinson
Lord Street
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 1DB
HOW TO BOOK
In person: Visit The Atkinson box office on Lord Street
For tickets: visit the website theatkinson.co.uk or call box office on 01704 533333
For interviews, press tickets or images please contact emma.lloyd@sefton.gov.uk or call 0151 934 2129
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About The Atkinson
The Atkinson is Southport’s beautiful new home for music, theatre, art, poetry, literature and history, right in the middle of Lord Street in Southport. Significant investment has been made in refurbishing the stunning 19th century buildings, to create a really welcoming multi art-form venue with a strong contemporary feel.
The Atkinson offers an exciting and varied destination for families, cultural tourists and arts enthusiasts alike, with a full day and night time offer. Wile the day away visiting the new shop, that sells gifts and contemporary crafts from regional makers and then relax in the Bakery, choosing from a selection of artisan bread sandwiches, cakes and sharing platters. You can even take little bit of The Atkinson home with you from the delicatessen. Wander through the major exhibitions and see performances from some of the UK’s foremost musicians, actors, performers and companies, films, family activities and much more.
The new Museum is now open. Sefton Between Land & Sea tells the story of Southport and Sefton as well as the area’s dramatic maritime history. While Discover Ancient Egypt – the new Egyptology Gallery is the home of the Goodison Egyptology Collection, a remarkable collection of archaeology that has not been seen for over 40 years.
Posted on 18 September 2015 under General news
