What does it mean to be a kid today? This collection of culturally diverse short plays gathered from eight years of Concrete Theatre's groundbreaking Sprouts New Play Festival for Kids brings us stories from the rich cultural tapestry of Canada that explore both the challenges and joys of growing up. The collection features the work of well-known and up-and-coming writers. Suitable for professionals and young performers alike. Excellent for use in the classroom.

Writer, director, dramaturg, and actor, Mieko Ouchi trained at the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting Program, the Women in the Director’s Chair Program, and the National Screen Institute. Her award-winning films have screened at over thirty festivals, including the Toronto and Vancouver International Film Festivals and Asian American film festivals in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Her plays The Red Priest (Eight Ways To Say Goodbye), The Blue Light, The Dada Play, Nisei Blue, I Am For You, Consent, The Silver Arrow, and Burning Mom have been translated into six languages, been finalists for the 4 Play Series at the Old Vic, UK; the Governor General’s Literary Award; the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award; the City of Edmonton Book Prize; and Sterling Awards, and have been recognized with the Carol Bolt Award, Betty Mitchell Awards, and the Enbridge Playwrights Award for Established Canadian Playwright. Her work as a director and dramaturg—both at Concrete Theatre where she was Co-Artistic Director and Artistic Director for thirty-one years, and with writers and companies across the country—spans TYA to indie to large-scale work. Mieko now works as Associate Artistic Director at the Citadel Theatre. She lives in Edmonton with her husband Kim and their dog Nara.

Mieko Ouchi's profile page

Caroline Howarth is a founding co-director of Concrete Theatre and has directed many projects, including the Sterling Award-winning The Shape of a Girl and the Sprouts New Play Festival for Kids for the company. She is a theatre instructor at Concordia University College of Alberta where she teaches acting, directing, and theatre for young audiences. Caroline also works in opera as a singer and director and is currently a graduate student in the new M.F.A. Theatre Practice program at the University of Alberta.

Caroline Howarth's profile page