QPAC

QPAC’s Out of the Box festival for children eight years and under returns this June

This year’s festival is a full venue takeover, packed with theatre experiences, workshops, free events and activities with additional programs across the cultural precinct at the State Library, Queensland Museum and QAGOMA.

Since its very beginning in 1992, Out of the Box has always placed children at the centre of the festival as artistic collaborators and experts in imaginative play. Every step is taken with children in mind, from the development of new work and the curation of in-theatre productions and workshops through to the adapted onsite experience to design an inclusive, child-friendly environment.

We’re creating a welcoming space where children can share stories, explore new ideas, and dive into the world of imagination. Everyone who attends is invited to experience the festival through the wonder and curiosity of a child – where joy, discovery, and fun are always at the heart of the show!

In our theatres, every experience is crafted with children in mind. The lights will softly dim, never going to complete darkness. Feel free to wiggle, move in your seat, or step in and out of the theatre if you need a break or a toilet stop. Clap, cheer, sing, dance, ask questions – every little bit of excitement is not just welcome, it’s celebrated!

Theatre-goers around you may make sounds, move around, fidget, or use noise-cancelling headphones – and you can do the same! To ensure everyone’s comfort, staff will be on hand, and dedicated Slow Down Spaces will be available for those who need them. 

For this year’s festival, we have been inspired by the theme of Hope, and as theorist Paulo Friere acknowledges, not as an aspiration but a necessity, and especially so in the lives of children in our post COVID world.

We hope this year’s Out of the Box inspires a life-long love of the arts in all who attend.