In 2007, after much demand from the public, Barnstorm decided to create opportunities for the adults in Kilkenny & the South East 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 group was formed a few years later both groups are now the Barn Owl Players with a growing reputation for exciting and innovative theatre projects in Kilkenny.

In 2010 the first One-Act Theatre Festival was launched to tremendous success and to date the members of Barn Owl Players are constantly looking for new challenges in the development of theatre skills.

For further information contact 0567751266 or philip@barnstorm.ie

Love In Lockdown – Panic Stations 2022

Productions & Projects to date:

(2022) Love in Lockdown: LIVE (2 programmes May)

(2021) Love in Lockdown Part1 (March) + Part 2 (April)

(2020) Zoom BOP: CONFINEMENT (partnership with Barn Owl Players (12 monologues on Zoom and launched on YouTube)

(2017) Big Maggie by John B Keane

(2016) One-Act Festival 2016 – The Bear by Brian Friel & Tough Cookies by Edward Crosby Wells

(2015) Christmas Crackers

(2015) Blood, Bats & Barn Owls @ Rothe House

(2015) One-Act Festival 2015 – A Bedtime Story by Sean O’Casey, Confusions by Alan Ayckbourn & A Little Box Of Oblivion by Stephen Bean

(2015) What’s Love Got to Do with It? @ Hole in the Wall

(2014) Christmas Crackers

(2014) One-Act Festival: Theatre X 2

(2013) Mid-May Murders (BOP + KATS) Any Body for Tea? by G. B. Gilford & The Patient by Agatha Christie.

(2012) Re: Joyce @ The Hole In The Wall

(2012) Keane Writings @ The Hole In The Wall

(2012) Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel

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

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

(2011) Shorts 11 – 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.

(2011) Love Is…  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.

(2010) Christmas Crackers – 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.

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

(2010) Anything…But Peig – 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.

(2009) Christmas Crackers – 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.

(2009) Halloween Tales – 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.

(2009) Cabaret Nights @ The Barn – 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)

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

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

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