RoolaBoola Children's Arts Festival 2007

2 2 n d – 2 9 t h O c to b e r LI NENH A LL A RT S CENTRE , C A S TLEB A R

Booking RoolaBoola Box Office opens on Tuesday 2nd October at 10.00am.

Tickets may be purchased by calling to the Box Office in person or by phoning our dedicated Box Office number 094 902 88 86.

Family tickets admitting four for any one show are available for only €25.

Tickets may be paid for by post. Cheques should be made payable to The Linenhall Arts Centre.

Booked tickets will be held for one week from the date of booking.

If they have not been paid for by then, they will be sold on.

Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded. RoolaBoola Box Office will be happy to assist with any enquiries.

Schools Booking opens on Tuesday 25th September at 10.00am.

All school events are €5.00 per student. Schools will be individually informed of booking procedure. See page 22 for further details.

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RoolaBoola Box Office Linenhall Arts Centre, Linenhall Street, Castlebar, Co Mayo.

Tel: 094 9028886. Opens Tuesday 2nd October at 10.00am.

Best Behaviour Please remember: • If you are late for a performance or workshop you will be allowed in only if there is a suitable interval - otherwise you may disturb everyone else in the hall.

• No food or drink is allowed into performances or workshops - it’s very distracting for those around you and can be very messy.

• Make sure the performance or workshop you are attending is suitable for your age - if it’s not, you will not really enjoy it and it’s not fair to the others taking part.

• Be sure to wear loose, comfortable old clothes for your workshops - you’ll probably be getting into a right old mess!

Come on in… and join the Party We are delighted to welcome you to our 10th Birthday Celebrations. We’ve organised a brilliant party that goes on for the whole week. We’ve invited performers from Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, Ukraine, Scotland and Westport. We have actors, singers, dancers, printmakers, painters and poets all ready for action.

We’re just waiting now for our most important guest - YOU. Get yourself down here and pick up your tickets or give us a call and we’ll book them for you - we can’t wait to get the party started.

CONTENTS MINOR MATTERS Junges Ensemble Stuttgart THE WALK AROUND Barkentins Teater / Gertrud Exner SHOPPING FOR SHOES Visible Fictions ELEPHANT & CROCODILE Corona La Balance KLING KLANG Det Lille Turnéteater PAPERWORLD Mirimichi THE CAT RETURNS Film Screening THE WANDERING MINSTREL

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Diarmaid Moynihan & Brian Finnegan

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LOUGH LANNAGH LIGHTS VANESSA DAWS Art Exhibition Drop-in Activities Workshops Festival Timetable Schools Programme Information Venues

12 13 14 15 - 19 20 - 21 22 23

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Junges Ensemble Stuttgart Germany

MINOR MATTERS

Written by Gitte Kath and Jakob Mendel English version translated by Bea Lauber “ A story to tell that’s got it all!”

Bank of Scotland International Children’s Festival 2007

4 Venue Linenhall Theatre Capacity 70 Age 6+ Duration 55 minutes Schools Performance Date Mon 22nd Time 10.00am

12.00pm Date Tue 23rd Times 10.00am

12.00pm Tickets €5.00 Public Performance Date Mon 22nd Time 8.00pm Tickets €7.00

Photograph: Tom Pingel

Once upon a time there was a farmer who tilled the soil, tended the cattle, and seemed content. But something was missing. So one evening he goes to town and meets the love of his life. They get married and start a family. Everything seems perfect… but not quite perfect enough… An interactive tale blurring fantasy and reality, Minor Matters is a totally engaging story for young people performed by Peter Rinderknecht who, through his very open and authentic form of storytelling, poses the question: what do we need to be happy?

Barkentins Teater / Gertrud Exner Denmark

THE WALK AROUND “Once, a long time ago, when I was small, there was a road, a long road, and one day I followed it to see where it ended, but it didn’t end, and the world is still all around me…” An enchanting and engaging musical and visual journey based on the books of Egon Mathiesen, Danish author and illustrator of some of the world’s finest picture books. The Walk Around is devised and performed by actress, puppeteer and singer Gertrud Exner in collaboration with Barkentins Teater.

Venue Linenhall Gallery Capacity 60 Age 1½ - 4 years Duration 30 minutes Public & Pre-Schools Performance Date Tue 23rd Time 9.30am

11.30am Date Wed 24th Times 9.30am

11.30am Tickets €5.00 (Schools)

€7.00

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Visible Fictions Scotland

SHOPPING FOR SHOES A story about passion and fashion, and hearts and soles. Siobhan is 13 and passionately politically aware. Shaun is also 13 and passionate about only one thing – shoes.

A small part of Siobhan’s heart belongs to Shaun but he would have difficulty putting a name to her face. But with a little bit of planning and nifty footwork, Siobhan soon helps him discover that a pair of shoes can do more than just help a person express themselves. An award-winning play written by Tim Crouch, Shopping for Shoes is a funny, heart-warming and wonderfully inventive tale of new-found love, dog poo and of course… shoes.

“Hilarious and impressive… excellent” Sunday Herald

Venue Linenhall Theatre Capacity 144 Age 10+ Duration 55 minutes Schools Performance Date Wed 24th Time 12.00pm Date Thur 25th Times 10.00am

12.00pm Tickets €5.00 Public Performance Date Wed 24th Time 8.00pm Tickets €7.00

Photograph: Drew Farrell

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Corona La Balance Denmark

ELEPHANT & CROCODILE Elephant lives alone in a comfortable apartment. Nobody lives next door. But one day he gets a new neighbour called Crocodile.

He is a violinist and he practises for hours every day, which gets on Elephant´s nerves.

When he finally complains, Crocodile simply answers, “I am very sorry, dear neighbour, but I am an artist and I cannot live without my music.” Elephant shuffles off sadly. “I wish I was an artist.” he thinks. But then he gets an idea… Elephant and Crocodile is a modern animal fable, almost without words, but with lots of humour, mime and music. This little, philosophical tale of discord and harmony is based on a picture book by the Dutch writer and illustrator, Max Velthuijs.

“A successful, affectionate and very child-friendly experience. Delightfully entertaining all the way” Jyllands-Posten

Venue Linenhall Theatre Capacity 98 Age 5 - 9 years Duration 55 minutes Schools Performance Date Fri 26th Times 10.00am

12.00pm Tickets €5.00 Public Performance Date Sat 27th Times 12.00pm

4.00pm Tickets €7.00

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Det Lille Turnéteater Denmark

KLING KLANG

Amazing and imaginative images and music abound when Marianne and Sune meet in the workshop. Whatever “instrument” they select - a carrot, a bike frame, a water tap or even a dustbin - every object unfolds and reveals new dimensions. There is sound and music everywhere, music which creates images. Kling Klang is a captivating and delightful performance about the music that evolves around and between people, and with communication that is both verbal and non-verbal. It addresses the opportunity of finding each other - even though we may appear utterly different on the surface.

“Warm, magical and wonderful” Horsens Children’s Theatre Festival 2007 Venue Linenhall

Gallery Capacity 60 Age 4 - 8 years Duration 35 minutes

Public Performance Date Sat 27th Times 11.00am

2.30pm Tickets €7.00

Photograph: Niels Nyholm

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Mirimichi Ukraine

PAPERWORLD Fast-paced physical comedy, hilarious slapstick and the biggest paper fight you have ever seen, the four accomplished clowns and acrobats of Mimirichi’s Paperworld build a whole new universe out of that simple stuff we all take for granted - paper!

This troupe of artistes from Kiev will amaze you with their ability to turn a pile of everyday waste paper into everything from dramatic backdrops to imaginative props. Mind-blowingly original origami and physical horseplay meet quick-fire mime and downright silliness in a show guaranteed to thrill the whole family.

Magical and riotous fun.

“Full of invention and madness” The Guardian Venue Linenhall Theatre Capacity 143 Age Family

Show Duration 90 minutes Public Performance Date Sun 28th Times 2.30pm

8.00pm Tickets €7.00

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Film Screening Japan

THE CAT RETURNS Journey to a magical world when young schoolgirl Haru saves the life of a cat by jumping in front of oncoming traffic. Reeling from the near miss, Haru is further surprised when the cat stands up and thanks her! Later that night, the King of Cats treats her to a visit where she learns that she has saved the life of the Prince of Cats. As a reward, the King decrees that she should be showered with gifts and that the two should marry! Haru thinks this is all a dream, until she is brought on an unexpected journey to the Kingdom of Cats, where her eyes are opened to a whole other world, but feline friends Muta and the Baron may have a plan to rescue her from her unusual fate and return to the human world. An enchanting and engaging modern-day take on Alice in Wonderland, beautifully animated in classic fashion by Japanese anime creators extraordinaire Studio Ghibli.

“An enchanting, magical fable” Neil Smith, BBC Movies

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Venue Linenhall Theatre Capacity 143 Age Suitable for

all ages Duration 75 minutes Public Performance Date Mon 29th Time 12.00pm Tickets €5.00

Diarmaid Moynihan & Brian Finnegan Ireland

THE WANDERING MINSTREL The Wandering Minstrel is an engaging introduction to the rich musical tradition of Ireland, specifically designed for young audiences. Children will be introduced to a range of traditional musical instruments, and will have a chance to listen to a variety of tunes and tune types and hear some enthralling stories associated with them. They’ll also have a chance to join in themselves! Prepare for the excitement of this musical feast of jigs, reels and who knows what else? Devised by uilleann piper, composer and primary school teacher Diarmaid Moynihan, and flute player and music teacher Brian Finnegan, in partnership with the Linenhall Arts Centre, with funding from the Arts Council of Ireland.

“Top-notch… superb traditional music” Primary schoolteacher, Castlebar Venue Linenhall Theatre Capacity 98 Age 7 - 12 years & families Duration 45 minutes Public Performance Date Mon 29th Time 3.00pm Tickets €7.00

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FREE Show

LOUGH LANNAGH LIGHTS RoolaBoola’s 10th Birthday Party ends in spectacular fashion with a night-time lights-and-music extravaganza at Lough Lannagh. Prepare to be amazed by the fabulous fireworks display designed especially for the occasion by pyrotechnics extraordinaire, Black Powder Monkeys.

Location Map

Key

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Venue Lough Lannagh Duration 40 minutes Date Mon 29th Time 8.00pm Age Everyone Tickets FREE

A Pedestrian entrance only via Lannagh Road B Pedestrian entrance only via Newport Road C Audience viewing area

NO PARKING at Lough Lannagh Car Park or at Lough Lannagh Village Entrance NO ACCESS via Lough Lannagh Village PLEASE KEEP LOUGH LANNAGH LITTER-FREE

Vanessa Daws Art Exhibition

ROOLABOOLA EXHIBITION As you chill out in the Linenhall Coffee Shop take a chance to enjoy the sculptural paintings of artist Vanessa Daws. Vanessa’s work is made from layers of wood to create sculptural stories based on personal experiences and dreams. Drawing inspiration from her work as a carnival artist and designer, the results are full of bold colours, glitter, and humour, and are both totally accessible and charmingly engaging.

Venue Date Time Age Price

Linenhall Arts Centre CafĂŠ Mon 22nd - Mon 29th 11.00am - 5.30pm Everyone FREE!

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Drop-in Activities

DROP-IN AND… chill out Here’s something for those in-between moments…

FACE PAINTING Venue Linenhall Foyer Age All ages!

Date Sat 27th, Sun 28th and Mon 29th Times Before and after shows throughout the weekend Price FREE!

We’re delighted to announce Sue Hawkshaw as this year’s official RoolaBoola facepainter!

Sue will be doing her funky and colourful thing before and after shows throughout the weekend, so look out for her and get into the RoolaBoola spirit! Who do you want to be?

THE POTTY PROFESSOR’S LABORATORY 14

Venue Age Dates Time Price

Linenhall Foyer 5 years & up Sat 27th - Mon 29th 11.00am - 5.00pm FREE

Enter into the madcap world of invention.

Potty professors Katy Newman and Mary Noonan will be your guides whilst you delve into your imagination and turn rubber bands, tubing, cards and a whole heap of recycled materials into weird and wonderful inventions. Help them to fill the lab with devices that give you superhuman strength and X-ray vision, and others that make you invisible and turn paper into gold!

CHALK CHALLENGE Venue Linenhall Community Arts Corridor Age 4 years & up Dates Sat 27th - Mon 29th Time 11.00am - 5.00pm Price FREE

Get into the RoolaBoola spirit and give us your reactions in visuals on our giant blackboards! Based on an original idea by artist Lucy Hill.

Workshops

GET DOWN & DIRTY… TERRIFIC TWOS A paint-and-make playground for 2-year-olds to independently explore with a parent, guardian or teenage sibling. Activities will include painting, drawing, printing, sculpture and collage. The young participants are encouraged to freely explore the materials provided, and to engage with the activities in an open-ended way. Guardians can also pick up ideas for creative activities in the home. This workshop is facilitated by artist and teacher Lucy Hill.

Venue Linenhall Community Arts Room Age 2 years with one

accompanying adult Duration 1 hour Date Sat 27th Times 10.00am & 12.00pm Price €6.00 Capacity 10 per workshop

TALKING HEADS! Create your own talking puppet with puppet-maker and puppeteer Carmel Balfe. Using foam and fun fur you can make a puppet that is bright and colourful and lots of fun. Design your own puppet character and have fun performing with it for your family and friends.

Venue Thomas Street

Studio Age 9-12 years Duration 3 hours Date Sat 27th Time 10.00am Price €10.00 Capacity 10 per workshop

STIR IT UP An exciting and fun-packed visual art workshop. Learn all about colour with artist and teacher Lucy Hill, and explore mixing paint with materials including sand, flour, plaster, spices and shaving foam on surfaces including paper, plastics, foil, stone and felt.

inenhall L Community Arts Room Age 3 - 4 years Duration 1 hour Date Sat 27th Time 2.00pm Price €6.00 Capacity 12 per workshop Venue

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Workshops

INSTANT ORCHESTRA Venue Parish Centre, Chapel Street Age Family Workshop Duration 1 hour Date Sat 27th Times 11.00am 12.30pm Price €6.00 Capacity 30 per workshop (including adults)

Instant Orchestra is back with a bang!

Join musicians Nico Brown and Martin Brunsden in this creative music session for all the family. A participatory music workshop with songs, games, unusual instruments and a chance to compose, conduct and perform.

Work together on rhythm and melody, and then form an Instant Orchestra no experience necessary.

FLOWER POWER 16

Venue Thomas St. Studio Age 8 - 10 years Duration 2 hours Date Sat 27th Time 2.30pm Price €8.00 Capacity 12 per workshop

Polish up your observational skills in this fun workshop. Get ready to look at flowers as you’ve never done before. Closely examine the combinations of shapes and colours contained in the flowers, then create a torn collage art work featuring your observations. Facilitated by artist and sculptor Rositsa Petrova

FUN WITH POETRY Venue Parish Centre, Chapel Street Ages A: 9 - 10 years

B: 5 - 6 years Duration 1½ hours Date Sun 28th Times A: 11.00am

B: 1.30pm Price €7.00 Capacity 15 per workshop

Here’s a chance to write poetry and find out about two of the most popular styles of Japanese poetry, the Haiku and the Tanka. Then you’ll get a chance to try your hand at writing your own Tanka and Haiku poems under the guidance of poet and teacher Colette Nic Aodha.

Workshops

ANIMAL MASQUERADE Create your own mask and become a colourful exotic bird or a hairy beast of the jungle! Cut out, fold and then decorate your own creation with crayon, collaged paper and glitter, under the guidance of artist and teacher Paula Henihan. It’s sure to be wild!

Venue Thomas Street Studio Ages A: 7 - 8 years

B: 5 - 6 years Duration 1½ hours Date Sun 28th Times A: 11.00am

B: 1.30pm Price €7.00 Capacity 10 per workshop

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PAINT AN ARTWORK! Have you ever thought “I’d love to paint that”?

Well, here’s your chance. Bring along an object or an idea you’d like to paint: it could be a favourite toy, a souvenir from holidays or even a memory.

Then paint it with guidance from artist and workshop facilitator Gráinne O’Reilly, getting to grips with ideas of colour and composition.

And at the end of it all, bring home your very own artwork on canvas or board to hang on your wall!

Venue Linenhall Community Arts Room Ages A: 8 - 9 years

B: 10 - 12 years Duration 2 hours Date Sun 28th Times A: 11.00am

B: 2.00pm Price €10.00 Capacity 15 per workshop

Workshops

THE PARTY / AN CÓISIR Venue Parish Centre, Chapel Street Ages A: 5 - 6 years

B: 7 - 8 years Duration A: 1 hour

B: 1½ hours Date Sun 28th Times A: 11.00am

B: 12.30pm Price A: €5.00

B: €6.00 Capacity 20 per workshop

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There’s a party going on - but what sort of a party, and who will be attending? Make up your own strange, magical or imaginative character and come to the imaginary event of the year. There might even be more than one party to go to… A creative drama workshop with educational dramatist and director of BRANAR theatre-in-education company, Marc Mac Lochlainn.

Tar go dtí an cóisir. Cruthaigh caractair ait, draíochta nó samhlaíoch. Cruthóidh muid an áit agus an téama agus ní bheadh a fhios agat, b’fhéidir go mbeidh cúpla ceann againn. Ceardlann cruthaíoch drámaíochta le Marc Mac Lochlainn, drámadóir oideachasúil agus stiúrthoir ar BRANAR comhlacht amharclainne Oideachasúil.

THE MAGIC BOX Venue Linenhall Community Arts Room Ages A: 3 - 4 years

B: 5 - 6 years Duration 1 hour Date Mon 29th Times A: 11.00am

B: 12.30pm Price €6.00 Capacity 15 per workshop

Come and explore the world of make-believe through The Magic Box! Young participants will be guided through a series of stories and games in the adventure-filled realm of Rainbow Land under the guidance of artist and facilitator Adrienne Finnerty.

It’s magic!

Workshops

STORY ON A T-SHIRT Artist Claire Griffin has some stories to share with you! Listen carefully and then put a Story On A T-shirt! Let your imagination run riot! Turn stories into visuals using materials including paint and fabric crayons, and go home wearing your imagination on your sleeve!

Venue Thomas

Street

Studio Ages A: 7 - 8 years

B: 9 - 10 years Duration 1½ hours Date Mon 29th Times A: 11.00am

B: 1.30pm Price €8.00 Capacity 12 per workshop

EXPLORE YOUR VOICE A workshop of exploration for whisperers and screamers! Join soprano Wendy Dwyer and discover what your voice can do through a series of fun vocal games and exercises!

Venue Parish Centre, Chapel Street Age 5 - 6 years Duration 1 hour Date Mon 29th Times 11.00am & 1.00pm Price €6.00 Capacity 15 per workshop

DANCE BUZZ For all you movers and shakers here’s a chance to explore some creative moves with dancer and physical education teacher Wendy Palmer.

A workshop which will keep you on your toes!

Venue Parish Centre, Chapel Street Ages A: 6 - 7 years

B: 8 - 9 years Duration 1 hour Date Mon 29th Times A: 12.00pm

B: 2.00pm Price €6.00 Capacity 15 per workshop

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Venue Linenhall Theatre

Monday 22nd Minor Matters Page 4 10.00am S 12.00pm S 8.00pm P

Linenhall Gallery

Tuesday 23rd Minor Matters Page 4 10.00am S 12.00pm S

Wed 24th Thursday 25th Shopping Shopping For Shoes For Shoes Page 6 Page 6 12.00pm S 10.00am S 8.00pm P 12.00pm S The Walk Around The Walk Around Page 5 Page 5 9.30am S P 9.30am S P 11.30am S P 11.30am S P

Linenhall Foyer

Key: S P w F

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Friday 26th Elephant & Crocodile Page 7 10.00am S 12.00pm S

Schools Programme Public Shows Workshops Free Events

Linenhall Community Arts Corridor Parish Centre, Chapel Street

Thomas Street Studio

Linenhall Community Arts Room

Linenhall CafĂŠ Lough Lannagh

Art Exhibition Page 13 F

Art Exhibition Page 13 F

Art Exhibition Page 13 F

Art Exhibition Page 13 F

Art Exhibition Page 13 F

Saturday 27th Elephant & Crocodile Page 7 12.00pm P 4.00pm P Kling Klang Page 8 11.00am P 2.30pm P The Potty Professor’s Laboratory Page 14 11.00am - 5.00pm F Face Painting Page 14 11.00am - 5.00pm F Chalk Challenge Page 14 11.00am - 5.00pm F Instant Orchestra Page 16 11.00am & 12.30pm w

Talking Heads!

Page 15 10.00am w Flower Power Page 16 2.30pm w Terrific Twos Page 15 10.00am & 12.00pm w Stir It Up Page 15 2.00pm w Art Exhibition Page 13 F

Sunday 28th Paperworld Page 9 2.30pm & 8.00pm P

Monday 29th Venue The Cat Returns Linenhall Page 10 12.00pm P Theatre The Wandering Minstrel Page 11 3.00pm P Linenhall Gallery

The Potty Professor’s Laboratory Page 14 11.00am - 5.00pm F Face Painting Page 14 11.00am - 5.00pm F Chalk Challenge Page 14 11.00am - 5.00pm F The Party / An Cóisir Page 18 11.00am (5 - 6 years) w 12.30pm (7 - 8 years) w Fun With Poety Page 16 11.00am (9 - 10 years) w 1.30pm (5 - 6 years) w Animal Masquerade Page 17 11.00am (7 - 8 years) w 1.30pm (5 - 6 years) w

The Potty Professor’s Laboratory Page 14 11.00am - 5.00pm F Face Painting Page 14 11.00am - 5.00pm F Chalk Challenge Page 14 11.00am - 5.00pm F Explore Your Voice Page 19 11.00am & 1.00pm w Dance Buzz Page 19 12.00am (6 - 7 years) w 2.00pm (8 - 9 years) w

Linenhall Foyer

Story On A T-Shirt Page 19 11.00am (7 - 8 years) w 1.30pm (9 - 10 years) w

Thomas Street Studio

Paint An Artwork!

Page 17 11.00am (8 - 9 years) w 1.30pm (10 - 12 years) w

The Magic Box Page 18 11.00am (3 - 4 years) w 12.30pm (5 - 6 years) w

Linenhall Community Arts Room

Art Exhibition Page 13 F

Art Exhibition Page 13 F Lough Lannagh Lights Page 12 F 8.00pm

Linenhall Café Lough Lannagh

Linenhall Community Arts Corridor Parish Centre, Chapel Street

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SCHOOLS INFORMATION Welcome, teachers! The four shows we are offering in our RoolaBoola 2007 Schools Programme present stimulating, high-quality drama tailored to specific age groups, representing great value at only €5 per head. We hope you enjoy them.

Junges Ensemble Stuttgart Germany

Minor Matters

Venue Linenhall Theatre Classes 1st class – 4th class Capacity 70 Duration 55 minutes Dates Mon 22nd - Tue 23rd Times 10.00am & 12.00pm

Barkentins Teater/ Gertrud Exner Denmark

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The Walk Around

Venue Linenhall Gallery Classes Pre-school children from 1½ yrs up Capacity 60 Duration 30 minutes Dates Tue 23rd - Wed 24th Times 9.30am & 11.30am Note This performance has very little dialogue

Visible Fictions Scotland

Shopping for Shoes Venue Linenhall Theatre Classes 5th class – 6th class Capacity 144 Duration 55 minutes Date Wed 24th - Thur 25th Times Wed 24th 12.00pm Thur 25th 10.00am & 12.00pm Corona La Balance Denmark

Elephant and Crocodile Venue Linenhall Theatre Classes 1st class – 4th class Capacity 98 Duration 55 minutes Date Fri 26th Times 10.00am &

12.00pm

To Book If you would like to bring your class/es to any of the above, please contact our Festival Office. Pre-booking is essential.

NB. Booking for Schools Programme commences Tuesday 25th September at 10.00am School Group Rates €5.00 per head RoolaBoola Festival Office c/o Linenhall Arts Centre, Linenhall St., Castlebar, Co Mayo. Tel: 094 9028886

Venues

Key 1 Linenhall Arts Centre 2 Thomas Street Studio 3 Parish Centre

Sponsors

Best Friends

AIB Castlebar | Baxter Healthcare | Credit Union Castlebar | Jim Finan & Associates Ulster Bank Castlebar | Mellett Tyrrell & Co. Castlebar | First Active Castlebar The Tweed Centre | Permanent TSB Castlebar

Supported by

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Design: designassociates.ie Tel: 091 862933

ROO L A BOO L A BOX O F F I CE LINENHALL ARTS CENTRE, LINENHALL ST, CASTLEBAR, CO MAYO

TEL 094 902 88 86