PLAYARK | EVENT PREVIEW

NOW in its fourth year, the playARK Festival takes over the Wales Millennium Centre and challenges you to reclaim learning, living and working now. Bringing together inspirational ideas from renowned UK and international speakers, day one is dedicated to various talks, exploring the theory, practice and importance of playful and creative approaches to the things we do within our businesses, learning environments and our communities.
The festival, however, is a game of two halves as day two allows you to experience your inner child with a fun-filled day of free games suitable for adults and children. From interactive to family games, be prepared for unique day of fun experiences, created by some of the best and most innovative game makers from around the world.
In Human Bingo participants are the bingo balls and must use a mobile phone as the dabbers. In this interactive game run, hide and capture as many moving targets as possible until you can get a full house.
Other interactive pop-in games include Mitt Rowdy – challenging you to pick up a coin before your opponents whilst wearing an oven mitt. Other intriguing games include Extreme Musical Chairs – exactly as the title describes, and not for the faint hearted. Independent game shop Rules Of Play will also be joining the festival with a great selection of board games throughout the day.
The festival finale, Block Party, is a roaming theatrical street game that tests your speed, wits and cunning as you try to smuggle as many packages as you can through Cardiff Bay.
Julian Sykes, PlayARK co-founder, explains that the long term goal is to increase discussion about the power of games as they “are seen very much as pure entertainment or something you do when you are young, but we believe they could be far more important than that.”
With the variety of games on offer there’s a fun packed day ahead for everyone with the programme of unique games and playful experiences.
playARK Festival 2013, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Fri 1 + Sat 2 Nov. Tickets: interactive games are free, talks £15-£25. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www.playark.co.uk

words: RHIANON HOLLEY
photo: JORGE LIZALDE