Belonging is a series of Children's Dramas from Ireland and around the world presented by RTÉ Kids, in association with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). This year we have 5 new kids' dramas coming to RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from Monday, 22 September at 4pm.
Our drama week starts off with the home-grown Glitch from DyeHouse Films and continues all week. This collection of five children's short dramas from Ireland and around the world, explores themes of friendship, family, identity, and self-discovery.
In Glitch we meet Naomi, who is sent to the countryside to spend the summer with her grandmother. She's unhappy and isolated, spending all her time indoors on her tablet rather than trying to make friends. But one day Naomi discovers her neighbour Sam (a young girl her age) has been taken over by an alien called Glitch who wants to experience life on earth for one day.
When other aliens from Sam’s race show up to drag her back to her boring, sterile world, she becomes swept up in an adventure. Together, the two of them spend a day together avoiding capture and having fun.
And there's more. From Naomi’s unexpected alien adventure in rural Ireland, to Caspar’s clever challenge to school uniform rules in Boys Will Be Boys (Germany), Nina’s struggle between family expectations and her passion for drumming in Nina’s Rhythm (Serbia), Polly’s test of loyalty and courage in Two Peas in a Pod (Scotland), and Katerina’s magical escape into history in Ekaterini (Cyprus), the series celebrates the challenges and triumphs of growing up, inspiring kids to embrace who they are and find their place in the world.
Tuesday - Boys will be Boys (Germany)
The hottest summer on record! On the way to school, Caspar envies his best friend Emma, who is at least allowed to wear a skirt as part of her school uniform instead of warm long trousers. But then he has an idea how he can escape the heat and still adhere to the strict rules of headmistress Mrs Garde regarding their school uniforms - an idea that turns everything upside down and ends up changing the whole school.
Wednesday- Nina’s Rhythm (Serbia)
For those about to rock - we salute you! A young girl named Nina is caught between the expectations of her family, particularly her mother, who envisions her as a singing princess, and Nina's own passion for music as a drummer in a band.
Thursday - Two Peas in a Pod (Scotland)
Polly is a great mechanic. She's been fixing her little sister’s bike but is getting fed up of how annoying Peigi is, and how her beloved dad is never around to see all the great stuff she does. So, when the local gang arrive with a bike to fix, and ask her to join them, she jumps at the chance. Finally, some recognition! But what starts off well enough - finding junk in the river, cleaning it up and selling it – soon turns much darker when Polly betrays her sister to save herself and impress the gang. As gang leader Donnie Dan shows his true horrible colours, will Polly do the right thing, ditch the gang, and make amends with Peigi?
Friday - Ekaterini (Cyprus)
Katerina is a child of a large family, with 3 very lively brothers. She loves school, her lessons and especially History! In class, during a History lesson about Ekaterini Cornaro, the last queen of Cyprus, her teacher and classmates make fun of her, each in their own way.
At home her brothers are their usual annoying and noisy selves, preventing her from studying her homework. She picks a fight with them and her parents take her brothers’ side. Feeling very disappointed, Katerina leaves the house. She enters an amazing world, of a more distant age, where things are very different.
Click here to see the 2024 series including A Bedouin Dream from Ireland.
For more great shows for young people go to RTÉ Player Kids.
And visit rte.ie/kids to get sneak peeks and news on the latest content.
