Haircuts By Children by Mammalian Diving Reflex
Children give free haircuts to the public.
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
Featuring: Children ages 8-12
Conceived and Directed By: Darren O’Donnell
Produced By: Naomi Campbell
Featuring: Children ages 8-12
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.
Awards & 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)
"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)
Presentations
Ontario Culture Days/Burlington, Canada/09,2019
Les Tombées de la Nuit/Rennes, France/07,2019
HOTA (Home of the Arts)/Gold Coast, Australia/09,2019
Stadtmensch; Altenburg, Germany/05,2018
PROTOIPOAK, Azkuna Zentroa/ Bilbao, Spain/05,2018
Freedom Festival/Hull, England/09.2017
Wiener Festwochen/Vienna, Austria/05,2017
Art & Society Research Center/Tokyo, Japan/02.2017
Melbourne Festival/Melbourne, Australia/10,2016
Hat Fair/Winchester, England/06,2016
Swallow-A-Bicycle/High Performance Rodeo/Calgary, Canada/01,2016
Nakai Theatre & Pivot Festival/Whitehorse, Canada/01,2015
ANTI Contemporary Arts Festival/Kuopio, Finland/09,2014
Live Art DK/Copenhagen, Denmark/02,2014
Possible Futures Festival/Kunstencentrum Vooruit & Campo/Ghent, Belgium/10,2013
Darwin Festival/Darwin, Australia/08,2012
Behaviour Festival/The Arches/Glasgow, Scotland/04,2012
Fusebox Festival/Austin, United States of America/11,2011
MOTUS, Aldred Ve Dvore Theatre & 4+4 Days in Motion/Prague, Czech Republic/10,2011
Grenswerk Festival/Enschede, Netherlands/10,2011
Festival des arts vivants/Nyon, Switzerland/08,2011
Arts Australia & Junction Arts Festival/Launceston, Australia/08,2010
LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre)/London, England/07,2010
Cork Midsummer Arts Festival/Cork, Ireland/06,2010
Norfolk & Norwich Festival/Norwich, England/05,2010
Curtain Razors, The Movable Feast/Regina, Canada/03,2010
Perth International Arts Festival/Perth, Australia/02,2010
Wunderbar Festival/Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England/10,2009
Galerie B312/Montréal, Canada/09,2009
Context Gallery/Derry, Northern Ireland/06,2009
UOVO Performing Arts Festival/Milan, Italy/05,2009
At the Spark Festival by Theatre Skam & Belfry Theatre/Victoria, Canada/03,2009
Arts Council Norway, Theatre Avant Garden & the Showbox Conference/Oslo, Norway/11,2008
Arts Council Norway, Theatre Avant Garden & the Showbox Conference/Trondheim, Norway/11,2008
Es-Terni Performing Arts Festival/Terni, Italy/09,2008
XING International Festival of Performance Art/Bologna, Italy/04,2008
PuSH International Performing Arts Festival/Vancouver, Canada/01,2008
Sydney International Arts Festival/Sydney, Australia/01,2008
Art in General at Performa 07/New York City, United States of America/11,2007
Dublin Fringe Festival/Dublin, Ireland/09,2007
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art's Time-Based Art Festival/Portland, United States of America/09,2007
Fierce Festival/Birmingham, England/05,2007
Outpost for Contemporary Arts/Los Angeles, United States of America/11,2006
Harbourfront Centre Milk International Children's Festival/Toronto, Canada/05,2006
Les Tombées de la Nuit/Rennes, France/07,2019
HOTA (Home of the Arts)/Gold Coast, Australia/09,2019
Stadtmensch; Altenburg, Germany/05,2018
PROTOIPOAK, Azkuna Zentroa/ Bilbao, Spain/05,2018
Freedom Festival/Hull, England/09.2017
Wiener Festwochen/Vienna, Austria/05,2017
Art & Society Research Center/Tokyo, Japan/02.2017
Melbourne Festival/Melbourne, Australia/10,2016
Hat Fair/Winchester, England/06,2016
Swallow-A-Bicycle/High Performance Rodeo/Calgary, Canada/01,2016
Nakai Theatre & Pivot Festival/Whitehorse, Canada/01,2015
ANTI Contemporary Arts Festival/Kuopio, Finland/09,2014
Live Art DK/Copenhagen, Denmark/02,2014
Possible Futures Festival/Kunstencentrum Vooruit & Campo/Ghent, Belgium/10,2013
Darwin Festival/Darwin, Australia/08,2012
Behaviour Festival/The Arches/Glasgow, Scotland/04,2012
Fusebox Festival/Austin, United States of America/11,2011
MOTUS, Aldred Ve Dvore Theatre & 4+4 Days in Motion/Prague, Czech Republic/10,2011
Grenswerk Festival/Enschede, Netherlands/10,2011
Festival des arts vivants/Nyon, Switzerland/08,2011
Arts Australia & Junction Arts Festival/Launceston, Australia/08,2010
LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre)/London, England/07,2010
Cork Midsummer Arts Festival/Cork, Ireland/06,2010
Norfolk & Norwich Festival/Norwich, England/05,2010
Curtain Razors, The Movable Feast/Regina, Canada/03,2010
Perth International Arts Festival/Perth, Australia/02,2010
Wunderbar Festival/Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England/10,2009
Galerie B312/Montréal, Canada/09,2009
Context Gallery/Derry, Northern Ireland/06,2009
UOVO Performing Arts Festival/Milan, Italy/05,2009
At the Spark Festival by Theatre Skam & Belfry Theatre/Victoria, Canada/03,2009
Arts Council Norway, Theatre Avant Garden & the Showbox Conference/Oslo, Norway/11,2008
Arts Council Norway, Theatre Avant Garden & the Showbox Conference/Trondheim, Norway/11,2008
Es-Terni Performing Arts Festival/Terni, Italy/09,2008
XING International Festival of Performance Art/Bologna, Italy/04,2008
PuSH International Performing Arts Festival/Vancouver, Canada/01,2008
Sydney International Arts Festival/Sydney, Australia/01,2008
Art in General at Performa 07/New York City, United States of America/11,2007
Dublin Fringe Festival/Dublin, Ireland/09,2007
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art's Time-Based Art Festival/Portland, United States of America/09,2007
Fierce Festival/Birmingham, England/05,2007
Outpost for Contemporary Arts/Los Angeles, United States of America/11,2006
Harbourfront Centre Milk International Children's Festival/Toronto, Canada/05,2006
