Castlebar’s dedicated childrens arts festival, RoolaBoola, takes place this October bank holiday weekend and there is a jam packed programme of fun events planned to keep all of the family entertained.
RoolaBoola offers the very best arts experiences, tailor made for children aged two to 12 years, including international theatre, film, workshops, music, art, and lots of fun.
Theatre highlights include an exciting adaptation of the hugely successful book The Way Back Home by Irish author Oliver Jeffers.
It is the story of one boy’s adventure into outer space and the quest he must undertake to help his new friend. It is a visually stunning piece of theatre combining puppetry and original music.
The Way Back Home is the creation of Galway based Branar Téatar do Pháistí and Danish company Teater Refleksion.
The show is suitable for families with children aged three years and older.
Another unmissable festival highlight is Slingsby Theatre Company’s The Tragical Life of Cheeseboy, which comes to Castlebar all the way from Australia, via the Dublin Theatre Festival.
This is an exquisite and enchanting piece of theatrical storytelling suitable for families with children aged nine and up.
RoolaBoola features much more than theatre.
Pictiúr, an exhibition of children’s book illustrations by some of Ireland’s finest illustrators, is on show throughout the festival weekend, complete with free family readings.
Six piece Irish traditional music band The Speks will deliver a lively show of nursery rhymes and sing-along songs which will have adults and children dancing in their seats.
Add to that the film, The King and the Mockingbird, which has been described as “a masterpiece of French animation”; hands-on workshops (including puppeteering, visual art, dance, window design, badge making, and lots more ); a free performance by the fabulous Wesport Children's Choir; and you've got a sense of RoolaBoola.
Staff and volunteers will be on hand during the festival to ensure a great time is had by all.
For information and booking call (094 ) 902 3733 or visit www.thelinenhall.com
RoolaBoola Children's Arts Festival is produced by the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar.
The Linenhall has been providing an arts service to the people of Mayo for the last 20 years.
Housed in one of the oldest existing linen halls in Ireland in the heart of Castlebar town, the Linenhall programmes local, national and international arts events and activities; supports those working in the arts who live in the region; and provides opportunities for all in the community to participate in making art.
For more information, see www.thelinenhall.com
