Click here for more information on A Murder of Crows National Tour…

Bits, Bites & Pieces - Rehearsals

The Adult Theatre Club members are presenting their own Cabaret Nights in The Barn on Wed 15th and Thurs 16th February. There is a great programme on offer with  monologues, excerpts and poetry, directed by the members. Bits, Bites & Pieces will be presented in a club style in The Barn where the audience will sample wine and nibbles while watching the proceedings on two stages. Booking 056 7751266

Production Team:

Jim Carroll (Michael)
Mary Cody (Maggie)
Nicola Keating (Agnes)
Janis Woodgate (Rose)
Sinéad Goggin (Chrissie)
Dee Gibney (Kate)
Michael Sommer (Fr Jack)
John Whitely (Gerry Evans)

Trish Brennan (Director)
Ita Morrissey (Assistant Director)
Sheila Kirby (Stage Management)
Claire Sheehan (Stage Management)
Neal Sherrin (Production Manager)
Harry Harris (Set Design & Build)
Bernie McCoy (Costume Design Consultant)

The Adult Theatre Club (ATC) is a two year training programme that provides opportunities for adults in the region to explore, train and create theatre with a professional theatre company.

How can I join?

ATC takes on new members every two years, the next opportunity being September 2012.  You can let Barnstorm know of your interested at any time by contacting  056-7751266 or anna@barnstorm.ie.

All those interested are invited to an open information evening at the beginning of September, which allows them to sample a drama workshop and provides an opportunity to ask questions.  First term begins the following week.

What happens then?

Workshops run every Wednesday 7pm – 9 pm from September to May of both years.  Specialist training, presentations and productions require further time commitment which is arranged in advance.

Year one concentrates on acting and performance skills – in the latter half of the year the members research short plays or excerpts from plays to bring to the stage as a first public performance for the group.  These excerpts or ‘Shorts’ are directed by experienced directors, which in the past have included Barnstorm’s Artistic Director, Philip Hardy.

Year two sees the members continue acting, while developing  other skills  in Stage Management, Design, and Directing. Members will subsequently direct each other in monologues or script excerpts and these are presented in a unique production ‘Cabaret Nights’ to the general public in The Barn Theatre.

After this process the ATC group amalgamates with the Barn Owl Players, an innovative amateur theatre company, consisting of previously trained members of the ATC. BOP has a full and varied annual programme of training and productions in The Barn, the Watergate Theatre and other local venues.

How much is it?

The annual membership fee for ATC is €350. This includes a registration fee of €50 on acceptance of a place and then €100 per term.  There is flexibility within reason to how term fees are paid and there are a limited number of scholarships available.

John Whitely & Jim Carroll in The Dumb Waiter

The Barn Owl Players

In 2007, after much demand from the public Barnstorm, Kilkenny’s professional theatre company, decided to create opportunities for the adults in Kilkenny (& the southeast) to explore the art of theatre from acting, to stage management to design and more. The Adult Drama Club was initiated to be a place to socialise and learn about theatre, to go to shows and discuss the aspects of production afterwards in a fun yet critically positive environment. A second ADC group was formed in 2009 and members from both groups are now the Barn Owl Players with a growing reputation for exciting and innovative theatre projects in Kilkenny. BOP members continue their training while producing a number projects throughout the year.

In September 2010 a new group was formed as the Adult Theatre Club and later this year, after initial training and with a few projects under their belts, these members will become part of the Barn Owl Players.

The members of Barn Owl Players are constantly looking for new challenges in the development of theatre skills. In 2010 the first One-Act Theatre Festival was launched to tremendous success and in 2011 BOP presented its 2nd One-Act Festival, this time the pieces were directed, designed, stage managed and produced by the members.

2011 also saw the members devise and produce a unique evening of theatre in The Hole in the Wall on High Street for St Valentine’s weekend.

The Barn Owl Players are preparing a full-length production of Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel for the Watergate Theatre 29-31 March 2012.

Productions & Projects:

Shorts 08 (2008)
A series of short plays directed by Barnstorm staff and presented in The Barn

The Whiteheaded Boy (2008)
A full-length 3-act play by Lennox Robinson presented in the Watergate Theatre

Shorts 09 (2009)
Another series of short plays directed by Barnstorm staff and presented by the new ADC in The Barn

Cabaret Nights @ The Barn (2009)
Members directed each other in monologues that were presented in a ‘cabaret-style’ in The Barn – audiences were seated at individual tables surrounded by paintings and glitz, and, while performances took place on stages at either end of the room, were fed wine and titbits. (to back page)

Halloween Tales (2009)
Members of the Barn Owl Players created a show for children that involved Celtic Folklore and Legend based on Halloween and the horror tale. Children (and parents) were encouraged to bring along a duvet, blanket or pillow for this treat that was presented in The Barn on 31st Oct.

Christmas Crackers (2009)
The company re-visited the Cabaret Nights module to present a festive fare that thrilled audiences on the run-up to Christmas. This time mulled wine and mince pies added to the enjoyment of short performances, poems and songs to celebrate the season in The Barn.

Anything…But Peig (2010)
The second group of adults had been developing theatre skills over the previous year and presented their version of Cabaret Nights with an Irish flavour in celebration of St Patrick’s Day.

One-Act Festival (2010)
BOP produced the first festival which comprised of two programmes with five plays presented in The Barn over a week.

Christmas Crackers (2010)
Pieces were chosen and cast, directors elected and rehearsals well under way when the great snow of 2010 hit! We had to postpone and then cancel this one when January arrived.

Love Is… (2011)
But like true troopers the BOP rose to another challenge and in a short time created a memorable evening of Love with poetry, song and drama, for romantics & cynics alike, that was presented in The Hole in the Wall on High Street.

Shorts 11 (2011)
The new Adult Theatre Club took to the stage in the tradition of previous members and produced  four play excerpts in a full evening presentation in The Barn.

2nd Annual One-Act Festival (2011)
Two plays The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter and The Donahue Sisters by Geraldine Aron directed, designed, stage managed and produced by the members.

Cabaret Nights (2012)
Members direct each other in an evening of monologues, excerpts and poetry presented in The Barn in the unique setting of a club.

For further information contact 0567751266 or anna@barnstorm.ie or philip@barnstorm.ie

‘…Barnstorm has achieved a combined strength through its small ensemble, reflected in the harmonies of their speech, the fluidity of their movement and their capacity to segue smoothly into doubling as both the crows and the human protaganists. ‘A Murder of Crows’ is rooted in story-telling but it upends the form in a satisfying manner. - Irish Theatre Review, 26 October 2011

Shane O'Reilly (Crow), Fiona McGeown (Old Woman), Paul Curley (Boy). Photo: Dylan Vaughan

A Murder of Crows is a dynamic and theatrically exciting work for children aged 8 and over, based on the classic tale of Hansel and Gretel. The play explores themes of famine, family loyalties and personal growth.

Six actors weave a gothic story of two children’s journey from abandonment and fear to ultimate survival, seen from the quirky perspective of a chorus of raucous and garrulous crows, whose boisterous antics will delight children.

Click here to view A Murder of Crows Spring 2012 Tour Dates

Download the Teacher’s Resource Pack to get an idea of themes addressed and how they might tie in with other strands, e.g. SPHE, history.

Download the Press Release

A play for children aged 8 and older.

Running time: 60 minutes approximately

Murder of Crows from Barnstorm Theatre Company on Vimeo.

Thank you to all involved and well done!

Puppet Josh in The Song from the Sea (Photo: Dylan Vaughan)

Listen! Can you hear it?

Our captivating new show The Song from the Sea, by Mike Kenny, focuses on a young boy’s struggle to find his place in his family, and in the wider world. Blending storytelling, performance, puppets, music and a beautiful song from the sea, this show is a sensory treat.

Playwright Mike Kenny’s writing shows great empathy with young children. He will be familiar to Barnstorm audiences as the author of Big Sister, Little Brother and Jack.

With its blend of magic and realism, and an emphasis on shared storytelling The Song from the Sea is an encouraging and uplifting show for young children.

A play for children aged 4 and older.

Running time: 35 minutes

A Murder of Crows - Crows Perch

After two years of development and devising by the Barnstorm Acting Ensemble and scripting by Mike Kenny, A Murder of Crows has finished its première run in The Watergate, Kilkenny. It has received a rapturous response from all who have seen it.

“The lads had a great night, the play was amazing, well acted & well written. Thanks again to all concerned.”

“Your best show yet”

The cast of Paul Curley, Conor Donelan, Annette Flynn, Sarah Kinlen, Fiona McGeown and Shane O’Reilly, the design team and crew, who brought this gothic story of two children’s journey to the stage, have produced a show that enthrals both children and adults alike.

If you missed A Murder of Crows during its first run, don’t worry, A Murder of Crows is back in Kilkenny for one night on Wednesday 26th October, as part of Gathering 2011. All proceeds of the night are in aid of Carlow-Kilkenny NCFA (National Campaign for the Arts) to help campaign to maintain current levels of public investment in the arts. Bookings at The Watergate- 056 7761674.

A Murder of Crows will be on national tour in spring 2012.

Here’s a musical taster of the lullaby from the play. Music composed by Pól Brennan; lyrics by Mike Kenny; vocals by Tara Byrne.

Barnstorm_AMurderOfCrows_Lullaby

Off-site rehearsals - actors' crow poses

Cast Paul Curley, Conor Donelan, Annette Flynn, Sarah Kinlen, Fiona McGeown and Shane O’Reilly are physically limbered up and are well into the production.

Collaborative work continues with set design (Carol Betera), costume designers (Harmless Creatures), music composer (Pól Brennan- of Clannad) and lighting designer (Mark Galione).

Alé Mercado, illustrative artist and graphic designer has captured the essence of the play with his brochure design – he also created an exquisite limited edition screenprint in honour of Barnstorm’s 20th!

Crow Row