The ‘Dodecalis’ Luminarium is an immersive and interactive sculpture and designed to evoke wonder at the beauty of light and colour

Chevalier – Hobbyhorse Circus is an irresistibly charming homage to the magnificent horses of circus and the silent movie era. Drawing inspiration from the history of traditional horse circuses, Kalle Lehto’s ringmaster performs acrobatics, juggling and balancing with an amazing…

To celebrate bOing’s 10th anniversary, we are working with Bootworks Theatre to create a piece of theatre with local 10 year olds all about what it’s like to be 10! The year they were born the words ‘clickbait’ and ‘YOLO’…

Three dancers’ shimmy through the audience weaving a tapestry of sticky tape in this tactile dance performance for young children. They invite you to tape, stick and groove, to see and feel sound or to be still, watch and listen.…

Three dancers’ shimmy through the audience weaving a tapestry of sticky tape in this tactile dance performance for young children. They invite you to tape, stick and groove, to see and feel sound or to be still, watch and listen.…

A sensory experience for the early ages, full of visual poetry, live music and movement. People, bodies and objects that scatter, move around, connect with each other, and rearrange. Finding balance and harmony within the immensity of space. Every inhabitant…

In the new game in.difference, five players make dream worlds, tailored to their disabilities and differences. But maybe, their worlds aren’t so perfect after all. A Virus has snuck into the game, and it’s brought real-world problems with it! Can…

Outdoor chaos 2m in the air! The Puppet Van is back with a vibrant new show for bOing! 

A mesmeric new show combining exhilarating acrobatics, adrenaline-pumping street dance and breath-taking roller skating, set on a giant moving treadmill! RPM explores the tragic, comic and absurd aspects of modern society, unravelling untold links between current problems and the UK’s troubled history…

In Clouds is the newest participatory outdoor touring work from Michaela Cisarikova Dance Company for audiences of all ages.

Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long…

A troubled boy dives into a wondrous fantasy world through the pages of a mysterious book.

Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal (Emmy winner Will Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Emmy nominee Sofia Vergara), and the family is forced to go on the run.

From the imagination of writer and director John Krasinski comes IF, a story about imaginary friends and their place in our world. IF is about a girl who discovers that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends — and what she…

Step into the fascinating world of minibeasts who have made their homes around the b0ing! site. Grab a bug pot and a mini-beast identification sheet and join us on a hunt to discover some of the smallest creatures living alongside…

Rocio von Jungenfeld presents ‘zones of flow (iv)’ – an immersive interactive installation Inspired by the experience of trying to sleep inside a small sailing boat, with the water flowing

Drop in to this free 3D Drawing art workshop get creative and help Molly work on a community art piece thinking on themes of family, care and responsibility. Participants can join in by drawing or writing a response. Molly will…

Docking Station returns with a digital zone showcasing a groundbreaking game using Motion Capture controls and a virtual reality tour of the soon-to-be refurbished Police Section House in Medway.

Build your own mini windowsill rainforest and watch it grow. A terrarium is like an aquarium, but for plants instead of fish. It is made in just about any glass container and planted up to look like a miniature Rainforest…

Conservation Station is a renewable energy project that demonstrates Green energy in action. If you know a budding builder then here’s a challenge. Build a simple circuit to light a bulb using energy from the sun and wind. Run a…

Experience the thrill of dance with Gorilla Circus! Join us for a lively workshop following the performance of RPM. Anyone is welcome! Unleash your creativity, learn new moves, and dance with the Gorilla Circus team! Please note that this was…

Celebrate bOing’s 10th birthday with some yummy cardboard capers with the fabulous Animate Arts. For this year’s workshops and with the help of professional artists, you will be crafting a cardboard birthday cake to wear as the ultimate party hat…

Join scientists from the University of Kent in a 45-minute interactive Liquid Nitrogen show that explores how the extreme cold affects gases, liquids and solid materials. We’ll need hands-on volunteers to help us with some of our experiments too!

Join this fun workshop from MCDC after the performance of In Clouds. We’ll lead movement games exploring the themes of the show,  teach new dance skills and lead a section of the choreography. This workshop is for the whole family…

Don’t just let your children play Minecraft, get them coding with it! In this workshop, children will be taught to code using Minecraft, in a block-based programming language (Microsoft MakeCode). No prior coding experience necessary. Minecraft play experience is highly…

Use Lego to build smart robots and bring your robot to life using code! This workshop is a great way of introducing concepts such as engineering and coding to kids. Learn coding in a fun way! Lego helps to bring…

Join Studio Spranks for a Typography Workshop! Explore paint techniques and patterns to create unique letter motifs and shapes. This 45-minute workshop offers a hands-on experience to unlock your creativity with typography!  

Check out our free bOing! live music stage on bOing! Hilltop! Sat – Music for Change Music for Change are back with a brilliant line up of world music performances and workshops for all ages on our bOing Music Stage!…

Need a space to chill? Moonbeam Theatre are bringing their sensory garden Calm Zone to bOing! If the crowds are getting too much and you need somewhere to relax then come and unwind in The Flowerbed. This Calm Zone is…

Dulce Compania are back with another walk around Act for bOing 2024! Following the popular Rainbow Ballet Stilt Walk and the Royal Poodle Parade! A surprising, funny, and unbelievably absurd walk act! The headless man in an elegant trench coat…

Everyone is invited to the bOing! silent disco…..just let yourself go! The disco will run at various times throughout the festival – check the chalkboard for details.

Baby zone is an immersive, multi sensory theatrical experience for early years (0-5 years) and their carers. Drop-in sessions throughout the day.

What does it mean to be a Wildflower? Blooming wherever you’re planted. Being your vibrant, colourful self, sometimes under the harshest conditions. Join the Wildflowers as they ride by for a fun, floral pop-up performance. Creating a welcoming environment where…

Following the success of last year’s Open Clay, Canterbury Festival are delighted to bring back this popular community event in collaboration with bOing! Open Clay is a 3D ceramics project created by national creative learning company Clayground Collective. You are…

Our friends at Kent Sport are offering some brilliant free activities at bOing! 2024. Including: Mini Golf Drums Alive Street Dance Zumbatomic Zumbatombic Especially designed for children, ZUMBATOMIC is great for keeping kids active and entertained! Exercise is really important…

The Delights is the tale of two homely creatures who wake from sleepy hibernation to discover a delightful, enticing world that has appeared around them.  As these curious, playful characters explore this new world of possibility, they invite children join…

The FutureProof Zone at bOing! is all about our planet and what we can all do to look after it.

With a sensory feast of arresting images, powerful performers and striking kinetic scenery, Jasmin Vardimon’s newest creation is a re-imagining of the ground-breaking classic.

The ‘Arboria II’ Luminarium is an immersive and interactive sculpture is dedicated to the theme of ‘trees’ and designed to evoke wonder at the beauty of light and colour

MOONmoon is a musical conversation for our youngest audience members ages 0-18months, revolving around melody, rhythm, pulse and timing.

Duckie is a theatrical reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling with a message of tolerance and self acceptance at its core.

A theatre show from the perspective of an acorn. Half a String’s – Breathe, is beautifully realised through a truly unique blend of puppetry, music and live camera work.

In the embrace of choral harmonies, the audience join Frozen Light on their latest sensory exploration. From a soulful connection to travelling into the celestial music of the cosmos.

Sometimes serious, but more often funny, PIRATE TAXI is a family-friendly circus show suitable for adventurers of all ages.

Cook up a stink as part of Rufus Skumskins O’Parsleys’ kitchen crew or bring a pot to bang and ward off evil cakes in this fun-filled, messy performance about food.

A sensational walkabout parade bringing a blast of colour and some charming poodles to bOing! Walkabout performance from Dulce Compania features 5 jumping stilt walkers, stunning costumes and cute pups.

New VR thrill ride Volo: Dreams of Flight is coming to bOing! 2022 Inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s fabulous flying contraptions, his studies of flight and perspective.

Join Square Pegs Arts for this fun and creative workshop writing and recording Jingles for miscellaneous object and products.

Fish Out of Water is a fresh, family-friendly outdoor dance performance using hip hop, interactive sculptures & responsive music to explore themes of belonging, otherness, displacement & migrancy. 

MCDC dancers will share a creative workshop using hip hop and contemporary techniques, exploring the themes of travel, learning a piece of the choreography from the show and facilitating creativity.

Baby Playground (Age 0-24 months) Playground Bell tent – Sun 28 Aug Join Baby Playground artists on a gentle sensory journey creating a magical experience for you to share with your child. Each session is 45 minutes long. Due to…

This unique family experience is for children over 5 and their parents, to join creative ecologist and educator Richard Layzell in a 30-minute walk and workshop of discovery and celebration. 

Music for Change have created a brilliant line up for all ages on our Global Sounds stage at the Cathedral Meadow.

Picking up nearly forty years after the events of the original film, ‘The Railway Children Return’ will take audiences on an exciting and heart-warming journey.

During this, you will have the opportunity to take your own fingerprints and analyse these patterns in the same way they have been done since the first case.

This summer, from the biggest global animated franchise in history, comes the origin story of how the world’s greatest supervillain first met his iconic Minions. Relaxed Screening.

The definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, Lightyear follows the legendary Space Ranger after he is marooned on a hostile planet.

This summer, from the biggest global animated franchise in history, comes the origin story of how the world’s greatest supervillain first met his iconic Minions.

Learn to code in a virtual world in the palm of your hand. Give your 3D creations behaviour, animation, and movement. Interact with a virtual world entirely created by you.

Use Lego to build smart robots and bring your robot to life using code and introduce concepts such as engineering to kids.

Come to experience the SOCORRO VR, immerse yourself in the world of corrosion and provide us with feedback about your experience to help us advance science communication research. 

Come and test different water samples and discover one of the key factors involved in the process of corrosion.

What can you feel and what can you see? What can you hear under the sea?Making their debut appearance at bOing! local company Moonbeam Theatre will be guiding any inquisitive ‘divers’ through their wonder-filled underwater world of Scuba-Dee Scuba-Daa in…

Come and have a tuneful time making your very own musical instrument with cardboard supremos Animate Arts.

Look out for our very own Gulbenkian young performers around campus over bOing! weekend!

In the Future Human 30 Gallery we want you to imagine how humans might interact with technology in the next 30 years. How might humans use technology when they’re older?

This experience is now fully booked.  To be added to a waitlist in case tickets are returned to us for sale, please email boxoffice@kent.ac.uk. ‘Every adventure requires a first step’ Step out of the ordinary and into the unexpected, fantastical…

Cool Science has moved to the THEATRE at Gulbenkian Arts Centre at the festival where additional tickets are now available for sale.  If you have already purchased a ticket, we will be in touch shortly as we will be moving…

This experience is now fully booked.  To be added to a waitlist in case tickets are returned to us for sale, please email boxoffice@kent.ac.uk. Four scientists have lived inside a biodome for over a decade, with only the seeds of…

Once upon a time, there was you and me…  Let your hands lead the way as they discover different textures and open up tiny universes. Oily Cart’s Space to Be is a sensory show that is sent to your home. It’s been created for and with…

9 performers, 80 oranges, 7 watermelons. Smashed2 is the dark art of juggling revisited.   Turning the tables on their previous performance Smashed, this is a tale of retribution. Inspired by choreographer Pina Bausch, this funny and inventive performance will challenge your…

Sensational rainbow parade bringing a blast of colour to bOing! Inspired by the Bauhaus movement and the Triadic Ballets of the 1920s, which imagined movement as geometry, this walkabout performance from Dulce Compania features stilt walkers, rollerblades and stunning costumes.…

Outdoor chaos 2m in the air! A vibrant joyful explosion of colour in an energy fuelled physical show full of clowning, puppets, and paint told from on top of a van. Join Malcolm Brushell, a professional painter and amateur alchemist,…

A playful mix of dance, circus and chairs, recommended for all ages from award-winning contemporary circus company UPSWING. Catch Me is an intimate and surprising take on age, race and gender. An older woman and younger man dance together through…

Music for Change have created a brilliant line up for our Global Sounds stage from 10am – 3pm. GTown Talents will be taking to the Global Sounds Stage from 3-5pm each day. Saturday 28 August: 10am – 10.45am – Simo…

Our friends at Kent Sport are offering some brilliant free activities at bOing! 2022 from Zumbatomic to Street Dance!

  Our friends at Kent Sport are offering some brilliant free activities at bOing! 2021. Suitable for all ages there is no pre-booking, just turn up.   Saturday schedule: 10.20am Drums Alive With Jeni Ages 8 to 15 30mins Feel…

See if you can spot the teams of artists working hard around the bOing site to try and impress Half A String’s Malcolm Brushell and become his new prodigies. Pick your team and help them on their quests to achieve…

Drop into the Playground Tent for songs and rhymes, drama, music, dance, and art especially for children under 5 (and for their grown-ups too!). The sessions will be drop in throughout the festival and led by artists and musicians from…

An exhibition showcasing some of the artworks that awesome autistic girls from Kent and Surrey have created while participating in the Playing A/Part project. The exhibition space will give you a taster of the creative worlds of autistic girls. During…

From June-August 2021, Sprankenstein Studio, alongside a roster of talented creatives, have been working with members of Spring Lane Neighbourhood Centre in Canterbury to run art and design workshops challenging what it means to be an artist. Participants have discovered…

We are thrilled to host Kent Coffee Festival at bOing! this year. Kent Coffee Festival will be a celebration of all things coffee from speciality roasters to artisan food producers with a vibrant exhibition and talks from some of the…

The PAW Patrol is on a roll!  When their biggest rival, Humdinger, becomes Mayor of nearby Adventure City and starts wreaking havoc, Ryder and everyone’s favourite heroic pups kick into high gear to face the challenge head on. Family film…

Academy Award winner Emma Stone (‘La La Land’) stars in Disney’s Cruella, an all-new live-action feature film about the rebellious early days of one of cinema’s most notorious – and notoriously fashionable – villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil. This…

NBA champion and global icon LeBron James goes on an epic adventure alongside Bugs Bunny, Lola Bunny and the whole gang of extremely undisciplined Looney Tunes. Family film screenings have a more relaxed attitude to sound and movement in the…

Inspired by the famous Disneyland theme park ride, this is an adventure-filled, rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon with wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) and intrepid researcher Dr Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt). Family film screenings have a more relaxed attitude…

Marvel at the moon together in this interactive storytelling inspired by myths and legends associated with the moon for ages 0-18months from Norwegian Company Dybwikdans. Inviting us into a universe of song, music and movement, MOONmoon is a musical conversation…

Due to uncertainty around international travel we have taken the decision to postpone Backup.  We are hoping to confirm dates in the future.  If you have purchased a ticket a member of our team will be in touch shortly.  …

This year, the Playground team have been running workshops in libraries across Kent and Medway, immersing very young children in creativity and recording the impact on them and their families. Hear from the artists, families, library staff and researchers involved…

Our friends at Kent Sport are offering some brilliant free activities at bOing! on Saturday 24 August. No pre-booking, just turn up. 10.15am Drums Alive with Jeni Ages 8 to 15 30mins Feel and experience the pulsating rhythms, dynamic movements…

WILD, the daring new outdoor production from Motionhouse, explores our disconnect with the natural environment, and how, in a world where the majority of humans live in large urban areas, the wild environment is becoming increasingly alien to us. As…

Compagnie Nyash take the game of musical chairs to whole new level in this spellbinding show!  Chairs create a mischievous playground full of monsters, vehicles, toys and an obstacle course for this dynamic dance duo to explore. Using a set…

It’s time to make some noise! Jamboree is Oily Cart’s vibrant gig-performance for children and young people with complex needs (ages 3-25), and their friends and families. Let our Balkan band guide you through a colourful world, where the music…

A chance to sing your heart out with your family! Learn classics by Northern Soul, R&B and Motown artists including Sister Sledge, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley. Expect lots of fun, singing and dancing! The workshop is designed…

The Forest of Grimm is a visual and musical show inspired by the fairy tales of the brothers Grimm: Tom Thumb, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty, among others. This magical puppetry performance has no words, but…

Lulla presents a world of song, movement and music, and shows us lullabies in new and traditional forms. Lulla is a musical encounter that is open to participation from children and adults, on their own terms. Lulla does not tell…

Limited number of advance time slot tickets left available.  Once these have sold out, entry tickets will be available to purchase on the day only. Please note that it is cash sales only at the Luminarium. Daedalum is a brand…

The Anarchist’s Mobile Library will take you on a journey through the pages of the most exciting children’s books from throughout history, meeting extraordinary characters and going on an adventure all inside a retro, pop-up caravan! You will choose a…

Take a look into the night sky and get up close to discover more about the objects that you can see in outer space. Our 30 minute presenter led shows are recommended for ages 6+, but all star gazers are…

Experience one of Animate Art’s amazing paper installations in 360 degrees! This short film viewed on headsets will transport you through outer space and land you on to a paper moon! This close-up crater landscape is inspired by the 50th…

Animate Arts is attempting their biggest build at bOing! yet! Over the weekend, with your help, they will build a model city of Canterbury entirely out of paper and card. Can you join us to build your house? Your school?…

Join dancers Aoi and Esteban on a fun workshop for all ages. Get your bodies stretching and moving and find new ways of self expression.

Make a puppet in this fun hands-on workshop. Cut, stick and paint your way to creating a “table-top” puppet that is yours to imagine into anything you want it to be. Go wild. Let your hair down. Or be cool,…

Animation workshop will be back at bOing! Back again at bOing! Try your hand at animating with this fun, quick and easy workshop.  

Are you a secret superhero? Were you grown from stardust, or sculpted from the ocean? Or do you come from fish-and-chip Fridays and the smiles of your grandparents? Come and join award-winning spoken word poet Neelam Saredia-Brayley for a fantastic…

Have you ever wanted to be a real Crime Scene Investigator? Come and have a go in our reconstructed crime scene! You’ll have the opportunity to dress up in the protective suits and use equipment to collect a variety of…

This 45 minute interactive Liquid Nitrogen show explores how the extreme cold affects the properties of gases, liquids and solid materials, including living things. This activity is suitable for everyone so bring the whole family, we’ll need hand-on volunteers to…

Joss Arnott Dance present PULSE!, a brand-new dance and live music experience created for the streets. Performed entirely around a uniquely designed, 3.5m high percussion wheel, this adrenaline-fuelled dance and live music production is a combination of rhythmical flare and…

Music for Change have created a brilliant line up for our Global Sounds stage, with music, workshops and storytelling. All free, and perfect for a sunny, summer afternoon. Global Stage Sat 24 Aug 11am – 11.30am – Drumming workshop (Lucky…

Cohesion Plus return to bOing! with high energy drumming performance that will knock your socks off!

Drop in to the Playground Tent for songs and rhymes, drama, music, dance and art especially for children under 5 (and for their grown-ups too!). The sessions will be drop in throughout the festival and led by artists & musicians…

In a beautiful small tent be part of an audience following the delightful puppets, Grandma and her Granddaughter as they spend time together on their Summer Island. This magical interactive performance is about adventure, nature and the puppets love for…

Follow an 8ft giant as he tries to save all the bees, especially the big bee that seems to keep alluding him. Keep your eye out for this friendly chase of cat and mouse, or man and bee. A beautiful…

Enter 0AR, an immersive Augmented Reality (AR) experience for all ages. AΦE (choreographers Aoi Nakamura and Esteban Fourmi) work at the cutting edge of technology, creating a collection of short dance works within an AR world. 0AR is a communal…

In the garden, every seed is nurtured, every plant is cherished. In the Moving Memory garden, the generations are nurturing, cherishing and helping each other to grow. In our dome-shaped “potting shed”, you’ll find stories of love and tenderness from…

The Remix, Hurray! is a fascinating and titillating installation. This colorful building turns into an original feast factory for you to explore. By operating the installation yourself, you create a unique visual interplay with a spectacular, festive finale. From now…

The two delightful clowns Doa and Squiggle will be out and about causing mischief and getting up to silly antics all weekend. They would love if you say hello to them! Keep your eyes peeled for the clowns who will…

Don’t miss a performance by Gulbenkian’s Youth Dance Company who will present a short piece they have created with Motionhouse during a 3-day residency – inspired by WILD and using one of Motionhouse’s renowned sets. The work will celebrate creativity…

We are sorry that this event has now been cancelled. Whitstable Dance Company is a group of older adults that dance in Whitstable, Kent. It is directed by Marie Forbes a professional dance artist who also dances for Loop Dance…

As usual, our own talented Youth Theatre groups are planning surprise, pop up theatre performances around the site. Keep your eyes peeled….

Inspired by JMW Turner. A story that delightfully mixes historical biography with the fast contemporary world we now occupy. An invitation to slowdown. Paint a stone – for Turner – for The Turner Contemporary! Co commissioned with Applause Rural Touring…

A Roman teenager with brains but very little brawn falls foul of Emperor Nero. Forced to join the army and sent to miserable, cold, wet Britain where an historic showdown with the Celts is about to take place.

Lions rule the African savannah in Disney’s live action remake, which welcomes Donald Glover as future king Simba and Beyonce Knowles-Carter as Simba’s friend-turned-love interest Nala. This is an Accessible Film Club (relaxed) screening. Subtle changes to the cinema experience…

Lions rule the African savannah in Disney’s live action remake, which welcomes Donald Glover as future king Simba and Beyonce Knowles-Carter as Simba’s friend-turned-love interest Nala. Get a free adult cinema ticket to see this film as part of National…

Join us for a special Sing-Along screening of this joyful, wonderful and practically perfect in every way musical. In Depression-era London, a now-grown Jane and Michael Banks, along with Michael’s three children, are visited by the enigmatic Mary Poppins following…

Every year we bring a performance from bOing! to the centre of Canterbury. On Friday 24 August Cohesion Plus, Four by Four and the Bollywood Brass Band will bring their vibrant, entertaining music to the streets of the city. Starting…

Multi-award winning Aracaladanza consistently delight audiences throughout Europe with their extraordinarily magical dance theatre made especially for children and families.  Using the brilliantly abstract work of artist Joan Miro as inspiration, choreographer Enrique Cabrera fills his imaginary blank canvas with vivid…

Teatret Gruppe 38 and Carte Blanche bring this extraordinary tale of Androcles, a slave accused of theft who escapes into the burning desert sun to avoid being thrown to the lions. Suddenly, in the middle of the pitch-dark night, sounds…

Frozen Light are specialists in making theatre for young audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities and return to bOing! with this story of a lighthouse keeper who lives alone on a desolate outcrop surrounded by stormy seas. Change is…

It’s never too early to introduce the youngest members of the family to the Fab Four! Children are invited to dance, clap their hands and move about – to the sound of immortal songs like Yesterday, Let it Be, and…

This performance has been cancelled, apologies for any inconvenience caused. If you have purchased a ticket a member of our ticket & information team will be in touch shortly to issue a refund. Visionary young choreographer Efren Pamilacan Jr.’s contemporary…

Joseph O’Farrell (JOF) welcomes you to 10-Minute Dance Parties – a celebration of art and colour, costume and community, and the universal nature of dance! This is an all-ages event that asks you to have as much fun as you…

Nanna and her partner are two imaginauts (pilots who explore the imagination), who travel the world in a lorry to explain a secret. They have come to bOing! to share what they’re carrying in the cargo space of the lorry…

Enter a dazzling maze of winding paths and soaring domes where Islamic architecture and Gothic cathedrals meld into an inspiring monument to the beauty of light and colour and where visitors of all ages can happily lose themselves. The Main…

Take a look into the night sky and get up close to discover more about the objects that you can see in outer space. Our 30 minute presenter led shows are recommended for ages 6+, but all star gazers are…

This 45 minute interactive Liquid Nitrogen show explores how the extreme cold affects the properties of gases, liquids and solid materials, including living things. This activity is suitable for everyone so bring the whole family, we’ll need hand-on volunteers to…

Have you ever wanted to be a real Crime Scene Investigator? Come and have a go in our reconstructed crime scene! You’ll have the opportunity to dress up in the protective suits and use equipment to collect a variety of…

Hip-hop dance workshop run by Cie Dyptik inspired by their performance D-Construction. Saturday workshop – for 12-18 years Sunday workshop – for 8-12 years The workshop is just for children, so parents can enjoy the rest of the festival while…

Get with the bhangra beat! Learn to drum and dance along with Cohesion Plus and Four by Four Bhangra. Cohesion Plus are a Kent based arts organisation which creates, promotes and delivers contemporary cultural activity working with communities to encourage…

Make a puppet in this fun hands-on workshop. Cut, stick and paint your way to creating a “table-top” puppet that is yours to imagine into anything you want it to be. Go wild. Let your hair down. Or be cool,…

Try your hand at animating with this fun, quick and easy workshop. Create your own individual cardboard characters and learn how to make them move using simple software. You might even see them appearing on the bOing! screens later in the…

Ahoy Ship-Mates! Animate Arts return to bOing with another playful, creative workshop. This year, they are setting sail for the seas! Join a crew of artists and sailors to build your own unique boat – entirely from paper and cardboard.…

D-Construction is a highly energetic, outdoor hip-hop dance performance with a powerful beat and an oriental twist. A metal scaffolding stands in the middle of the playground caging and protecting our 6 dancers as they come together in this dynamic…

With two hairdressers and a DJ, the show recycles everyday objects that give the final touch to the stunning head sculptures created live on daring members of the public. Literally a show that will make your hair stand on end,…

Based on the myth of Cupid and Psyche, Campervan of Love is a funny, musical, dancing adventure for all the family. Cupid helps the world to fall in love; now he has fallen in love himself only to discover his…

How much rhythm can be found in your potato? DJ Frietmachine is the most swinging potato-installation that exists. Record ready, fries ready, go!

The Bewonderment Machine is an artist-built cycle-powered carousel, a kinetic public sculpture and a magical journey for small children. With riding space for up to 10, this is also a miniature theatrical flight of the imagination.

Bill & Bobby celebrates a golden time of good old-fashioned entertainment, when dancing together and ‘happily ever after’ went hand in hand. After a night on the town two revelers awake to find themselves in a bath… Convinced that the…

Cohesion Plus are a Kent based arts organisation which creates, promotes and delivers contemporary cultural activity working with communities to encourage cohesion and integration through brilliant, culturally diverse festivals, parades, music and dance workshops. At bOing! they will be working…

Bollywood Brass Band is the UK’s pioneering Indian-style wedding band, playing the great tunes and compulsively danceable rhythms of Bollywood. A huge hit at festivals and street parades, the Band bring their sounds to bOing! for the first time. As…

A drop-in space for under 5’s with stories, art, games and free play provided by Tea Dance for Little People www.tdlp.co.uk

City Sessions is Australia’s largest freestyle arts event, taking place at Melbourne’s Federation Square. Now choreographer Efren Pamilacan Jr brings his freestyle battles, dance and music to the streets of Canterbury and to bOing! On Friday 24 August, City Sessions…

Inspired by Slavic fairytales, Dizzy O’Dare bring this unique story to life. After centuries asleep, Baba Yaga flies again … and she’s hungry! The old crone will stop at nothing to find a feast while Izba her house trundles behind.

A fresh new pop-up performance piece, Start Stomping. In order to investigate power, male-dominated society and the status quo, the company are joined by a vibrant group of young performers, stage managers and producers, drawn from the Gulbenkian Theatre’s Youth…

Special Delivery is a simple story about the delights of trying something unexpected. When a heavily laden postman is suddenly surprised by a rain shower he discovers that all his packages have lost their labels. In the process of trying…

Join us for this special sing-along version where you can join in with the brilliant songs from the film. In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches Moana’s island, she answers the Ocean’s call to…

In this super-sequel, Bob is left to navigate the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life, giving him an opportunity to bond with his younger son, Jack-Jack, whose superpowers are emerging – much to Dad’s surprise. Open to all, especially those with…

In this super-sequel, Bob is left to navigate the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life, giving him an opportunity to bond with his younger son, Jack-Jack, whose superpowers are emerging – much to Dad’s surprise.

Wallace & Gromit’s glorious adventure about a plague threatening a village vegetable contest is enhanced with scratch ‘n’ sniff cards! In this Aardman classic, Wallace and his loyal dog, Gromit, set out to discover the mystery behind the garden sabotage…

As theatre professionals and advocates, we know why it’s important for children to see live theatre and performance. But what happens when we ask children themselves? Do they think it’s important? Is it relevant to them? What would they like…

Always a popular part of bOing! Become someone (or something!) else for the day…. No advance booking, just turn up on the day.

A Little Wilder a little…. safer quieter greener woodier taller bolder brighter braver Wilder A Little Wilder is a playful and quirky new show for young children featuring a man and an awful lot of lolly sticks. Created by Andy Manley and Ian…

Babies (and adults!) will be mesmerised by this performance, where saxophones, clarinets, an accordion and Jew’s harps, play Mozart, Bach and Monteverdi. Musicalmente create a magical atmosphere bringing instruments up close to the children and making the music itself come…

Winning the world bboy championship in 2014 shot The Ruggeds to international fame and they performed as part of Breakin’ Convention at Gulbenkian in 2016. Adrenaline will attack your senses, with unimaginable acrobatics, rhythm and raw energy.  

The Curious Scrapbook of Josephine Bean, a wonderful show for ages 7 and up, which is part-detective story, part journey into the imagination.   The clues are in its pages…… Everything is flat, pressed, squished. A dusty, musty smell mixes…

From the Guggenheim in Spain to the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the monumental and interactive walk-in sculptures of Architects of Air and designer Alan Parkinson have astounded audiences across the globe. Enter a dazzling maze of winding paths and…

A firm bOing! favourite, Dybwikdans are back for the third time, this year presenting a beautiful, creative version of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale.  

An exciting opportunity to work with professional dancers from Company Chameleon, giving sons and dads the chance to dance together and explore the themes from the company’s production, ‘Of Man And Beast’. This is a free workshop but spaces are…

Let your imagination go wild to create a fabulous beastie head-dress that you can take away and show off around the festival. This is a fun, hands-on workshop delivered by Animate Arts (creators of Home Town at bOing! 2016). This…

Le Cirque du Platzak mixes folk music with traditional and innovative circus such as balance, acrobatics, fire, rope, rolling globe, cloud-swing, aerial plastique, bottle balance, acro-dance, fakirism and clowning arts. This is a free outdoor performance.  

This unforgettable outdoor dance piece explores and uncovers the many faces of Masculinity, showcasing Company Chameleon’s unique physical style. This is a free outdoor performance.  

Inspired by the imagination of young people Beastie is an innovative participatory performance for children.

Three daredevil acrobats appear and disappear from a mysterious black van to perform increasingly absurd and reckless tricks. With great skill and humour they fly off a huge seesaw, tumble with giant bouncing balls, juggle on skis, pogo, throw weights…

Inspired by the imagination of young people Beastie is an innovative participatory performance for children. Children share a jaw-dropping secret and take charge creating their own stories and exploring their surroundings hand-in-hand with a very special new friend.  The result…

Is it a fountain? Not just! Is it a light show? Absolutely! Is it interactive? Of course it is! It’s Aquaduck. This is a free outdoor performance.

Two beautiful 1950’s Jukeboxes sit side-by-side. Watch them spring to life as two performers (hidden inside) re-create classic pop music videos in a lip-syncing musical medley. This is a free outdoor performance.    

Join Doa and Squiggle as they get up to their crazy antics, mischief and hilarious mishaps during bOing! There will be dancing, slapstick and giant bubbles. This is a free outdoor performance.

Help our chefs to stir and sprinkle ingredients, join a whisking competition and help the chefs catch their disobedient kitchen appliance. This is a free outdoor performance.

You’re more than welcome on line 3, the smallest taxi-van ever! Tickets are available from the charming conductor. This tiny van doesn’t have a fixed timetable, but offers you an excellent ‘hop on – hop off’ service. This is a…

Knol d’Amour is an ode to the potato and the blossoming of love. Knol d’Amour is a delicious love story, a fantastic adventure in vision, sound, smell and taste, proving that there is more about the potato than we could…

Leopard is still looking for Spider… Chimpanzee is running from Leopard….. Tortoise wants to marry the Princess… what a drama in the Forest Kingdom of the beasts! Join the Cowfoot Prince on this epic seesaw of stories from Sierra Leone,…

Emrys Plant explores the matter of family life, the unshrinkable mass that takes up space in our heads and hearts. An unqualified father and husband without a handbook making it up as he goes along with only love to give.…

Welcome to the world of Kubla Khan, a multi-sensory pleasure dome that you can touch, taste and smell. From the sounds of a sitar to the feel of a flowing river, experience the temperatures and textures of Coleridge’s acclaimed poem…

Discover the forest anew through this virtual reality (VR) and 360% cinematic experience. In the Eyes of the Animals allows you to explore the forest through the eyes of four woodland species, it is an artistic interpretation of how animals…

Catch them if you can….. A series of short dance pieces, choreographed by exiting, diverse and award wining choreographers that will be performed in and around public spaces in Canterbury 21, 22, 23 and 24 August. Inspired by “First encounters that…

Take a look into the night sky and get up close to discover more about the objects that you can see out in space. Our 30 minute presenter led shows are recommended for ages 5+, but all star gazers are very…

Get even closer to the music with this beautiful workshop with Musicalmente from Portugal. The workshop is separate to the Concert itself but complimentary, and together the concert and workshop are recommended as a brilliant package for babies. The workshops are…

Beauty and the Beast showing at bOing! festival on Sunday 27 August at 1.30pm.

Discussing performance for early years audiences. You and your family are invited to join our bOing! debate.  We have a panel of experts and practitioners who will lead a discussion on: What needs to be considered when making performances for…

Cars 3 screening at bOing! Festival on Sunday 27 August at 10.30am

Despicable me 3 showing at bOing! Festival on Saturday 26 August at 1.30pm.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them will be showing at Gulbenikian on Saturday 26 August at 10.30am

Gulbenkian Youth Performances will happen at bOing! 2017 on Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 August 2017.

To help you see more at bOing! we created the bOing! Package. Book for 2 or more of the bOing! events listed below and get £1 off each ticket! Performances for ages 0-3 La Petita Malumaluga Beatles for Babies Performances for…

To help you see more at bOing! we created the bOing! Package. Book for 2 or more of the bOing! events listed below and get £1 off each ticket! Performances & workshops for ages 0-5 Andy Manley A Little Wilder (2-5)…

This year we are excited to be taking two great bOing! performances into the city centre. Beastie in Town! Beastie is visiting the Sidney Cooper Gallery on Friday 25 August, offering a playful, active and unforgettable experience for 6-10 year olds. There…

A brand new adaptation of the dark and classic tale, Pinocchio performed by Jasmin Vardimon’s stunning dancers, Pinocchio will bring to life the famous marionette as he embarks on a fantastic journey to become a human boy.

Compagnia TPO return to bOing! following their last visit with Bleu! In 2014. Join Mr Bu as he creates beautiful gardens from nothing in this extraordinary interactive combination of performance

Based on the fairytale The Princess on the pea by H.C Andersen you the audience get the chance to dress up and to influence and take part in the story.

Enter the colourful and beautiful world of the artist Chagall and meet the mysterious goat featured in one of his paintings.

Home immerses audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) in a multi-sensory story of discovery.

Grab a pen and kick off your shoes for this playful, interactive story-show that will get the whole family drawing and moving, doodling and imagining.

From the Guggenheim in Spain to the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the monumental and interactive walk-in sculptures of Architects of Air have astounded audiences across the globe.

bOing! launches this year in Canterbury City Centre with wonderful dancers appearing in unexpected places throughout the week! All culminating on the Friday 26 August at 3pm in an exciting celebration of different dance styles and live music.  

Three strangers’ lives intersect on a strange and exciting journey in ‘Stanley’, a customised 1980’s Ford Orion. As they travel they discover that the car seems to have a life of its own….

Great acrobatic fun with two young circus artists playing characters who are going to live together and won’t rest until everything has found its place.

A stunning physical theatre show mixing movement, aerial, acrobatics, theatre and Russian swing.

Phone Box brings to life a nostalgic British icon – with thrilling dance and a wacky digital sound-score.

Three of planet Earth’s greatest superheroes are getting ready to battle it out for the title of ‘Most Supreme Superhero… Ever’, and YOU are invited to join them.

Welcome to ‘Home Town’ – explore the delightful cardboard neighbourhood with houses, street signs, post office and even an estate agents, made entirely by cardboard and paper!

A photography exhibition of images captured by young refugees living in the local area.

ART31 programme our outdoor stage with music, poetry and more from the best local bands and performers.

Watch out for All At Sea is an interactive row-about boat, featuring a fully-functioning mobile storm.

Everyone is invited to the bOing! silent disco in the Gulbenkian Cafe…..just let yourself go! The disco will run at various times throughout the festival – check the chalkboard for details.

The stars of CBeebies ‘Spot Bots’ Three Half Pints take to the decks in this disco of silent proportions! Transmitted through wireless headsets, pick your channel and join Three Half Pints as they battle, boogie and remix their way through…

Everyone is invited to the bOing! silent disco in the Gulbenkian Cafe Get inspiration from our guest dancers James Middleton, Jo Frater, Dani Batchelor and Chloe Challis, or just make up your own moves… The disco will run at various…

Everyone is invited to the bOing! silent disco…..just let yourself go!

Join Doa and Squiggle as they get up to their crazy antics, mischief and hilarious mishaps during bOing! festival.

Two eccentric vintage moped enthusiasts; a shining moped with a state-of-the-art sidecar; lots of instruments; and a whole load of swing and jive

Come and join the Man in the Clouds and his bonkers friends to help the sun to rise on this strange and topsy-turvy day in the sky! In this interactive and tactile performance your child can get stuck in to…

The Dance We Made Team have just 2 hours to create a brand new dance, and they need your help!

Help us to close this year’s festival in style, with a riotous band Tankus the Henge leading us on one final journey through bOing! Bring your puppets, costumes, instruments and voices and join in the fun.

The two Clown artists Doa and Squiggle can create masterpieces with a bit of paint and a brush – but who can do it best? Catch the two Clowns in a colourful art competition, where painting is turned into a…

Pick up something unique, created by one of the young makers in this very special market.

Once again this year, ART31 have programmed a brilliant range of acts for you to enjoy!

bOing! has teamed up with Artswork to offer 150 children the chance to Discover bOing! and gain an Arts Award Discovery qualification – the most fun you can have to get a certificate!

Your favourite Beatrix Potter characters invite you to join them in The bOing! Burrow for wondrous stories, fantastic fun and nonsensical rhythm and rhymes. This is one of four great bOing! workshops in The Burrow, all for 0-5 year olds, each…

Your favourite Beatrix Potter characters invite you to join them in The bOing! Burrow for wondrous stories, fantastic fun and nonsensical rhythm and rhymes. This is one of four great bOing! workshops in The Burrow, all for 0-5 year olds, each followed…

Your favourite Beatrix Potter characters invite you to join them in The bOing! Burrow for wondrous stories, fantastic fun and nonsensical rhythm and rhymes. This is one of four great bOing! workshops in The Burrow, all for 0-5 year olds, each followed…

Your favourite Beatrix Potter characters invite you to join them in The bOing! Burrow for wondrous stories, fantastic fun and nonsensical rhythm and rhymes. This is one of four great bOing! workshops in The Burrow, all for 0-5 year olds, each followed…

Have fun working with a composer to create a brand new anthem for bOing! and then perform it on the ART31 stage.

Try your hand at animating with this fun, quick and easy workshop.

Try your hand at animating with this fun, quick and easy workshop. Create your own individual cardboard characters and learn how to make them move using simple software. You might even see them appearing on the bOing! screens later in the…

Create your own big, colourful puppet that can join the closing parade on the final day of bOing!

With real insight into the workings of a young mind, this is a moving and heartening film that will be adored by children and adults alike.

The fin-tastic sequel to Finding Nemo, following everyone’s favourite forgetful blue tang fish Dory’s search to reunite with the family she forgot about.

Unendingly popular since its multi Oscar-winning release in 1964, Robert Stevenson’s nostalgic musical fantasy stars Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins, the world’s most effective nanny.

Selected ticketed performances are £6 per ticket, but only £5 as part of a bOing! package.

Featuring Jasmin Vardimon as part of an International Panel to debate and discuss what we show to children – Cinema has a very strict classification process and yet for other art forms it is often the company, artist or programmer…

Gulbenkian has commissioned Motionhouse to create Fragile for this year’s bOing! Fragile will thrill and surprise all ages in this spectacular outdoor show bringing JCB’s together with stunning dancers.

bOing! comes to Medway on Thu 27 & Fri 28 August this year, as the brilliant Urban Playground Team bring their energetic Performance-Parkour to Sun Pier, Chatham. The Urban Playground Team will also be performing at bOing! (University of Kent) as part…

Book yourself a slot in this playroom for all ages, hosted by artist Richard Layzell. Softly Softly is a special interactive family experience, running four times daily in the Colyer-Fergusson Hall. You’ll be guided through an age swapping performance including…

ART31 are programming their very own stage at bOing, following the success of recent The Stage Is Yours events. Previous performers at ART31 events have included street dance groups, singers, youth theatre and even stand-up comedians, all aged between 13-25.…

Trapped in lives filled with daydreams and loneliness, Thea and Robin both crave an escape from their everyday routines. One day they are drawn into the dark and mysterious forest and find themselves on an unexpected journey of self-discovery filled…

Save £5 per person with this 3 show package which includes: Multi award winning Nubes by Aracaladanza has been wowing audiences across the world with its beautiful movement based upon the works of artist Rene Magritte. A Mano by El Patio…

Save £3 per person with this 2 show package which includes: Multi award winning Nubes by Aracaladanza has been wowing audiences across the world with its beautiful movement based upon the works of artist Rene Magritte. In Tiger Tale by…

Save £3 per person with this 2 show package which includes: Multi award winning Nubes by Aracaladanza has been wowing audiences across the world with its beautiful movement based upon the works of artist Rene Magritte. A Mano by El…

Baby and Toddler packages are now SOLD OUT as Toddlernes Rom is now sold out, please contact Gulbenkian Tickets & Information on 01227 769075 to be added to the wait list.  There are still tickets available for Far Far Away…Early…

Ahoy there landlubbers! Don’t ye be missin’ this tale of treasure and treachery on the high seas. Join Jim Hawkins as he spins his yarn of plotting pirates and potty parrots. Featuring a cast of just three actors playing all…

Tove Jansson’s universally loved Finnish cartoon creatures take a trip! In search of new adventures the Moomins, Snorkmaiden and Little My set sail for the sunny French Riviera, where after a journey fraught with menacing storms and desert island dangers,…

Urban explorers discover beneath canvas tarps the skeletal remains of a machine that changed the world. Captivated, they open a furnace and shovel coal on the fires of the past. An elegant model of efficient motion, it is monstrously utilitarian…

This delightful 3D animation is a spin-off from the hugely successful Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2, with a voice cast including Oscar winner Sandra Bullock (as stylish uber-villain Scarlet Overkill) and Mad Men’s Jon Hamm (as her husband Herb).…

Shiver me timbers! Surprises await Thomas and his friends as they dig up their most daring adventure yet. Unearthing an old pirate ship, Thomas is on the hunt for Sodor’s lost treasure. When Thomas rocks the boat with some new…

Renowned as one of the most mischievous birds on the planet; the Lyma birds have hatched and escaped the nest and are creating havoc! They are close to extinction and it’s up to you to help keeper Dr Newbury round…

A journey, in a bedroom, in a glass box, in a field. Artist Eric MacLennan invites you to take a special journey, one in which you help set the course. Accessible to all – regardless of age, background, or language.…

We asked what you wanted to see and you voted for Paddington! Everyone’s favourite ursine stowaway gets the big-screen treatment in this handsome, long-awaited adaptation of Michael Bond’s beloved books. A young bear (voiced by Ben Whishaw), originally from Peru…

Appearing amongst the crowds of shoppers, this comical solo performance shuffles through a whole host of dance styles and music genres. Blending into the background to begin with, after causing a scene the performer is revealed. Headphones is a fun show…

‘Zip-Zap-Ka-Boing’ is a great chance for anyone with an instrument or a voice to discover the wonderful world of large group improvising. Through the use of a simple set of hand signals, we make music together regardless of our musical…

This outdoor performance takes two ideas as its point of departure, carrying forward an argument about urban space and body: „City planning should not aim to make life in the city as efficient as possible, it should leave room for…

A daytime disco for the whole family. Let yourself go, dance like a mad hatter…or like your dad. Everyone is welcome to dance at any time in our cafe.

BE-LOVED –  a stunning outdoor aerial production inspired by Angela Carter’s short story The Tiger’s Bride, a re-imagining  of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. Artistic director: Daniela Essart Choreographer: Ella Robson Guilfoyle Technical director & rigger: Søren Nielsen Performers:…

Create your own magical, curious and fantastical stories in the company of Wide Eyed Theatre.

Design and decorate your own carnival mask…which you can show off for the rest of the day!

Come and create the Cheshire Cat and his feline friends, using only cardboard and paper! Working with expert cardboard artists from Animate Arts, participants will create their very own cardboard cats to take home!

A fantastic workshop to explore your creativity and make a mad hat creation suitable for any Mad Hatter’s Tea Party! The participants, or Milliners, will work with artists from Animate Arts to create 3D paper scultpures and transform them into…

A magical, visually spectacular show for families filled with swirling clouds, miniature houses and enchanting music. Enter a world where clouds turn into sheep, shadows make beautiful patterns across walls

A troubled family’s world turns upside down when a tiger invades. It’s chaotic, it’s dangerous but brilliantly funny as the tiger reignites the family’s love for one another. With captivating dancers and live music enjoy the thrill of sitting right…

A story told with clay, through a small character with a great desire to escape from a shop window and its inhabitants.  It is a love story, a story about small failures, a potter’s wheel, a cup that breathes, two…

Note: This is the page for the Far, Far Away Early Years Concert, suitable for ages 0-4. For the Far, Far Away Family Concert, suitable for ages 5+ and younger siblings, please click here. An exploration of Bach’s Goldberg Variations as part…

Baby and Toddler packages are now SOLD OUT as Toddlernes Rom is now sold out, please contact Gulbenkian Tickets & Information on 01227 769075 to be added to the wait list.  There are still tickets available for Far Far Away…Early…

Back in 1990 hopeful property developers, sensing that a coming American airbase brought with it great riches, built a space-ship shaped restaurant on the side of the A14 motorway near Peterborough. This restaurant was called Megatron. As a 9 year…

Create your own piece of wonderland decorating your own cupcake… caterpillars, dormouse, cheshire cat or white rabbit – you decide in this fun and very yummy session.

Note: This is the page for the Far, Far Away Family Concert, suitable for ages 5+ and younger siblings. For the Far, Far Away Early Years Concert, suitable for ages 0-4, please click here. An exploration of Bach’s Goldberg Variations as part…