The upcoming May 17-27 will mark the return of DreamBIG 2023, which holds the distinction of being the world’s longest-running festival for children. The newly launched family program is centred around the theme of ‘Our World’ and offers over 50 shows, activities, and exhibitions for audiences ranging from infants to teenagers over the course of 10 days. The festival will take place at the Adelaide Festival Centre.
The family program of DreamBIG 2023 boasts an array of exciting attractions, including giant, lifelike dinosaurs, interactive light installations, and thought-provoking theatre performances, among others. Audiences can also look forward to eight world premieres, one Australian premiere, and seven Adelaide premieres.
As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Adelaide Festival Centre, the festival will present the BIGGEST BIG Family Weekend from May 20-21, spanning across the Adelaide Festival Centre and Festival Plaza. This event will offer a variety of free activities, workshops, exhibitions, markets, and performances for children of all ages. The festival will also feature food trucks provided by Fork in the Road and culminate in the Big Family Weekend Gala, a variety show that showcases some of the most talented young performers from South Australia.
Embark on a creative adventure with Patch Theatre’s Sea of Light, where you can paint your way across the seas. Guru Dudu’s Mysteries of Nature Silent Disco Walking Tour offers a chance to dance like an animal or be still like a tree, while Wallabeats’ handmade instruments let you unleash your inner musician. Immerse yourself in Massive Maker Space, and let your imagination run wild. Get ready to play with 200kg of swirling, shredded recycled paper in Fluffy or sing your heart out with Tutti Choir in Tutti’s Big Singalong. Keep an eye out for more activities to be announced.
Monkey Baa’s award-winning adaptation of Possum Magic and Australian Chamber Orchestra’s immersive performance of Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge bring two of Mem Fox’s classic Australian stories to life on stage with live action, magic, puppetry, and animation.
Babies and toddlers can enjoy The Thing That Matters, a dance performance for 0-3-year-olds presented to live music. Families can also create a lullaby for their child that will last a lifetime with A Song For Your Child.
Experience the magic of prehistoric creatures taking to the stage in Erth’s Prehistoric World, an enchanting show from the world-renowned Erth Visual and Physical. Here and There, a feat of technology, brings together six stories from six different and diverse artists via an extraordinary live-streamed performance between Australia, Malaysia, India, and Singapore.
ARCO, a heartfelt show about living with autism and the struggles of a young man trying to make connections with the world around him, is a unique collaboration between two neurodiverse men and WA Theatre Company.
Claire Della and the Moon, an AWGIE Award-winning show, uses puppetry, music, striking visuals, and poetic storytelling to explore depression and anxiety and open the doors for honest conversations about mental health.
The DreamBIG Children’s Festival formerly known as the Come Out Festival which started in 1974, now features two programs – one for schools and the other for families/general public. Adelaide Festival Centre proudly presents this event every two years.