News: General

We are currently recruiting two new roles to lead and coordinate our Schools programme including our new three year project Creative Encounters, working in North West Edinburgh. 

Meet Jenny, one of the Children's Festival's volunteers

Research commissioned by Creative Scotland and Imaginate found that theatre, dance and drama are seen as hugely valuable by a large majority of Scottish primary schools.

Over the last few years, children’s mental health has become an even more pressing concern for many families, schools and youth-focused organisations. That’s why it’s more important than ever to engage in open discussions about mental health with children and young people.

In 2021 Imaginate began a journey to achieve the Silver LGBT Charter with LGBT Youth Scotland. Company & Project Administrator Connel Burnett explains what this involves and why it's important to the organisation.

Imaginate has commissioned two new exciting theatre shows which will appear at the Festival in May 2022 and go on tour across Scotland. Both productions speak of the complex experiences children are dealing with and explore the theme of mental health and how to make sense of a confusing world. Both also feature female characters

We are delighted to announce that Siân Mitchell MacGregor has been appointed to undertake a PhD over the next three-year in partnership with the University of Aberdeen, on the following topic: Valuing Young Audience: how children experience and value live theatre and dance, and why it matters. This research project seeks to explore and evidence the value of watching theatre and dance for children as audience members in a school setting and in an arts venue. It will use a combination of ethnographic tools including participant observation, semi-structured interviews and workshops to engage with children, teachers, parents and artists to understand the children’s experiences. 

Theatre in Schools Scotland is reconnecting creatively with nurseries and primary schools across Scotland this autumn with a new programme of unique theatrical experiences for children created by leading theatre and dance organisations for children and young people - Barrowland Ballet, Catherine Wheels Theatre Company, Curious Seed, Imaginate, MoonSlide and Starcatchers.

Emily Nicholl reflects on a year of Jerwood Fellowship looking at performances for children with additional support needs, and her thinking around our relationships to landscape. Part 2 of 2.

Emily Nicholl reflects on a year of Jerwood Fellowship looking at performances for children with additional support needs, and her thinking around our relationships to landscape. Part 1 of 2.

Jen McGregor writes about guilt, self-doubt and inequalities, and the way we question our right to be an artist and take up opportunities.

Artist Lottie Barker reflects on her experience of taking part in Navigating the Now and the questions she found time and space to explore.

Katrine Turner, Sanjay Lago, Marion Geoffray and Cynthia Cheung have been appointed to deliver our new Where We Are project in partnership with Multi Cultural Family Base and Refuweegee.

Artist Claire Willoughby reflects on her first year as Jerwood Arts fellow.

With less than a month to go to the launch of the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival on 21 April, two productions from the many times re-drafted programme have been announced. Both are brand new commissions by exciting companies and artists based in Scotland, and are supported by the Scottish Government Festivals Expo Fund.

Artist Xana Marwick reflects on the recent horrific murder of Sarah Everard and its relevance to her new play Thrown, which she is writing as part of Imaginate's Accelerator programme.