OCF Mini-Festival of the Arts
November 19-21
2021
experience
educate
engage
Experience
The Ottawa Children’s Festival de la jeunesse has missed you! We can’t wait until the day we can welcome you to our Festival again! Your safety, however, is of the utmost importance to us so, for June 2021, we decided to meet virtually. OCF chose three productions from nationally and internationally renowned artists for your family to view and enjoy from the comfort of your home. The response to our FREE virtual series was amazing and we would like to thank you for participating.
We are planning our next in-person Festival so save these dates:
May 18-22, 2022!
Shows
50 MINS | AGE: 6+ | English
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
Devised by Michel LeFebvre, Amelia Scott, Jeremy Segal, and
Martin Sirois.
2003 –Macmillan Children’s Books
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CROSSING THE OCEAN
YOUTHEATRE, MONTREAL
For ten years, a box sat in the man’s basement, unopened. It was left to him by his father when he passed away. One summer, he decides to open the box at his family cottage on an isolated island in the middle of a deep, dark lake. On his way there, a wave hits his boat, and the box is thrown overboard. It sinks down to the very bottom of the lake. The man’s three attempts to recover the box take him on a magical journey below the waves — but when he finally brings the box back to the surface, will he be ready to open it? This multimedia theatre piece begs the question, “What will you remember when you grow up, and how?”
Visit Youtheatre’s website here for more information about the show.
JAM SIDE UP
KIF-KIF SISTERS
MONTREAL, QUEBEC
The Kif-Kif Sisters are a breath of fresh air. Flying bunnies, speeding French fries, hat tricks and more! Identical twin sisters blend comedy and audience interaction in this amusing puppetry/circus show. Their freakish acrobatics, messy escapades and general silliness will captivate and delight the audience.
Visit the Kif-Kif’s website here for more information about the show.
45 MINS | AGE: 5+ | English and French
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
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30 MINS | AGE: 3+ | Non-verbal
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
A WeeFestival Production
Created by Lynda Hill and Thomas Morgan Jones
Inspired by a story by Thomas Morgan Jones
Concept, Dramaturgy and Direction: Lynda Hill
Original Production Design: Kelly Wolf
Original Music: Nicky Phillips
Original Lighting Design: Jennifer Lennon
Original puppetry: Mike Petersen and Eric Woolfe
OLD MAN AND THE RIVER
WEEFESTIVAL PRODUCTIONS, CANADA
This beautifully designed puppetry work, performed without words to an enchanting musical score, reveals a storybook world where rivers sing, trees laugh, and curious dragonflies come to visit. It tells the tale of a grumpy old man, living in a little house in the woods, whose life is forever changed when a magical creature leaps into his world. With its themes of friendship, communication, play, adjustment to change, Old Man and the River is perfect for the youngest theatregoer.
Visit WeeFestival Productions Canada’s website here for more information about the show.
47 MINS | AGE: 8+ | English
12
a 100 watt production
12 is an original theatre creation that gives voice to youth with regards to the Climate Crisis and the future they feel they have inherited. The script is built from writings/conversations with 11 teens, interviews they had with citizens of all ages of Ottawa, actual text from the international meeting, COP24 in Poland, words spoken by global youth activists such as Autumn Peltier, Greta Thunberg, Xuihtezcat Martinez and the Australian high school students who were told by their Prime Minister to be “less activist.” 12 is not a teen rant. It dares to ask questions, including to each other, of what it actually means to take action at the 11th hour.
Visit Big Jump’s website here for more information about the show.
AGE: 3+ | English
FUN WITH WPBS!
WPBS shared some family fun with us Thursday, June 3 – a special presentation of the new PBS Kids show Donkey Hodie! Donkey Hodie is the spunky young granddaughter of a character from the Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood series. With her spiky pink mohawk, Donkey and her friends discover important lessons about how to approach some of the challenges we all experience in life. Supervising Producer for the series Kristin DiQuollo was also on hand to answer questions from the audience Here are some details about the episode:
DONKEY HODIE 106: Flying Flap Jacks/Pickle Penguin Problem
Donkey wants to make a surprise breakfast for Grampy all by herself, but none of her flapjacks will fly. Maybe she does need a little help. Then, Panda’s toy Pickle Pet gets stuck between two rocks. How will he and Donkey rescue it? Curriculum themes: It’s okay to ask for help if I need it./ I can turn a problem into a fun challenge.
Visit this website here for more information about Donkey Hodie and WPBS.
Contest time
Find the answers to our Digital Scavenger Hunt by watching all 3 Festival productions (Snail and the Whale, Cyclo and Old Man and The River). Contest begins June 2 and will end on June 8. Several prizes of Family 4-Packs to a performance at the May 2022 Ottawa Children’s Festival are available to be won! Keep visiting our website and tune into our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) for updated contest information! Only one entry per email address. Winners will be announced the week of June 21st.
New Website Re-Launch Fall 2021
If you would like more information please e-mail us at contact@ottawachildrensfestival.ca. We are in the process of redesigning our website. It will be up and running by September 2021. Fill out our “Keep In Touch” form below to be the first to know about the re-launch and all other OCF news!
Thank You to Our Partners
Thank you to our Board of Directors
Nick Masciantonio, President
Dan Dixon, Treasurer
Laurie Koensgen, Member at large
Janine Debanne, Member at large
Stephanie Gilman, Member at large
Michelle Richardson, Member at large
Catherine O’Grady, Ex officio
