THIS summer, be prepared to enter the fairy-tale world of Grimm Brother's Cinderella . You can become the town folks of where the lovely lass meets her Prince Charming, and where the Mozart period-dressed prince beseeches your help to search for his beloved's ''golden'' shoe as he gallops around your seats! Cinderella , a Cantonese musical from the children's theatre wizards of the Anonymous Theatre, is just one of the 60 tickling programmes the Regional Council is presenting in the International Children's Arts Festival from July 22 to 29 at its six New Territories town halls.
This year's emphasis is on audience participation. For instance, you can learn a few tricks from Harry Goh Goh, the maverick FM Select disc jockey, in his magic workshop.
''We want to let children increasingly become a part of the programmes so they may experience art in a new way, while we keep finding new art forms,'' said Cheung Yuk-yu, Regional Services Department's marketing and development manager.
The four overseas programmes are irresistible. Ever watched an inflatable man and an inflatable woman, in their bursting bubble cubes, desperately trying to come together? Inflatable Comedy Theatre , presented by Americans Fed Garbo and Daielma Santos, promises non-stop fun and laughter.
Two presentations look likely to stir up puppet craze.
Britain's Trestle Theatre Company wear full mask but would not talk. Hanging Around , their acclaimed work about growing up, is dubbed ''the greatest and most inventive physical comedy on earth''.
