Young at art

Forsake Fortnite. Palm off Pokémon. The summer months are brimming with tech-free, arty pursuits for the little people in your life. Here are five of the very best.

Kneehigh’s The Dancing Frog

Kneehigh is one of Britain’s most sought-after theatre companies. For three decades, this Cornish gang has toured the world with shows that ring with risk and joy. This summer, they’re staying put: you can catch their family show, The Dancing Frog – a retelling of Quentin Blake’s classic children’s tale – at their Cornish summer theatre festival, The Asylum. (While you’re at it, check out the rest of the festival line-up – it’s cracking!)

Until 25 August.
Image: Dancing Frog, Kneehigh. Photo by Steve Tanner.

Luna Kids

We’re told to limit children’s screen time but, trust us – this doesn’t count. With its giant projectors, fanciful locations and canopy of stars, Luna brings the magic of open-air cinema to locations such as Hampton Court and Hatfield House. This year, there’s a special programme just for kids.

Until 4 September.
Image: Luna Cinema Kids Courtesy of Luna.

Giffords Circus

Every summer, a caravan of painted wagons process through the south west, bringing with them a boisterous cargo of acrobats, musicians, jugglers, clowns, dancers and a menagerie of animals. This is no ordinary tricks-in-a-tent affair: Nell Gifford has summoned the beauty and charm of circuses gone by, down to the last shaving of sawdust. A true highlight of the summer.

Until 30 September. Click here for showtimes and to book. 
Image: Courtesy of Giffords Circus.

Islamic Tile Making

Over three days in August, young carers and children from low-income families are invited to a creative cultural extravaganza, in partnership with The Arts Society Colchester. Artist and designer Lateefa Spiker whisks you away to the Middle East by way of geometry and clay. There’s a workshop on constructing geometric patterns, a day making earthenware tiles and a day of glazing, too. ‘Working with clay is a wonderfully healing medium,’ the artist says. ‘Transforming a soft lump of clay to a precious hardy tile is a very gratifying process from start to finish.’

17, 23 and 29 August. If you are interested in these workshops, please email juliaphavis@hotmail.co.uk
Image: Courtesy of Colchester Arts Centre 

bOing!

Every summer, performers from across the globe descend upon Canterbury for children’s arts festival bOing!. The line-up is always fantastic, from avant-garde theatre to shipbuilding workshops and crime scene re-enactment for the budding criminologist in your family. If you see just one thing, make it Androcles and the Lion, an interpretation of the legend by Danish company Teatret Gruppe 38. This stuff is gold dust. 

Free entry to bOing!, but some events are ticketed. 25-26 August.
Image: Boing! Photography by Jason @ Jason Pay Studio.