Top 3: Big Imaginations family theatre fest at Z-Arts ft. Catapluf’s Musical Journey

It’s less than a week until the Big Imaginations family theatre festival comes to Z-Arts and venues across the North West. With theatre for tiny tots to tweens, this festival (Thu 19 Oct – Sun 5 Nov 2017) promises a colourful clash of culture, music and storytelling. Performances take in varied venues, from huge auditoriums to rural village halls stretching from Southport to South Yorkshire. We look closer to home to bring you three family-friendly Big Imaginations highlights at Manchester’s Z-Arts family-friendly theatre space. These are the NW premiere of Child of the Divide (ages 8+), Catapluf’s Musical Journey (aimed at children 5-7 years old) and Tales of Birbal (6 years+). Look out for free arts and crafts fun before each show and explore the full programme here www.bigimaginations.co.uk

North West premiere: Child of the Divide
The Big Imaginations Festival marks the 70th anniversary of the partition of India and Pakistan with a dramatic family story. The North West premiere of Child of The Divide tells the tale of young Pali who gets separated from his father amid political upheaval. This Z-Arts theatre show is suitable for children aged eight and over.
Fri 20 Oct, Z-Arts, 335 Stretford Road, Manchester M15 5ZA. Tel: 0161 226 1912, 5pm (party), 7pm (theatre show), theatre tickets £9 / £7, www.z-arts.org

Brilliant Brazilian theatre: Catapluf’s Musical Journey
Everything is music in this global journey for children aged five to seven. Watch the bow-tied Catapluf wrangle sounds from saucepans, water and bottle tops – even drainpipes hit with flip flops. Multi-instrumentalist Adriano Adewale as the titular will Catapluf lead the audience in a journey of samba, jazz and the energetic Eastern European tradition of klezmer. Children, get ready to move in this noisy 50-minute show.
Sat 21 Oct, Z-arts, 335 Stretford Road, Manchester M15 5ZA. Tel: 0161 226 1912, 11am & 2.30pm, £9 adult, £7 child, www.z-arts.org

Fables from India: Tales of Birbal
Watch Mashi and Bhanji pull up their trinket-filled cart to tell timeless fables from the Indian sub-continent. Mashi Theatre uses humour, puppetry and music to bring alive the enchanting world of Moghul King Akbar. In this colourful show by Mashi Theatre, the storytellers are accompanied by a family of naughty crows – and the occasional false beard. Ideal for young travellers aged six and over.
Sat 4 Nov, Z-arts, 335 Stretford Road, Manchester M15 5ZA. Tel: 0161 226 1912, 11am & 2.30pm, £8 adult, £6 child, www.z-arts.org