Baboro International Arts Festival For Children
Baboro, Ireland’s premier international arts festival for children and families runs in Galway city and county from 16 -23 October, featuring Theatre, Dance, Literature, Music, Puppetry, Workshops and Visual Art for all ages. See the magic of well-known stories come to dazzling life on the stage. Special treats are also in store for everyone with beautiful exhibitions, readings and workshops. Come to Galway to experience this delightful Festival and explore this beautiful family-friendly city.
Spectacular dance show Clouds,a co-production with Spanish company Aracaladanza and Sadler’sWells (England), White Caps, a jaw dropping fusion of film and explosive Bboy and break-dance, renowned percussionists Robbie Harris and Dave McFaralane’s Globe, a heart pumping spectacle of music, dance and percussion from around the world, author Melvin Burgess, writer of acclaimed Young Adult fiction, enchanting storytelling and song from Irish/Romanian company Acting Up!will captivate babies and delight adults, and a specially created exhibition featuring work in textiles to celebrate Year of Craft 2011, are just some of the magical and inspiring performances at the 15th Baboró International Arts Festival for Children which runs from the 16th – 23rd October.
Illumination is the theme of this year’s Festival with a programme that is rich with dazzling dance, theatre, puppetry, film, storytelling, music, literature events, visual arts and craft exhibitions, workshops and discussions. Baboró has created a very special programme of Irish and international work presenting artists and companies who have woven light and shadow into their work, to dazzle both our young and adult audiences.
The streets of Galway will come alive with the Festival’s very special opening titled Priceless, an outdoor installation along Quay Street on Sunday 16th October presented by Das Papiertheater from Germany. Baboró invites the public to come and celebrate the Festival’s 15th birthday and express themselves in a creative and fun way by responding to the question ‘What is priceless to you?’ while enjoying street music and games.
Das Papiertheater will also perform dance and shadow show I Spy with my Little Eye,a collaboration with Tanztheater DE LooPERS for ages 6+, in Galway city and in Tuam, at The Mall Theatre. The production is a visual game that plays with shadow and illusion through dance and amazing movement, and the imaginative use of paper.
Commenting on this year’s programme, Baboró’s Programme Director Lali Morris stated, “This is the biggest programme Baboró has ever offered, and we have put special emphasis on a big Family Weekend, encouraging parents and children to Make a Break for It, get away from the humdrum and spend quality time in Galway with your family over the last weekend of the festival.”
Amongst the highlights of this year’s programme is the return of Aracaladanza after their triumphant vist to Baboró in 2008. They present Clouds, an award-winning co-production with Sadler’s Wells for all ages. The production features six dancers and creates a mesmerising world of moving objects and dream-like imagery using the theme of clouds, inspired by the work of surrealist artist René Magritte. Families of all ages can also look forward to Globe, a celebration of the rhythms that are universal to music, dance and singing in every culture ranging from Congolese guitar and vocals, Irish fiddle and bodhrán, Taiko drumming, Brazilian capoeira to South African Gospel in a production created by renowned percussionists Robbie Harris and Dave McFarlane. Young adults aged from 10 to 14+ can look forward to one of the festival’s most exciting productions, White Caps by Champloo which travels to Sadler’s Wells in London after Baboró. This show is a jaw dropping fusion of film and Bboy and break-dance like you have never seen before, accompanied by a unique soundtrack by Type Sun.
Early Years audiences, aged from 0 to 6 years, are well catered for with no less than ten productions. Festival favourites La Baracca from Italy will stage three productions; On – Off is an enchanting show created to help young children aged 1-4 to overcome their fear of the dark and discover the language of light. The second production L’elefantino for 2-6 yearsis inspired by the Just So story The Elephant’s Child by Rudyard Kipling. The third show Under a Different Light is a magical performance of dance and music bringing 3-6 year olds into an enchanting world of games and poetry through the magic and diversity of light. For babies and toddlers aged 0-3 years Acting Up! brings a gentle show that captivates the little ones with wide-eyed wonder, as they select their blessings from the Silver Tree, along with interacitve song and dance.
Other theatre and performance includes Horse + Bamboo’s production of the well known fairy-tale Red Riding Hoodwhich is re-imaginedthrough a wonderful presentation of mask and shadow box theatre for ages 4+. There’s a Rabbit in the Moon by Vélo Théatre is set during one dark night and tells the story of Thomas Snout who collects nights with his bare hands, with or without moonlight, starlit or starless. Irish theatre includes two productions from Branar Téatar Do Pháistí; Clann Lir is the magical tale of a father’s love for his children told with puppetry, vivid imagery and enchanting newly composed live traditional music for ages 6-10. The second show MISE Scéal Cailín for ages 7+ is a production without words, that tells the story of a little girl who can’t sleep and the adventures she has trying, told through beautiful puppetry, live music and animation. Ireland’s Monkeyshine Theatre tell the story of Losha who likes to collect things that have been forgotten, placing them in boxes and evoking memory through a delightful performance of shadow puppetry and poetic dance for ages 5+.
Often described as the ‘godfather’ of Young Adult fiction in Britian, Baboró is delighted to welcome award-winning author Melvin Burgess whose book Junk has become one of the best-known young adult books of the decade. Melvin will present a writing workshop at Jigsaw for young adults aged 17+, and discuss his approach to writing with lecturer and writer, Orla Higgins and local writers. Baboró is also offering secondary schools in the area the opportunity to make the case for a FREE visit by Melvin Burgess to their school, to engage with young adults who are themselves interested in writing. Malachy Doyle, the author of many popular picture books including the critically-acclaimed Georgie and Who is Jesse Flood? will also read at the Festival as will Galway based authors Patricia Forde and Ailbhe Nic Giolla Bhrighde during this year’s Literary programme.
Visual Art will focus on two strands this year: Craft is highlighted in celebration of the Year of Craft 2011. The exhibition Objects of Memory – Illuminated at Galway City Museum has been curated by artist and facilitator Kate Howard, and is a specially created exhibition featuring the work of two emerging Galway based craft artists, Jenny McKenna and Roisin O’ Brien. Both work in textiles, both explore memories and feeling, and families of all ages can enjoy guided tours and demonstrations of their work. At Galway Rowing Club ceramic artist Frances Kilcommins and textile artist Vivienne Martin will introduce a variety of methods of Exploring Craft – Felt and Clay with school groups and families. A limited number of those attending La Barraca’s show L’elefantino can avail of a free trip to Skeleton Wings and Curious Things, an exciting expedition by torchlight to discover creatures and critters from the deepest oceans to the tallest trees at the Zoology and Marine Biology Museum at NUI Galway.
A new introduction to the Festival is the 2011 Above and Beyond Award, created to recognise inspiring individuals, organisations or communities that create opportunities for children to access the arts. This year the award goes to Kilcoona School, where the parents, teachers and the community keep the arts alive and vibrant. The school will present an exhibition of their work led by Sadie Cramer, visual artist and parent, which will be exhibited in Festival venues the Town Hall, Black Box Nun’s Island and Druid Lane Theatres, and at Galway City Museum. Sadie Cramer is also the Baboró Brochure Artist 2011 and will present her own exhibition at the Eyre Square Centre during the Festival.
This year Baboró will go On Tour to The Mall Theatre in Tuam to present four days of theatre for schools and families, as part of the Festival’s commitement to provide access to the arts to everyone. Enjoy stunning performances of Red Riding Hoodand I Spy with my Little Eye there. Conamara babies can catch the beautiful Silver Tree by Acting Up! for babies and toddlers aged 0-3 years at Seanscoil Salearna at Indreabhán.
In line with Baboró’s policy on access to and development of the arts the Festival will present Professional Development Opportunities for Artists, Writers and Educators. Workshops include The Spaces of Creation: The Creative Process of Playwriting for Writers and Theatre Makers led by Susan Zeder and Jim Hancock from the University of Texas at Austin. Artists and Students can avail of Story Told Through Movement and Objects led by Bruno Cappagli, Artistic Director of La Baracca, where participants will explore objects and movement as an influence for improvisation and narrative. Educators can explore new and creative ways of celebrating international days and find new materials to explore issues like Human Rights, Trade Justice and Diversity in Creating Change led by Galway One World Centre.
The Festival continues its Talking About…. Series and this year focuses on Irish companies Branar Téatar do Pháistí and Monkeyshine Theatre who have both had the opportunity to work with mentors of international standing to guide them with new productions. Branar developed MISE Scéal Cailín under the mentorship of Espen Dekko of Dekkoart Theatre, Norway while Monkeyshine Theatre developed Losha under the mentorship of Charlot Lemoine of Vélo Théatre.
The Spotlight On…. Series continues this year, as Baboró looks to other countries for inspriation in the development of quality programming for children and families. This year America is in the spotlight with internationally renowned playwright Susan Zeder, whose credits include Step on a Crack and Hairy Man. Susan is currently Head of Playwriting at the Department of Theater and Dance at the University of Texas at Austin. Jim Hancock is a movement specialist and teacher of movement for actors. He has headed and chaired acting/directing programmes and departments at a number of universities. The event will be mediated by Patrick Lonergan, Lecturer in Drama at NUI Galway.
Over 60,000 children have attended shows and participated in workshops since Baboró began in 1997. Baboro, Ireland’s flagship festival for children and families celebrates 14 years as a festival this year, with a stunning lineup of Irish and International performances, Galway’s premier event for children attracts visitors from all across Ireland, Europe and further afield, when the city is given over to the celebration of arts for children and families.
So pack your bags, hop on that train, plane or bus, and get yourself to Galway where a magical, wondrous feast awaits you.
Daily Performances: Morning, afternoon and evening shows for schools and public.
Arts Festival For Children Admission Details
The Festival Box Office will open Thursday 16 September at the Town Hall Theatre, Courthouse Square, Galway. Phone +353 (0) 91 569 777 Monday to Saturday from 10.00 to 19.00 or online 24/7 at www.tht.ie and on www.baboro.ie
- Tickets: €8 per person.
- Family ticket ( max 4 people) €25
- Groups of 10+ €6.50 per ticket
- Family Workshops €5
Schools and Groups
- School tickets €6.50
- Registered Disadvantaged Schools €5.50
- Free teacher’s tickets (1 in 10 for schools) (1 in 4 for pre-schools) Tickets are non-refundable.
- Special Theatre and literature packages available.
Baboro Arts Festival For Children Programme
The Festival Programme is available at www.baboro.ie
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