Focus on disabled-led work at the 2026 Children's Festival
The 2026 Edinburgh International Children's Festival [30 May to 7 June] includes a focus on disabled-led work, thanks to international partnerships and funding from Unlimited and Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund.
- Boys Don't Dance - a new Imaginate commission by acclaimed disabled director, choreographer and dancer Marc Brew, reflecting on his journey as a boy who defied society’s expectations to embrace his love for dance.
- Cringe - a new play by disabled writer and theatre-maker Ross MacKay in association with Imaginate, about surviving the minefield of growing up and standing up to bullies.
- Work-in-progress PALS, by artist Ellen Renton, supported by Unlimited Partner Award - a musical theatre piece for young audiences, about the lifelong friendship between a sighted and a visually impaired young girl, told through text, song, and movement
- Work-in-progress Day Dream T.V. by Neil Price, a contemporary dance-theatre solo exploring Neil's love of the TV show Neighbours.
Imaginate - the parent oirganisation of the festival - is also a partner of Shifting the Stage, a Nordic collaboration project between Sweden (bibu), Finland (Bravo!), Norway (Scenkunstbruket) and Scotland to support new disabled-led production ideas for children. The project offers international artist development opportunities and exchanges for disabled, D/deaf and neurodivergent artists that will include presenting Boys Don’t Dance and PALS in Sweden. Shifting the Stage is funded by Nordic Culture Fund and Nordic Culture Point.
All of this is just a small part of Imaginate's overall work to support and platform under-represented voices in the performing arts, helping a wider range of artists to gain greater networking, visibility and touring opportunities.