Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1183404
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 NOVEMBER 2019 9 CULTURE THEATRE Rebecca Cachia THIS year, the ŻiguŻajg Arts Festival for Children and Young People is tak- ing audiences on a creative and magi- cal adventure. This is no ordinary voyage; this is a journey of eye-opening discovery and self-reflection. Epitomising the com- pelling nature and diversity at the core of this year's ŻiguŻajg Festival are two international productions. The non-verbal sound installation and visual performance called Wood- pecker comes to ŻiguŻajg from Bel- gium. The show is strictly for chil- dren aged between four months and two years. Its creators and performers stimulate young audiences with a di- versity of sounds, music and colours. Children are stirred into creative in- teractivity through voice, movement, touch and eye contact. "Woodpecker is a fascinating and cosy world that comes to life using an attractive, sensory installation," ex- plains Liesbeth Bodyn from Klanken- nest, a Belgian organisation that moti- vates young children and their parents to experiment and creatively explore music, sound, movement and visual arts. Klankennest co-produces Wood- pecker with WIELS Contemporary Art Centre. In the show, babies and toddlers are enveloped in a woodpecker's world of warm, friendly sounds, music and movements. The woodpecker pecks, feels, rubs, flies and sings throughout the installation, sparking joy across the audience. "It is a unique and engaging experience – a moment for parents and their children to relax and explore a feeling of wonder and trust in each other," smiles Liesbeth. This is the first time that Woodpeck- er is being performed in Malta. "The ŻiguŻajg Festival appeals to us be- cause of its high-quality, diverse pro- gramming," continues Liesbeth. "It's also exciting because our first show at ŻiguŻajg will be our 100th per- formance of Woodpecker." The pro- duction will be performed ten times between 15 and 17 November at City Theatre Studio in Valletta. On the back of Woodpecker, City Theatre Studio will host Home for four performances between 18 and 21 No- vember. Home is a piece of visual thea- tre for two to six-year-olds. The show fully immerses children in a world that awakens curiosity and encourages self- reflection. "We want children – and adults – to perceive the idea of 'home' as much more than just a roof over our heads," says director Christian Schroder. "In light of all the people around the world who have been forced to leave their home and who no longer have a permanent home, we ask what it actu- ally means to have a place that we can call 'home'." By watching the show, children are introduced to the idea that 'home' is as much a state of mind as it is a place or a sound. It's a feeling created as a child that lives on through memories. Theatre Madam Bach from Denmark is bringing the production to Malta for the first time with its run at ŻiguŻajg's ninth edition. "We've never been to Malta before, so we're very curious to form part of the festival and to meet your audiences," continues Christian, but he explains that in many ways lo- cation is not all that important. "We see cultural differences all over the world. We've performed for refu- gees, which was very touching, and we've played in – among others – South Korea and China. But, basically, we've found that all our audiences are similar because they all care about their fami- lies, health, safety… and pets!" You can watch 'Woodpecker' be- tween 15 and 17 November and 'Home' between 18 and 21 November at City Theatre Studio in Valletta. ŻiguŻajg is produced by Fondazzjoni Kreattività and will run from 15 to 24 November 2019. Booking for the festival is now open. For more information and to book tickets visit www.ziguzajg.org. Awakening children's curiosity at ZiguZajg Arts Festival