A Joint Barnstorm-Watergate Production

Barnstorm Theatre Company and Watergate Theatre present a joint production of Sean O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars this coming November and December. The first such co-production was Brian Friel’s Translations in 2016, which had a huge and enthusiastic reaction from schools and the public alike in a truly great production, and the audience feedback was very positive:
 

Incredible performances all round, stunning set and visuals, all in all a wonderful theatre experience…

I’ve seen it myself 4 times and this production was superb. The students really, really enjoyed it … to see it performed live is so, so good.

 
As with Translations, The Plough and the Stars is being presented under the banner of  Curriculum Play Live,  and the producers are confident that it will appeal to both the general public and schools in the region; and that it will enhance insight and understanding of this great work.

‘This is a challenging but hugely exciting play to produce and we are looking forward to getting to grips with it,’ says Barnstorm’s Philip Hardy who will direct the play.

 
 
The Plough & the Stars premiered in 1926 at the Abbey Theatre in the writer’s native Dublin. The first two acts take place in November 1915, looking forward to the liberation of Ireland and the last two acts are set during the Easter Rising, in April 1916.

The actors appearing are from across the southeast, including familiar faces from plays presented over the years by Watergate Productions, Barn Owl Players, KATS and Devious Theatre, such as Jim Carroll, Natasha Murray, Mags Whitely, Niall Bambrick, Philip Brennan, David Brygone, Mary Byrne, Paula Drohan, Peter Healy, Aoibhín Murphy, Seán Walsh and John Prendergast.

Performances: Wednesday, November 29th to Saturday, December 2nd; nightly at 8pm with performances for schools at 10.30am on Thursday and Friday.

For more information, go to watergatetheatre.com/shows/

Tickets: €18 / €15.

For the reduced school/ group ticket price, please contact Watergate Box Office on 056 7761674

Paul Curley and John Currivan in The Bockety World of Henry and Bucket

With the generous support of Culture Ireland, Barnstorm will present ‘Bockety’ at venues in Sydney and Paramatta between September 13th and 30th 2017.
Written and directed by Sarah Argent, the play has toured the UK, in Ireland twice, and earlier this year it was very well-received across America and Canada.

Created especially for children aged four and older and their families, The Bockety World of Henry & Bucket, featuring actors Paul Curley and John Currivan, looks at friendship through a day in the life of two buddies who live in a bockety world of discarded objects. Responses to this play at home and abroad have been extremely enthusiastic – one festival director described it as ‘like Beckett for children.’ And a reviewer noted the two friends are a ‘modern-day Laurel and Hardy’.

The play will perform at Riverside Theatre, Paramatta, September 13 – 16th

And Monkey Baa Theatre, September 25 – 30th

A Season of Family Theatre and Storytelling – 12-20 August 2017

Barnstorm has been creating great theatre for young audiences and families for many years in Ireland and more recently, internationally. In 2016 Kilkenny Arts Festival and Barnstorm formed a partnership to present a family season of theatre to local and visiting audiences during the August festival. In 2017 the partnership continues with StormFest – a Season of Family Theatre and an exhibition at The Barn Theatre, as well as a significant Storytelling programme and workshops in the Yurt at the Yard, at Castle Yard.

From Germany, Compagnie Les Voisins will bring The Queen of Colours – a show full of kaleidoscopic wonder and vivid imagination, The Queen of Colours is an interactive story about unleashing creativity and choosing not to ‘colour within the lines’
More details at Kilkenny Arts Festival

Mary-Frances Doherty from Northern Ireland presents Katie’s Birthday Party, where you are invited to celebrate Katie’s 12th birthday as she explores what it’s like to be moving from primary to secondary school.
More details at Kilkenny Arts Festival

Peter Rinderknect brings Portofino-Ballade from Switzerland, and he plays an amazing double bass which transforms into the stage and set for two tiny puppets in a show packed with surprises.

StormFest programme:

 
More details on all events and to book tickets, go to: Kilkenny Arts Festival

Yurt at the Yard – StormFest Storytelling

StormFest and Kilkenny Arts Festival are delighted to collaborate in presenting a brand new and comprehensive programme of storytelling this August that presents a diverse range of artists. Partnering with Creative Ireland, StormFest and Kilkenny Arts Festival invite you into the worlds of wonder that will be conjured in the Yurt at the Yard, a purpose-built tent in the Castle Yard. There will also be a chance to hone or test your skills with a number of Storytelling Workshops given by masters of the craft, such as Niall de Búrca and Simone Schuemmelfeder.
Full information & Booking at Kilkenny Arts Festival

Red Square and Culture Club Exhibit

As part of StormFest, Red Square and Culture Club, an intergenerational project, will create, curate and exhibit their work in The Barnstorm Exhibition Space at Barnstorm Theatre Company, Church Lane, Kilkenny.
Exhibition Launch: Mon Aug 14 at 6PM; Gallery Open: Wed 16, Thu 17, Sat 19 & Sun 20 Aug 11AM to 5PM

This August Barnstorm Theatre Company offers something for everyone – join us for nine days of fun and discovery!

Today we’re very excited to announce that we have just launched our new logo for StormFest – a Season of Family Theatre and Storytelling, which will take place from August 12th to 20th, as part of the official Kilkenny Arts Festival programme.

Following on from last year’s hugely successful BarnFest in conjunction with the Kilkenny Arts Festival, this August will see an expansion of the partnership as we will host productions from three international theatre companies committed to quality theatre for young audiences, as well as an exhibition at The Barn (an official KAF venue) at Barnstorm Theatre.

StormFest and Kilkenny Arts Festival are delighted to collaborate in presenting a comprehensive programme of storytelling and workshops this August. Partnering with Creative Ireland, we invite you to explore the worlds of wonder that will be conjured in the Yurt in the Yard, a purpose-built tent in the Castle Yard.
We just love our new logo, designed by illustrator, Alé Mercado! Both the image and the name conjure up the sense of traditional summer fairs and fêtes of old.
If you want to know more about any of these shows and how to book your tickets to StormFest family events, get your hands on the Kilkenny Arts Festival’s much-anticipated full programme which has just been released or check out kilkennyarts.ie @kilkennyarts