Two years ago Barnstorm realised a long-held aspiration when we formed our Acting Ensemble – three actors who worked and trained with the company in the development, devising and realisation of theatre productions for our various audiences but in particular children & young people.

Olivier award-winning author Mike Kenny

In exploring ‘how’ we tell stories in these productions we engaged with other artists and developed a new play based on the original Hansel & Gretel tale. The team involved in the process were our three actors Paul Curley, Sarah Johnson and Shane O’Reilly, writer Maeve Ingoldsby, visiting actors Will Pinchin and Ben Samuels, Designer Carol Betera, our Outreach Officer Anna Galligan and Artistic Director Philip Hardy. And after working on the ideas at various stages throughout 15 months we invited Mike Kenny to script the piece. Mike is a prolific writer in children’s theatre and indeed Barnstorm has a long relationship with him – we have produced six of his works to date.

A Murder of Crows is the result, and it is appropriate that this world premiere of a new script by Mike Kenny is produced by Barnstorm in celebration of the company’s 20th year serving young audiences throughout the country.

There are six actors in this production and final auditions are now complete. The design team includes Carol Betera (set), Mark Galione (lighting), Harmless Creatures (costume), Alé Mercado (graphics) and Pól Brennan (music). Rehearsals begin on 5th September.

The production will open in the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny on 11th October and runs until 19th October, and will tour nationally in the Spring of 2012. There will be a showcase performance of A Murder of Crows in the Samuel Beckett Theatre in Trinity College, Dublin on Saturday 22 October.