We are eagerly awaiting the fantastic fortnight, the magic called the International Children’s Festival in Šibenik.

This is a special period of time that begins weeks and months prior to its official beginning. Preparations, invitations, agreements… quiet, barely audible whisper, arrangements, buzzing of the phone, hurried steps up and down the theatre stairs, excited voices and exhilaration. The Festival is approaching; flags and banners are being hung by tireless hands, the festival gate is being put up at the southern entrance next to Poljana Square.

And then comes the morning. The sun-drenched morning that fills us with anticipation about the school holidays, joy and vanilla ice cream. This is the morning when the Festival begins.

This is when Šibenik becomes a magical city. Its white stone streets shine happily, while looking forward to children’s footsteps. The magnificent Cathedral hovers in a motherly, protective manner over the most beautiful venue in the world. Everything looks set for the meeting of children an theatre. Šibenik is ready to embrace artists and actors from all over the world, who rush to join children in what artists and children can do best – play.

Everything becomes theatre, play is what remains. The starry night will be lit by spotlights, the Hello Kids choir will fill the space in front of the Town Hall with their voices and the most beautiful flag of theatre community will be raised. Streets and squares, all of them live for the Festival, with every corner being a venue. Let’s not forget the theatre, our sweet home. There is a creaking stage in there awaiting its guests and the red soft chairs inviting children to dive into the magic.

Workshops fill hot summer days with the most creative hours; some draw, others write, some make dolls or small chairs, children act as journalists, cinematographers, adventurers and explorers. Music can be heard, some children play or sing, and others recite or act. Children are artists, just like those that they could see onstage the night before and now on these special days, they live, learn and explore with them, thus building the Festival together.

For fourteen days the whole gorgeous city of Šibenik protects and cherishes children and adults for the sole purpose of preserving a spark of creativity from the harsh realities of the world. The Festival is a big idea, the last utopia of beauty and sense. The festival days are the days when we believe that theatre can ennoble us, make us better people and make us think that our growing up will never end.

We believe in the Child that can change the world with their benevolence. The Child will have their eyes open while experiencing the beauty of a performance, the world of imagination and fairy tales, with that world remaining the lasting signpost for an honourable and fulfilled life.

We who have grown fond of theatre, we who believe in its secret power, remain loyal devotees of the Festival for good and all. It means the world to us, it is not just about performing or the applause of an enthusiastic audience, it is a vow of community that we made a long time ago.

When I grow up, I will be a child!

Nina Kleflin,
theatre director