Haifa's children plays festival celebrates 18 years this year. Along the years dozens of plays and hundreds of creators from Israel and abroad participated in the festival and over 2 million visitors, children and adults, attended it. This is the first and oldest children plays festival in Israel. This is also the only festival which invests in the production of the different plays participating in the competition.

"For many creators Haifa Festival is the only opportunity to bring to the stage unique and significant pieces of work", says Hanuch Reim, the creative manager. "Along the years the festival promoted and advanced important creators in the field of children's theater. All the plays that participate in the competition are high quality plays chosen from dozens of proposals. The outdoor performances arriving from Israel and abroad are also selected with great care".

 

As part of the festival's concept that everyone has the right to participate in the celebrations, this year two plays, that are participating in the competition and all the international outdoor performances will be free of charge. This year the festival has also opened its gates to new public sectors, a special program customized for the orthodox audience has been put together and plays will also be shown in Arabic.

 

This year the festival hosts over 20 plays and performances: 8 premiere plays that will participate at the competition including the premier of the play Hasamba, based on the book by Yigal Mosinzon produced by Orna Porat theater and a long list of guest plays and international performances including:

"Over the Ocean"- a performance based on Bialik's children songs, "The Tree" (inspired by the book "The Giving Tree" by Silverstein) "Yes and Can't" - a musical based on a story by Nira Harel, "Little Mozart" - a new production by Agadit Theater, "The Golem of Prague" and more.