Haircuts by Children

Haircuts by Children is exactly what it says on the tin: a group of children are given a crash course in hairdressing and run a salon where they offer free haircuts to members of the public. Haircuts By Children invites you to take part in an event that will test your courage and faith in the future. Let them cut your fears away as they prove themselves creative leaders, capable and responsible citizens and dedicated coiffures.

Press

The show has commandeered barber shops on three continents, mesmerizing audiences and media wherever it goes. The deeper thrill is in the carnivalesque reversal of power, and the rare, almost taboo encounter between a child and a grown-up who isn’t their teacher or relative.

Carl Wilson, Toronto Life (2008)

Haircuts by Children is something “radical” and goes to the heart of assumptions we hold about performance and about art. The performance takes adults back to their own memories of when they were children, when they were respected, and when they weren’t.

Norman Armour, CBC (2008)

“What’s the best that can happen?” Well, besides a good (free!) haircut, the performance will have provided a space where children and adults can share a creative experience. To boot, it’s a chance for a child to be treated as a competent, trusted individual—perhaps for the first time.

Colin Way, Calgary Herald (2016)

Presentation History

2024
May
BILDSTÖRUNG; Detmold, Germany
2023
June
Festival de Marseille; Marseille, France
2022
June
Schauspielhaus Bochum; Bochum, Germany
February
Mois Multi; Quebec City, Canada
2019
September
Ontario Culture Days; Burlington, Canada
July
Les Tombées de la Nuit; Rennes, France
2018
September
HOTA (Home of the Arts); Gold Coast, Australia
May
Stadtmensch; Altenburg, Germany
PROTOIPOAK, Azkuna Zentroa; Bilbao, Spain
2017
September
Freedom Festival; Hull, England
May
Wiener Festwochen; Vienna, Austria
February
Art & Society Research Center; Tokyo, Japan
2016
October
Melbourne Festival; Melbourne, Australia
June
Hat Fair; Winchester, England
January
Swallow-A-Bicycle/High Performance Rodeo; Calgary, Canada
2015
January
Nakai Theatre & Pivot Festival; Whitehorse, Canada
2014
September
ANTI Contemporary Arts Festival; Kuopio, Finland
February
Live Art DK; Copenhagen, Denmark
2013
October
Possible Futures Festival, Kunstencentrum Vooruit & Campo; Ghent, Belgium
2012
August
Darwin Festival; Darwin, Australia
April
Behaviour Festival/The Arches; Glasgow, Scotland
2011
November
Fusebox Festival; Austin, United States of America
October
MOTUS, Aldred Ve Dvore Theatre & 4+4 Days in Motion; Prague, Czech Republic
Grenswerk Festival; Enschede, Netherlands
August
Festival des arts vivants; Nyon, Switzerland
2010
August
Arts Australia & Junction Arts Festival; Launceston, Australia
July
LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre); London, England
June
Cork Midsummer Arts Festival; Cork, Ireland
May
Norfolk & Norwich Festival; Norwich, England
March
Curtain Razors, The Movable Feast; Regina, Canada
February
Perth International Arts Festival; Perth, Australia
2009
October
Wunderbar Festival; Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England
September
Galerie B312; Montréal, Canada
June
Context Gallery; Derry, Northern Ireland
May
UOVO Performing Arts Festival; Milan, Italy
March
At the Spark Festival by Theatre Skam & Belfry Theatre; Victoria, Canada
2008
November
Arts Council Norway, Theatre Avant Garden & the Showbox Conference; Oslo, Norway
Arts Council Norway, Theatre Avant Garden & the Showbox Conference; Trondheim, Norway
September
Es-Terni Performing Arts Festival; Terni, Italy
April
XING International Festival of Performance Art; Bologna, Italy
January
PuSH International Performing Arts Festival; Vancouver, Canada
Sydney International Arts Festival; Sydney, Australia
2007
November
Art in General at Performa 07; New York City, United States of America
September
Dublin Fringe Festival; Dublin, Ireland
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art's Time-Based Art Festival; Portland, United States of America
May
Fierce Festival; Birmingham, England
2006
October
Outpost for Contemporary Arts; Los Angeles, United States of America
May
Harbourfront Centre Milk International Children's Festival; Toronto, Canada

Original Tour Credits

The Original Touring Production of Haircuts by Children at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto in 2006 was:
Conceived and Directed by Darren O’Donnell
Produced by Naomi Campbell