Family arts festival launch for Alex

Shakespeare and Scrooge join forces.

Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre will be staging events for the first ever Family Arts Festival this autumn, from 18th October-3rd November, and join leading arts venues and institutions programming events to entertain family audiences.

The Family Arts Festival will be the first UK-wide festival including theatre, dance, music and visual arts events designed to increase family participation in the arts and building on the momentum of the London 2012 Festival and Cultural Olympiad. The Family Arts Festival has been introduced following extensive research undertaken by the Family Arts Campaign which revealed that 55% of families believe there is a need for focus on family friendly activities at a specific time of year; however only 28% of families think there are enough high quality activities for families, and 35% of families do not find it easy to find out about appropriate activities.

First up will be The Reduced Shakespeare Company presenting The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at the venue on Saturday 19th October. The mad-cap men in tights will be weaving their wicked ways through all of Shakespeare’s comedies, histories and tragedies in a wild ride that will leave audiences breathless with laughter. The fun starts at 7.30pm.

Then as a perfect treat over half-term Scrooge The Musical comes to the venue from Monday 28th October-Saturday 2nd November. Starring the legendary Tommy Steele, Scrooge the Musical is a heart-warming story with stunning sets and costumes and specially created illusions by magician Paul Kieve, acclaimed for the magic effects in the Harry Potter films.

Tickets for both of the events are available at www.atgtickets.com/birmingham or by calling 0844 871 3011.