QPAC Presents OUT OF THE BOX FESTIVAL FOR CHILDREN, June 12-17

Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) anticipates a reduction in the 'size' of its audiences this week, literally, with an influx of patrons aged eight years and under at this year's Out of the Box Festival for Children from 12 to 17 June.

More than 50,000 children, parents and carers are expected to descend on QPAC and the Cultural Centre South Bank in Brisbane for this six day biennial festival. The festival is a highlight on the national children's arts calendar, and this year celebrates 20 years since the very first festival.

The exciting program of events for the 2012 festival has been curated around the central theme of arts literacy, complementing the National Year of Reading. The program includes theatre performances that bring to life four children's books, as well as interactive workshops, outdoor activities and free events.

Out of the Box also features a Symposium entitled Connecting The Dots... provoking conversations about early childhood learning, presented in association with the State Library of Queensland.

QPAC Chief Executive, and Artistic Director of the first Out of the Box in 1992, John Kotzas said that the Centre is looking forward to having every available space filled with patrons who are of waist height.

"Out of the Box is one the Centre's most significant events and we are proud to celebrate in 2012 two decades of nurturing children's learning and imagination through participation in the arts," said Kotzas.

"QPAC recognises the importance of presenting high quality performing arts product to young audiences. We hope that through their experiences at Out of the Box, either as part of a school group or with their families, these children will develop an appreciation and love of the theatre that continues with them into adulthood.

A signature work for the 2012 Out of the Box festival is The Flying Orchestra. Based on the book byBrisbane Author Clare McFadden this production is directed by world renowned puppetry artist Peter Wilson (The Red Tree, How to Train Your Dragon, King Kong) and will be presented as a world premiere at the Festival.

Other program highlights include Patch Theatre Company's 2011 Helpman Award winning production of Me and My Shadow,a story depicting the fanciful escapades of a girl who befriends her shadow; Stradbroke Dreamtime, a new work by QPAC and Queensland Theatre Company based on the stories by celebrated poet, author and artist, Oodgeroo; The Race for the Chinese Zodiac, one of China's favourite fables brought to life in a Melbourne Recital Centre production and Invisible Me, based on Wendy Binks's award-winning story book, which follows the adventures of Stripey, a baby Emu.

This year's Festival also features a Dinosaur Petting Zoo byErth Visual and Physical Inc, where children can get up close and personal with prehistoric creatures that once roamed free across the ancient lands of Terra Australis.

A Festival first in 2012, Out of the Box will host two dedicated venues especially for parents with very young children – the Tony Gould Gallery and the Eeni Meeni Miini Moh Marquee.

And not to be missed will be two exciting activities by Polyglot Theatre on the South Bank Cultural Forecourt, We Built This City, a public construction extravaganza using nothing but thousands of cardboard boxes and the energy and ingenuity of kids and families and Sticky Maze, a FREE activity where children attach paper to sticky tape in a fun labyrinth of adventure.

For full program details and bookings visit www.outoftheboxfestival.com.au.

QPAC'S OUT OF THE BOX FESTIVAL FOR CHILDREN runs Tuesday 12 – Sunday 17 June 2012 at QPAC and Cultural Centre, South Bank, Brisbane. Tickets for performances: Adults $25; Children $20. Workshops: Children $15.

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