A new Luminarium will have its world premiere at The University of Nottingham.

Wheee! — Lakeside’s International Children’s Theatre and Dance Festival — will premiere the EXXOPOLIS  to help celebrate Architects of Air’s 20th anniversary.

The Luminarium is always a massive hit with adults and children alike, and Lakeside has commissioned alumni Alex Patterson to compose a piece for a choir to be performed in the Luminarium during the festival

Now in its 7th year, Wheee! (which runs 2 to 10 June), the line-up promises fantastic family entertainment and hands-on activities and workshops.

Spanish dance and theatre company Aracaladanza will perform Nubes (Clouds) at Lakeside on June 2; Canadian company Bunk Puppets will perform Swamp Juice from 3 June – a mix of fiendishly clever shadow puppetry with a 3D finale; Scottish theatre company Catherine Wheels will bring White to Lakeside on 6 June; and Crying Out Loud presents Kindur (Icelandic for sheep) by TPO Company on 10 June, an interactive show using stunning digital imagery.

The Incredible Book Eating Boy is based on the award-winning book by popular children’s author Oliver Jeffers. The enchanting five-minute show is about Henry who realises that the more books he eats, the smarter he becomes! Perhaps, the smallest and maybe the shortest theatre experience with puppetry, music and projection, it takes place in a booth big enough for one child and an adult.

The success of Wheee! has inspired the creation of Jump In, a regional children’s theatre and dance event featuring all the companies from Wheee! at venues across the East Midlands.

Lakeside director and co-founder of Jump In, Shona Powell, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be welcoming six incredible companies to Lakeside as well as our internationally touring, home-grown Architects of Air.

“The shows are suitable for a range of ages. The performances are lively, vibrant and will amaze all from two to ninety-two. Great theatre for children is undoubtedly fabulous theatre for adults, and we’ve got a clutch of absolute gems lined up”

She added: “Since 2005, dance venue Déda in Derby, the Spark Children’s Arts Festival in Leicester and Lakeside Arts Centre in Nottingham have worked together to bring high quality international children’s theatre and dance to the region.

“But this year, for the first time, thanks to funding support from Legacy Trust UK through Igniting Ambition, and Arts Council England through Grants for the Arts, nine organisations across the East Midlands have collaborated to form Jump In, an East Midlands-wide festival for children and families which is part of the Cultural Olympiad.”

Tickets for Lakeside Arts Centre are available from: www.lakesidearts.org.uk or call the box office: 0115 8467777.