Workshop Announcement 🗣️  The Sensory Voice is a free voice workshop about making multi-sensory performance for young people with additional support needs.  Learn more and register: https://www.imaginate.org.uk/artists/opportunities/the-sensory-voice-workshop

We are now accepting applications for our Accelerator project, which aims to support experienced theatre and dance artists based in Scotland who are making performances for young audiences.  🗓️ Deadline: September 14  https://www.imaginate.org.uk/artists/opportunities/accelerator-2026-call-out

We are now accepting applications for our Launchpad project, which aims to support early-career or career-shifting theatre and dance artists based in Scotland who are making performances for young audiences. 🗓️ Deadline: September 14  http://bit.ly/4wc7F0W

Our annual scratch night is coming up! It will be a lively evening of early-stage performances for young audiences at Traverse Theatre and a great opportunity for industry peers to provide constructive feedback to artists on their performance ideas. 💡 Book now: www.imaginate.org.uk/artists/even...

Scratch That! — Imaginate

Imaginate is thrilled to partner with the Traverse Theatre to present an evening of early-stage scratch performances for young audiences. The event is an excellent opportunity to see exciting and dive...

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Join us for our annual Summer Social! ☀️ This is an informal gathering open to all - makers, performers, production staff, producers, programmers, venue staff and anyone else who makes the work happen. We love meeting new people and catching up with old friends! 🧡 Tickets: https://bit.ly/4eS1MQC

The 36th Edinburgh International Children's Festival kicks off tomorrow! 🎉 We can’t wait to bring world-class circus, dance, storytelling and theatre to young people and their families throughout the week. 🌟 Get tickets: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/wha...

Festival Director Adjjima Na Patalung met with The Scotsman to discuss this year’s programme and her transition to the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival. Hear what she had to say: www.scotsman.com/.../edinburg....

This year's Festival puts disabled-led work centre stage with Marc Brew's Boys Don't Dance, Cringe by Ross Mackay, and new works-in-progress by Ellen Renton & Neil Price as part of our aim to platform underrepresented voices in the performing arts. Read more: imaginate.org.uk/news/news-27042026

Friendly reminder to vote in the Scottish General Election tomorrow! 🗳️  As we approach the vote, we can't help think about ELECTION, a performance by Bishop May Down, commissioned and co-created with NE YAC which imagines children as bigwig decision-makers with the power to make real change.

After 3 joyful years with children and North Edinburgh Arts, we’ve created the Creative Encounters Manifestation, a "manifesto" and "invitation" from young people to artists and adults on collaborating with children.  Have a listen and tell us what you think ⭐ https://bit.ly/48hPLAj

Our Festival is for people from all backgrounds and abilities, and we want to make everyone's experience as enjoyable as possible! ⭐  Find more access information on our website: https://www.imaginate.org.uk/accessibility/accessibility-at-the-festival/

We are excited to launch the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival 2026 with a jam-packed programme of circus, dance, and theatre for young people and their families, featuring 15 productions from 9 countries. 🧡  Tickets are now on sale: https://www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/

We are thrilled to celebrate the World Day of Theatre and Performing Arts for Children and Young People today with ASSITEJ International.  We believe that theatre is not simply entertainment for young audiences; it is a space where rights are exercised, identities are explored and voices are heard.

The new Teacher's Club cohort attended their first show together last week: A Grain of Sand by Good Chance Theatre at @traversetheatre.bsky.social. They enjoyed a pre-show discussion with the show’s creator, Elias Mattar, and a post-show discussion with members from @educatorsforpeace.bsky.social.

We are proud that our Creative Encounters project is included in the @together-sacr.bsky.social State of Children’s Rights Report 2026, along with lots of other brilliant case studies of rights-based approaches in Scotland! 🧡🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Read more: https://bit.ly/4aDl3mA

We’re so excited to launch TiSS at 10 🌟 For 10 years, TiSS has toured bold, inspiring, live theatre and dance productions into Scotland's schools. To celebrate, performances will be free for participating schools as part of a one-off anniversary programme from Aug 2026-June 2027! bit.ly/4tNdh1c

We’re thrilled to announce our Family Day Partner Commissions for the 2026 Festival, celebrating creativity, connection, and community. We look forward to sharing these unique experiences with audiences! 🌟

Local artists and theatre makers had the opportunity to meet with programmers to discuss their touring plans and ideas for new work at our Meet the Programmers event at The Studio last night. It was wonderful to bring everyone together, facilitate conversation, and hear about developing projects. 👀

Last week's Shifting the Stage Lab offered artist development for a group of 8 disabled, D/deaf and/or neurodivergent artists from Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Scotland.💡  Thank you to The Work Room, Nordic Culture Fund, and Nordic Culture Point for making the Lab possible. 🤝

New MiniBlog, with thanks to Katherine Rundell: Why grown-ups should watch children’s theatre… www.imaginate.org.uk/news/blog-wh... via @edchildrensfest.bsky.social

Blog: Why grown-ups should watch children’s theatre… — Imaginate

News, vacancies and blogs by staff and artists connected with Imaginate and the Edinburgh International children's Festival

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Creative Encounters team Lou Brodie and Anna Broomfield attended @thestage.co.uk Awards in London earlier this week, where their work was nominated for the Community Award.  It was a pleasure to celebrate theatre makers across the UK and to be nominated among them!   📸: David Monteith-Hodge

“Deeply listening to and collaborating with children" can lead to “reimagined social change.” - Thérèse Kearns, PhD Researcher  Read Thérèse’s reflections on the "The Children Are Now" Exhibition and Assembly at @talbotricegallery.bsky.social:

Blog: Reflection on childism — Imaginate

Therese Kearns reflects on a recent event she attended and the links to childism.

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What a year we've had at Imaginate! 🌟 With Festival, Theatre in Schools Scotland, Schools and Communities Projects, and Creative Development Programme, it's been an amazing one.  Thanks to everyone, but especially the young people, who have made our year so memorable. Looking forward to 2026! 🧡

We are delighted to announce our ‘Shifting the Stage’ Lab in January! 💡  The Lab will offer professional artist development opportunities for disabled, D/deaf and/or neurodivergent artists to support the development of new disabled-led production ideas for children. https://tinyurl.com/488mh7vc

Our team has been attending festivals all over the world ✈ 📍 ŻiguŻajg Festival in Valletta, Malta 📍Showbox Festival in Oslo, Norway 📍 Festival Kuitólil in San Luis Potosí, Mexico It was an honour to visit these festivals, connect with industry professionals, share our work, and be inspired! 🌟

We are thrilled to announce that our Creative Encounters project has been shortlisted for the Community Award at @thestage.co.uk Awards 2026! 🌟  This nomination reflects the importance of putting children's rights at the heart of the creative process. 🧡

The Imaginate team had a refreshing Away Day in North Berwick this week. The sea air proved the perfect environment to discuss our aims for the year, how we conceive of festival success, what a children’s rights approach looks like, and assess our priorities for the upcoming year. 🤝🌟

Please join us in offering a warm welcome to Imaginate's new Festival Director, Adjjima Na Patalung, who took up her post this week! 👋

TiSS at 10 🎉  Theatre in Schools Scotland (TiSS), co-produced with NTS, marks its own major milestone: ten years of touring world class theatre directly into schools across the country.

We can’t wait for young audiences to experience ‘A Home For Hamish’. Playfully merging dance and BSL, audiences will travel across Scotland on a colourful, immersive and interactive adventure, escaping dragons, dancing with jellyfish & even climbing the tallest mountains.