By Sarah Argent, in collaboration with Barnstorm Theatre Company

“bockety brilliance” and 4 STARS! – The Irish Times, April 2013

“a stand-out piece of children’s theatre” – Irish Theatre Magazine, April 2013

Bucket & Henry look to night sky (Photo: Dylan Vaughan)

What is friendship? What happens when it goes wrong?

What do you have to do to make it work?

Barnstorm Theatre Company commences an autumn tour of its insightful new play for children aged 4 and older, this coming October. The Bockety World of Henry & Bucket looks at friendship through a day in the life of two friends who live in a bockety world of discarded objects.

Responses to its World Premiere in Kilkenny were resoundingly enthusiastic – comments from parents and teachers included ‘pure theatre’, ‘visually imaginative’ and ‘…they haven’t stopped talking about it since.’ Exceptional reviews in The Irish Times and Irish Theatre Magazine (find links to reviews at top of this page).

Written and directed by Sarah Argent, based on a collaborative devising process with Barnstorm, The Bockety World of Henry & Bucket is humorous and rich in visual antics. Through Henry and Bucket’s relationship we can examine what friendship is, what happens if it goes wrong and how you fix it.

Their friendship reflects the bockety world they inhabit – there are wobbles and shakes, and it’s not quite level all the time but it works! How do friends reconcile when they’ve had their battles, got on each other’s nerves, and even stooped to telling lies…?

This is an entertaining, thought-provoking exploration of friendship for young children and their families.

A play for children aged 4 and older.

Running time: 40 minutes