One of my favourite Baboró memories is:
I really really liked Nubes and The House That Jack Built. I just remember going with my Mom and my cousin Sophie and we had such a good time. I remember Jack had a twin brother who he also played. He was always in the toilet and on the phone at the same time. He played a granny in bed and all the other characters. There was a song called ‘I’m From Spain’ stuck in my head for ages afterwards. I remember the character that sang the song had two children and he loved trains and they created some images with shadows on a door. Louis Lovett, the actor who played all the parts, waited at the end of the show to give everyone in the audience a magazine to do with the show called The Trumpeteer. I still have it. It was funny.
In third class, I think, I remember we went to one about a giant with my class. It was quite violent. Not like gruesome killing — it was stage killing or whatever.
Another year I went to a silent disco in Salthill. We were given headphones and you could choose between two stations that were both playing different songs. When you took off the headphones you could only hear people singing.
I think Baboró is an important festival for Galway because:
It’s for kids. Not many kids I know go to shows or the theatre very often. When we go with the school we get a day out too. We have to get the bus and it’s a change from the boring school day.
I don’t go to shows very often but I do go to the cinema as much as I can. Theatre, being live, makes it different. They both tell stories so I like them both for that reason.
Plus I’ve been going since I was three or four and I’ve enjoyed all of them. There is always lots to choose from for all the age groups every year. I know my cousins often come from Mayo to see the shows, so I’m lucky I live here and I can go with school or at the weekends.
What I’m really looking forward to at this year’s festival:
I’m looking forward to seeing The Wolf and Peter. I have heard the story in school before. I can’t remember it but I remember liking it. I like to watch dance programmes on television. We’re not going to anything with our class this year but I am definitely going to it over the weekend.
I’m also very excited to see Me, Michael. I’ve seen the movie Dancing at Lughnasa and I really liked it. I think it would be interesting to see it from Michael’s point of view.
I’m going to call into the Book Doctor on the Saturday. I like to read. Sometimes when I’m in the library or the bookshop I don’t know what book to choose. I read certain authors and follow series but I run out of ideas.
Brick Flicks also looks fun because I enjoy photography and videography on my iPad mini. It’s booked out at the moment but I think there’s going to be another event like this in a few weeks so I’ll sign up for that. I’m not into Lego but I would just like to make a film.
Réalta Denning is 11 years old and is in sixth class in Gaelscoil Dara, Renmore. She likes going to the cinema, is interested in film and reading. She also likes gymnastics and trampolining.
The Baboró International Arts Festival for Children starts next Monday, October 12, and runs throughout the week until Sunday October 18. Bookings on 091 569777 or online at baboro.ie
