The International Mask Festival has a rich platter of experience for the family. In our exhibition of over 200 masks from around the world, Face to Face, there are masks from children in the local community. The mounts displaying the masks are easy to see from a child’s eye-view and there are humourous interactive exhibits and the opportunity to try on masks throughout the day. Contact us if you'd like further details.

Almost all of the performances throughout the festival are suitable for the family; A few to look out for are Footsbarn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Garlic Theatre Company’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Trading Faces’ Alice and Horse + Bamboo’s In the Shadow of Trees.

There are 5 workshops geared around children and families, including Steven Jon’s Paperface in the Town Centre and on the Glassshouse site and Trading Faces at the Town Hall with Mask Making for the Family.

From Saturday 20^th to Wednesday 24^th our festival clowns will parade both in the Town Centre and around the Glasshouse site doing spontaneous shows on the street and in the exhibition. Call us for further details.

We have carefully considered the age ranges for all performances, workshops, exhibitions and activities and have consulted with all artists, practitioners and companies to canvass their expert advice.

You will see relevant age guidelines and content advice referenced. Feel free to email any enquiries and we will do our best to advise you.

Dudley Performing Arts have been an invaluable part of our Family and community programming.  For the International Mask Festival, Dudley Performing Arts have liaised with local schools and local artists to bring together teachers and artists who were offered the opportunity to undertake mask training led by specialist mask-makers at The Glasshouse College.  The training, undertaken over two days, equipped the teachers and artists with the basic and intermediate skills of mask-making. 

These skills are being used to create masks with young people in schools and the community.  The masks that are being made are going to be judged in the Mask Making Competition, The Face of Who I Am and some will be used in the performance Challenging Perspectives.  Young people who contribute to the competition will be able to see their masks on this website and mask entries will be exhibited in the
Face to Face exhibition.

DPA are working with young people across the Dudley Borough from schools, colleges and the local community to create pieces that celebrate the use of mask in performance.  During the summer holidays rehearsals are taking place at Netherton Arts Centre and Stourbridge College and from September in local schools and the community.

Schools, colleges and community groups contributing to the International Mask Festival to date are:

Windsor High
The Straits  
Summerhill Cotwall End 
Bromley Hills
Leasowes
Wrens Nest
Alder Coppice
Castle High
Thorns School and Community College.