Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Its name says it all: BIG BANG is one wild and crazy festival! Presented for the first time in North America, this multidisciplinary musical event for ears big and small marks the kickoff of the National Arts Centre’s 50th‑anniversary celebrations, and promises to deliver an explosion of sounds and colours to brighten the heart of winter.
On Sunday, February 17 and Monday, February 18, 2019, in partnership with Winterlude, the NAC will throw open its doors and invite young people ages 5 to 12 and their families to discover a dozen shows, performances and sound installations imagined by artists from here and abroad to celebrate the joy of creativity.
With Zonzo Compagnie, Marcelle Hudon, Alexander Shelley,
the NAC Orchestra, Jesse Stewart, Moe Clark, Les Incomplètes, Gordie MacKeeman,
and several other outstanding creators
For the duration of BIG BANG, the NAC will be transformed into a gigantic music machine for a two-day adventure in sound. From the performance halls to the new public spaces to the backstage area, spectators in the National Capital Region can explore the building’s nooks and crannies while enjoying a host of activities and extraordinary artistic offerings. Attend a visual concert performed by the National Arts Centre Orchestra in magnificent Southam Hall, then stretch your legs to the sound of a lively fanfare before bouncing around on big yellow cushions that make music, or roaming the backstage area to listen to short surprise performances. With an amazing program featuring more than 80 artists and performers, the BIG BANG Festival offers a riotous array of discoveries. Don’t miss this unforgettable musicolourful journey!
February 17 from noon to 5:30 p.m.
February 18 (Family Day in Ontario) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
THREE SHOWS IN THE NAC PERFORMANCE HALLS
• Nimble Fingers (5 +)
Alexander Shelley, the NAC Orchestra & Marcelle Hudon (CA , ON+ QC)
Expect the unexpected when a puppeteer works her shadow theatre magic to the music of the maestro and his 61 musicians in a concert that is a feast for the eyes and ears!
February 18, 1:30 p.m.
Southam Hall
•Mile(s)tones (6 +)
Zonzo Compagnie (BE)
Groove to the tunes of jazz legend Miles Davis, performed by three brilliant musicians. But, fair warning, you might get called on stage to participate! It’s a clever and interactive show like you’ve never experienced before.
February 17, 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
February 18, 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Azrieli Studio
•Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys(5 +)
(CA, P.E.I.)
Have you heard of this ace fiddle player? He’s faster than the speed of light! Surrounded by his fellow musicians, this born performer delivers a high-energy concert. The joint will be jumping!
February 17, 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
February 18, 3 p.m.
Fourth Stage
A BACKSTAGE ADVENTURE
•Music Room (5 +)
Jesse Stewart, Bascaille & Les Incomplètes (CA, ON + QC)
Who doesn’t dream to explore behind the scene of a theatre? Here is your chance: Three surprise micro-concerts as you tour behind the scenes at the NAC. Ready for an adventure? Let’s go!
February 17, 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:15 p.m.
February 17, 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m.
Backstage
Capacity of only 75 people
FREE EVENTS
•Ze Radcliffe Fanfare
(CA, QC)
You’ll want to get up and dance when these spirited musicians take the stage with trombones, trumpets, an accordion, a sousaphone and more. We dare you to sit still! What’s the point of BIG BANG if you can’t party?
February 17, 12:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.
February 18, 12:30 p.m. & 4 p.m.
Thorsteinson Glass Staircase
•Nomad : Papâmacihowin*
Moe Clark (CA, TIO'TIA:KE)
In collaboration with Ahau Marino
Multidisciplinary Métis artist Moe Clark collaborates with Mexican musician Ahau Marino and a group of indigenous youth in this sonic journey. Together, they explore concepts of survival, determination and continuum through song, story and language. Their voices become landscape in this immersive nomadic performance.
* Cree word for "never in one place/to roam"
February 17, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m.
February 17, 12 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Canal Lobby Stage
SOUND INSTALLATIONS FROM AROUND THE CORNER AND AROUND THE WORLD
•Pneumaphone
Logos Foundation (BE)
A clever handyman invented the pneumaphone when he came up with the bright idea of connecting air cushions to strange wind instruments. It’s up to you now to jump and bounce on the air cushions to make some music!
February 17 & 18, ongoing
Lantern Room
•The Nebula
L’eau du bain (CA, ON)
Wearing a headset can make the world a more captivating place. All the ambient noises – creaking, whistling and purring – seem different. Where the heck are you? An immersive experience that mixes dreams and reality.
February 17 & 18, ongoing
O’Born Room
•Marbles, Motion, Music
Jesse Stewart (CA, ON)
Jump, spin and twist as strange sensors track your movements, creating sounds and while marbles roll around inside a dome! Grab a friend and work together to create marble chaos and create an original melody.
February 17 & 18, ongoing
Rossy Pavillon
•Love Song
ChampdAction (BE)
There is love in the air! Press a button and experience the favourite sounds recorded by hundreds of children through heart-shaped recording devices. It’s an auditory encyclopedia of love!
February 17 & 18, ongoing
Mezzanine Foyer
About the BIG BANG Festival:
The BIG BANG is one of the most successful children’s festivals in Europe. It explores the fascinating world of music, sound and the arts, through a variety of activities and performances. The festival builds on the legacy of Wouter Van Looy, who founded the OORSMEER children’s music festival in 1995 as a platform for artistic modern music programming specifically for children. Zonzo Company, the organization behind OORSMEER, gathered six European partners and in 2010 formed BIG BANG - the European music festival for young and adventurous audiences.
Since 2010, BIG BANG yearly takes place in Brussels (Bozar), Lisbon (Centro Cultural de Belém), Stavanger (Stavanger Konserthus) and Lille (Opéra de Lille). From 2014 onwards, BIG BANG also conquers Antwerp (deSingel) and takes off to Athens (Onassis Cultural Centre, Hamburg (KinderKinder) and Sevilla (Instituto de la cultura y las artes de Sevilla).
Bringing BIG BANG to the NAC grew out of the NAC’s relationship with Zonzo Compagnie, a Belgian music/theatre company for young audiences founded by Van Looy. Over the past few years, the NAC has presented some of its shows, including Listen to the Silence about the music of John Cage, and Slumberland, which explores the world of dreams and the night. The Big Bang will make its North American premiere in Ottawa on February 17-18.
Single Tickets:
3 Shows in Halls $15
Music Rooms $5
Packages available:
2 tickets to any festival events for $25 – SAVE $5!
3 tickets to any festival events for $30– SAVE $15!
All access to the festival for 4 people $99* –SAVE $100!
More information about the packages here.
Plan your visit:
Visit https://nac-cna.ca/en/visit to explore the new NAC and get answers to your questions about buying tickets, parking, accessibility, etc.
2018-11-27
Ottawa: The family-friendly Big Bang Festival runs February 17-18, 2019