RoolaBoola, the Linenhall Arts Centre’s annual children’s arts festival, takes place this October Bank Holiday weekend with a great programme of theatre, music, exhibitions, and workshops for young people and their families.
Running from Friday October 28 to Monday October 31, booking is now open, and tickets are selling fast.
One of the highlights of the festival is The Shape of Things, a show by Branar Téatar do Pháistí and Starcatchers, for the very young (six months to two years ). Performances are on Saturday October 29 at 11am, 12.30pm, and 2.00pm. The world all around us is made up of wonderful shapes. But sometimes you can get tired of seeing the same things all the time. This is a story of Cubert the cube and Triantán the triangle, and the adventures they have when all of the shapes get mixed up.
Set in a soft and tactile environment, Starcatchers and Branar tell this interactive story, created by Ailie Cohen and Marc Mac Lochlainn, through puppetry, object theatre, music, and sound. Duration is 45 minutes, including 10 minutes of interactive play following the performance.
Among the diverse range of workshops, from mask-making to badge-making and animation, is an improvisation and storytelling workshop with Niamh McGrath and Keith Singleton, for ages eight to 12 years, taking place on Monday October 31 at 10.30am. Sharpen your acting chops with theatre games, improvisation, and storytelling. Will there be a tightrope walker in space? Will there be buried treasure under the school? By using voice, body, and imagination to create big stories, participants will delve into a world of spontaneous make believe. What will happen? It’s up to you!
There is also a slapstick performance workshop with Niamh McGrath and Keith Singleton, for ages five to seven years, on Monday October 31 at 12.30pm and 2.00pm. With knocks, shocks, scratches, and dings, this active physical theatre and slapstick workshop is packed with fun, games, and hilarious ways of falling over. Think Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, and even Kung Fu Panda. This workshop was originally commissioned by The Ark, Dublin.
Be warned, some of the shows and workshops have already sold out. You can view the whole programme online at www.thelinenhall.com or see the printed programme, available from the Linenhall Arts Centre, Linenhall Street, Castlebar. For bookings contact 094 9023733, or book online (no booking fee ).
