THE launch of England's only professional theatre festival for children proved child's play for two actors yesterday.
The fully-grown Japanese thespians, from Tokyo's Himawari Theatre, appeared clad only in baby-grows during the show Baby Love.
The show, staged at the Arc, at Stockton, Teesside, is a comedy about a little boy's delight and pain at becoming a big brother.
The performance marked the start of Take Off 2001, the only annual festival of plays aimed at children in the UK. The festival is held in a different venue in the North of England every year, and this year it is taking place in Stockton.
Most of the plays will be staged in the Arc venue, but many will be in Stockton primary schools, including St Bede's, Roseberry, Tedder and Fredrick Nattrass.
Previous festivals have been held in Darlington in 1996 and 1999, Hartlepool in 1994 and Sunderland in 1997.
Paul Harman, festival director, said: "Take Off celebrates the power of live theatre to stimulate children's imagination. Children always enjoy quality theatre - but we need parents and teachers to bring them in."
The festival runs until Wednesday and all tickets are only £3.50 for Stockton residents
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