RPAC to be taken over as a circus, magic and science mecca

Children are set to take over one of south-east Queensland’s most exciting creative institutions during four jam-packed days of entertaining and educational experiences in the upcoming school holidays.

Redland Performing Arts Centre (RPAC) will debut its inaugural Kids Takeover from June 26 to 29, with a full venue activation.

It will be a combination of high energy science, nature, arts, circus, magic and cultural shows.

Redland City Council Mayor Jos Mitchell said the school holiday program was designed to offer engaging and economical days out for kids and their parents or grandparents.

“This special program features a range of ticketed shows and free activities that are designed to spark children’s curiosity and imaginations through creative expression, learning and, most importantly, fun,” she said.

Showmen will be performing during the Kids Takeover at RPAC these school holidays.

RPAC Programming Manager Brett Howe designed the schedule with an understanding that children engage with the world differently than adults.

“We are creating spaces where they are free to move, explore, and express themselves in ways that naturally suit them,” Mr Howe said.

A day out at RPAC Kids Takeover might include a show in the morning, a packed lunch enjoyed on the green in the circus area where you can juggle a ball and juggle sandwiches at the same time, and then a workshop in the afternoon.

“These incredible shows and workshops aim to inspire, educate, pique curiosity and fire the imagination,” Mr Howe said.

Here’s a sample of the schedule:

Prepare to be dazzled by a jaw-dropping performance of live magic, circus, stunts and illusions by the Showmen, with interactive workshops to follow.Brat Kids Carnival is a wildly fun combination of hula hoops at top speed, clowning antics and breathtaking acrobatics, delivering a show that’s both awe-inspiring and hilarious.Award-winning children’s performer Lucas Proudfoot and his cast of unforgettable characters take kids on a non-stop comedy and musical adventure with the help of choreographed animation projections in Proudfoot & Friends.All-singing and all-dancing biology teachers Oesoph A. Gus and Dewey Dean explore the ins and outs of the human digestive system in their award-winning hit show You Are a Doughnut.Bush adventurer and mythical creature researcher Pat Malone unveils his fun-fuelled journey of creative exploration in Pat Malone’s Magic Garden, bringing to life species that are born in the imagination before becoming real and physical beings.The incomparable Flipside Circus will run free drop-in workshops to learn basic circus skills, or you can take your love of circus to new heights by booking an aerial workshop to master the trapeze and silks.And Chez Beauvardia will run free drop-in art-making sessions throughout the day for families that like to get hands-on and crafty. Flipside Circus will run free drop-in workshops to learn basic circus skills during the Kids Takeover at RPAC.Pat Malone’s Magic Garden show will be performing during the Kids Takeover at RPAC.

Mr Howe said the program had been carefully designed to facilitate experiential learning, drawing on the renowned Howard Gardner theory of ‘multiple intelligences’.

“By offering a diverse range of activities that appeal to different intelligences – such as musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, and interpersonal – we cater to the unique learning styles of each child, ensuring a more inclusive and effective educational environment,” he said.

RPAC’s Kids Takeover has been inspired by the notion that “children are not empty vessels to be filled, but candles to be lit”.

With a programming approach derived from modern educational theories, the event is committed to fostering the natural curiosity and innate potential of every child through immersive and interactive learning experiences.

Families can purchase either tickets to individual shows or obtain a pass to make a day of it at RPAC.

For the full schedule, tickets and more information, visit rpac.com.au/kids-takeover-rpac

 Redland City Council provides a suite of services to 166,873 residents and more than 63,000 residential households across Redlands Coast. Our naturally wonderful city on Quandamooka Country is home to more than 335 kilometres of coastline, six island communities and 12 mainland suburbs.