Gigglefest Children's Comedy Festival
11-18 February 2012, Centre for the Child at Central Library
Fantastic free events during half term. Keep up to date with the Gigglefest blog.
Birmingham’s very own Comedy Festival for Kids is back for a week of blatant buffoonery and the very best in stand-up comedy. Highlights this year include two awesome animation workshops, the wonderful Shoofly Theatre and favourite kids' comedians, James Campbell and Tiernan Douieb.
COMPETITION! Are your jokes funnier than a librarian's? Visit our Gigglefest blog for the latest jokes from Centre for the Child to find out. (More added all week!) Then enter our fabulous Make 'Em Laugh competition.
Saturday 11 February
Funny Films - Animated Film Making Workshop *
11am-4pm
Come and create a really funny film! Make characters and scenery using plasticine, card, fabrics and googly eyes and then make them come alive with the magic of stop motion animation. Work in small groups to create hilarious stories and scenes using cameras and laptops and then sit back and laugh your socks off when you watch the results!
* Booking essential as places are strictly limited.
Suitable for children aged 8+.
Tallulah Swirls Puppet TheatreWhen Eggy Met Peggy
11.30am
A brand new show, starring an Egg on a wall, a pile of mattresses, a mischievous Queen and a pea!
Suitable for children aged 2-8
Compere Brian McInally is your host for an afternoon of rib-tickling, wacky wordplay!
Gez Walsh
1pm-2pm
Stand-up comedy and poetry.
Suitable for children aged 6+.
Ian Billings
2.30pm-3.15pm
Stand-up comedy for kids
Suitable for children aged 6+.
Plus face painting and mischief making all day from 11am-4pm!
Monday 13 February
Compere Brian McInally is your host for an afternoon of manic magic and goofy gags!
Mark Waddington
1pm-1.45pm
Children’s magic and laughter show
Suitable for children aged 6+.
James Campbell
2pm-2.45pm
Surreal, ridiculous and completely hilarious comedy for kids.
Suitable for children aged 6+.
Wednesday 15 February
The Cartoon Laboratory
10am-12.30pm
Drop in and build your own x-ray glasses and create SECRET CODE PICTURES! Hosted by the Crazy Comic Club.
Suitable for all.
Baby Boogie with Louby Lou
10.30am-11am
The UK's favourite female clown.
Suitable for children under 5.
Shoofly Theatre presents Two Four Six Eight!
11.30am-12.10pm
Craig has been invited to his best friend’s birthday party. There is an invitation to read, presents to wrap, cakes to buy and a house to find. Who will explain the rules of musical chairs? Will there be enough balloons? Using music, balloons and far too much wrapping paper, Shoofly Theatre has created a funny and charming performance that shows how much fun numbers can be.
Suitable for children aged 4-7.
Tickets cost £3. Telephone The Box on 0121 236 4455 or visit www.birmingham-box.co.uk
Louby Lou's Clown Show
12.30pm-1.15pm
Suitable for children aged 2+
Balloon Modelling with Louby Lou
1.45pm-2.15pm
In Central Library foyer
Liam Jones and Friends
2pm-3pm
Stand-up comedy for kids
Suitable for children aged 6+.
Friday 17 February
Small World Animation Presents - Comedy Monsters
10am-1pm
Stop motion animation drop-in workshop.
Suitable for children aged 5-10 years.
Kids Open Mic
1pm-1.45pm
Your chance to get up on the Gigglefest stage and make us laugh!
Open to all
Janice Phayre, Karen Bayley and Tiernan Douieb
2pm-3pm
Brilliantly bonkers comedy for kids.
Suitable for children aged 6+.
Saturday 18 February
Laughter Yoga *
11.30am-11.50am, 12.15pm-12.30pm or 1.15pm-1.30pm
Join laughter consultant Robin Graham for a drama-based session, designed to make you laugh out loud. No yoga mats required, just a sense of fun! Genuine laughter and feelings of wellbeing are guaranteed.
* Booking essential as places are strictly limited.
Suitable for family groups
Compere Brian McInally is your host for an afternoon of hilarious cartoonery!
Foxy Bingo
1.45pm
Eyes down for a full Monkhouse. Quizical, physical comedy bingo with your host Foxy the fox.
Open to all.
Chris White
2.15pm-3pm
High speed hilarity from the one and only, completely crazy, crooning and cartooning poet!
Suitable for children aged 6+.
Plus face painting and mischief making all day from 11am-4pm!
* Booking a place on a Gigglefest Workshop
Gigglefest Workshops are highlighted with a * in the programme. Places are limited, age-restricted and must be booked in advance. This can be done up to one week in advance, either in person at Centre for the Child or by telephone on 0121 303 2421. It is advisable to arrive a few minutes before the workshop is due to start, as latecomers will not be admitted.
Family Information Service
For details of other children’s activities taking place around the city and for any other childcare queries, contact the Family Information Service on 0121 303 3521.