Ireland’s flagship festival will welcome thousands of children from 0 to 13 years, their families and teachers from October 14 - 23.
Baboró returns to a full programme of over 50 live events for an extended festival of 10 days across theatres, galleries, schools and communities in Galway City and County.
The international festival, which celebrates children, families and community through art in all its forms, will be welcoming companies from all over Ireland and Europe, including Belgium, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Scotland and England. Families and schools are invited to immerse themselves in dance, theatre, circus, spectacle, art and stories from near and far.
Commenting on the 2022 festival programme, Executive Artistic Director, Aislinn Ó hEocha says, ‘We are thrilled to welcome children with their schools and families back to theatres, galleries and public spaces all over Galway for enthralling performances, inspiring exhibitions and fun workshops. It’s been a tough few years for us all - the festival will bring us together again to collectively experience art in all its forms, encouraging us to gasp, laugh, and clap together as only live art can.”
This years festival sees an expanded programme of theatre for 0 - 6 year olds through Barboró’s partnership with the Creative European project. Programme events include; ‘Tiébélé’, a show which echoes the beautiful traditions of women from a village in Burkina Faso, West Africa. ‘Frames’, a visual theatre show from Italian company and festival favourites, La Barraca, celebrates the power of memory and imagination. ‘You are Here’, from Danish Theatre company, Madam Back is about finding your way in the world and within yourself. ‘Grand Soft Day’, celebrates the wonder of the world around us.
‘Rothar’, follows two boys and their bikes as they conjure plays from the everyday, where anything is possible. For those interested in dance theatre, ‘Of Bluebells and Butterflies from Graffiti: BEAG’, is a charming interactive performance for babies up to 12 months, and their adults.
Irish and International Performance
This year’s Baboró programme boasts of a varied and full schedule of ballet, Irish dancing, circus preformers, video installations, interactive art shows and poetry, with something to interest everyone.
Two circus performers compete in a series of bizarre challenges in, Le Cirque de Bout du Monde’s surreal world of ‘Der Lauf’, where nothing is quite as it seems. For ballet lovers, the Ballet Ireland produced, ‘The Glasshouse’, choreoghraphed by Róisín Whelan. ‘The Glasshouse’ is a dance performance for children aged 6+ and is the story of Fiadh, a young protagonist who is on a mission to repopulate the world with plants and turn it green.
‘Family Portrait’, is a video installation, capturing Barrowland Ballet’s Artistic Director, Natasha Gilmore, and her children in an intimate portrayal of family life. See the family through choreographed sequences and candid moments as they encounter the many different landscapes of Scotland. Through spoken word, former Glastonbury Poetry Slam Champion Toby Thompson will perform, ‘I Wish I was a Mountain’ using rhyme, live music, and just a smattering of metaphysical philosophy to boldly reimagine Herman Hesse’s classic fairytale.
‘Chalk About from Scotland’s Curious Seed’, is a playful, funny and moving look at how we see ourselves and others, featuring dance, chalk, chat, and one perfect scene containing everything you could wish for. ‘Up-Close’, from Irish dance artist, Monica Muñoz, is an outdoor performance about trusting each other, building resilience together and letting go of the past.
‘Tiny Mutiny’ and ‘Little Robber Girl ‘
Those at home can tune into BrokenCrow’s audio drama, ‘The Little Robber Girl’, on Baboró.ie and RTÉ Jr throughout the festival, joining Mattie, her dog Arthur and new friend Finn as they go in search of Mattie’s missing Mammy only to return with more than buried treasure.
Baboró commission, Tiny Mutiny/An Ceannairc Beag Bídeach, will celebrate children as artists in their own right as they create colourful, boisterous protest performances in both Ros Muc and Galway city. Working with local artists, Jojo Hynes, Midie Corcoran, Róisín Seoige and Atmos Collective, the exciting site specific events take place at Ionad Cultúrtha an Phiarsaigh and Galway City. Museum.
Visual Art
Presenting the stories and oral traditions of the Irish Traveller Community at Galway Arts Centre, is ‘Widden Ar Geels’ (The Community Speaks ), showcases two of Ireland’s leading artists, Leanne McDonagh and Oein DeBhairduin, as they create an inclusive space for all to enjoy the magic and wisdom imbued in the craft and stories of the Mincéirí.
Lucy Hill presents ‘FOLD’, at Engage Art Studios in Salthill. ‘FOLD’ is an exhibition for 8 years and under, that explores ideas of openness, relationships, colour, form and line. The show is inspired and formed by early childhood education and Care philosophies.
Literature
The Late, Late Toy Show’s beloved Adam King, who stole the hearts of many with ‘A Hug for You’, will be hosting a special family event accompanied by his father David King, based on the book, ‘A Hug for You’. The pair also bring, ‘Manage your Moody Monsters’, to the Mick Lally Theatre.
Ukrainian friends to Galway are welcomed in Ballybane Library’s event titled, ‘I Want to Speak Ukranian’, led by authors Bláithín Breathnach and Lindsay Myers, it is suitable for English, Irish and Ukrainian speaking families.
Creative Connections Workshops
Toddlelou Creativity Lab presents, ‘Ba Boom! Ba Boom’, a heart thumping dance workshop which looks at heart health. ‘An Mala Lesko’ (Hand Telling ) sees award-winning author Oein DeBhairduin exploring a traditional Traveller storytelling technique and ‘Robot Races’ from Designer Minds, is an upcycling design challenge and a Japanese drawing work shop for children 7 - 12 years.
For the ‘Big Kids’
The schedule for adults at this years Baboró’s artist and professional programme will explore models of practice for early years, educational settings, sustainability, artist support, diversity, collaboration and creating work for children with additional needs - delivered by experienced Irish and international practitioners and academics. There will be 11 events and an opportunity to purchase a ‘delegate pass’ for delegate only events.
Chaired by Dr. Charlotte McIvor, Reflecting on LEAP will ask ‘What role does diversity play in the TYA sector in Ireland?’ Hear from participants and facilitators of Baboró’s LEAP artist support programme, specifically developed for artists from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Panellists will reflect on all stages of the process, engage in conversation with participants about the development of the project and share their insights.
For full events listing and information, visit www.baboro.ie
