DETAILS OF this year’s Baboró International Arts Festival for Children were revealed at a reception in Galway’s Harbour Hotel on Monday evening.
The festival runs from October 11 to 17 and this year features its biggest programme and largest weekend programme to date. There will be acts from Scotland, Germany, Spain, Canada, Italy, and France.
There will also be a particularly strong Irish programme with Ciotóg, Futa Fata, Miriam Lambert Puppeteer, Barnstorm Theatre, Moonfish Theatre, Róisín Beag Silent Disco, Macnas, Spud and Yam, and authors Patricia Forde and David Donohue.
Highlights include, Il Cubo Magico by Pandemonium Teatro where two Italian clowns create an hysterically funny world full of horses, castles, and beautiful women from a stage full of multicoloured cubes.
Catherine Wheels Theatre from Scotland presents the breathtakingly beautiful, gentle and magical theatre production White, the 2010 winner of the Edinburgh Fringe First and Total Theatre Awards.
Ciotóg presents See Saw, a dance show for early years to explore dance in their own way. Gugalaí Gug! – Beo by Futa Fata brings together three generations of Conamara voice in Irish music, song, poetry, and dance.
Puppetry features in The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other favourites by Eric Carle from Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, when Carle’s beloved stories are presented in this stunning blacklight puppet production.
Puppeteer Miriam Lambert brings the age-old tale, The Gingerbread Man to life in her own unique way and Barnstorm Theatre presents Jack a quirky take on Jack and The Beanstalk in a visually exciting high energy performance served up with music, dance, singing, and puppetry.
Festival coup, Echoa by Arcosm is one of the hottest tickets on the international circuit. This charismatic group of dancers and drummers create an electrifying performance of exhilarating dance and percussion that enchants children and adults alike.
The Spotlight On….Series continues as Baboró looks at other countries for inspiration in the development of quality programming for children. This year the Spotlight is on Germany featuring Theater Mummpitz’s production of The Terrific Adventures of Brave Johanna WoodSword an avid reader whose heroine is Joan of Arc.
Helios Theater of Hamm presents Holzklopfen where a percussionist and a puppeteer create a land of wood and music for children to enter and explore on their own.
At the programme launch, Baboró general manager Teenagh Cunningham paid tribute to the support of the festival’s many sponsors, and in particular medicat technology firm Medtronic who have come on board this year as Baboró’s main sponsor.
Baboró programme director Lali Morris reminded her listeners that even if one didn’t have children you should still go along to Baboró experiences its “very exciting programme.”
Guest of honour for the occasion was Mayor Michael J Crowe. In his speech officially launching the programme he saluted the contribution Baboró has made to Galway life and praised this year’s line-up of events, confessing himself particularly intrigued by the concept of the Silent Disco which will take place in Oranmore’s City Limits.
The 2010 Festival Programme is available at www.baboro.ie The Festival Box Office will open Thursday September 16 at the Town Hall Theatre. For more information contact 091 - 569777, Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 7pm, or online 24/7 at www.tht.ie and www.baboro.ie
