RoolaBoola Children's Arts Festival 2012

LINENHALL ARTS CENTRE C a s t l e b a r, C o. M a y o

CHILDREN’S ARTS FESTIVAL Friday 26 - Monday 29 October 2012

Booking NB: BOOKING OPENS MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24th AT 10.00am.

Tickets may be purchased by calling to the Box Office in person or by phoning our dedicated Box Office number 094 9028886.

Tickets may be paid for by cash, credit card or cheque (cheques should be made payable to ‘The Linenhall Arts Centre’).

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 will disturb everyone else.

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!

People with disabilities are very welcome at the Linenhall and we suggest that you contact us by phone prior to your visit, so that we can make it as hasslefree as possible.

Welcome, Welcome!

Roll up, roll up, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen, friends and neighbours.

It’s RoolaBoola time again. We are busy as bees transforming the Linenhall into a wondrous land of delicious delights. We have film from France, rhythms from around the world and two of Ireland’s extremely very best Theatre Companies performing their new shows. There will be paper cutting, there will be singing, there will be stories and string and paint and sticky things. But most of all, we hope, there will be YOU.

A Big Thank You To Castlebar Town Council, our local County Councillor Henry Kenny and Gnó Mhaigh Eo who gave extra support to make RoolaBoola possible this year.

The Linenhall Arts Centre acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council and Mayo County Council.

Have you ever thought of organising an event in your community? Why not do it through Irish? Gnó Mhaigh Eo can help with every aspect of this by providing advice, knowledge and financial assistance.

Ar smaoinigh tú riamh faoi imeacht a chur ar siúl i do cheantar? Cén fáth nach ndéanann tú as Gaeilge é? Tá Gnó Mhaigh Eo anseo chun cabhrú le gach gné de sin trí chomhairle, eolas agus maoiniú a chur ar fáil.

Look Where I Am! Every year we send our RoolaBoola brochure north, south, east, and west, to all sorts of amazing and not so amazing places. It ends up on tables, in pockets, cars, and in the bottom of very fancy handbags! It is read by boys, girls, grownups, people who make art, cut hair, work in fire stations, post offices, schools and it’s even been read by those who run the country! This year we’d like to track the adventures of our brochure, so we’re asking you to take a photo of it, and send it to us at artsaccess@eircom.net.

There will be a prize of a family ticket for four to see Theatre Lovett’s The House that Jack Filled on Friday 26th October at 7.30pm for the most creative photo we receive. Get your photos to us by Friday 19th October at 4.00pm to be in with a chance to win!

We’ll be posting a selection of the photos on our Facebook page as they arrive. Check them out at www.facebook.com/LinenhallArtsCentre

RoolaBoola cover design concept: Paula Henihan Brochure design and layout: Ian Wieczorek

Linenhall Arts Centre Website: www.thelinenhall.com Booking: 094 9028886

PERFORMANCE The House that Jack Filled Theatre Lovett

Age: 7 years+ and adults of all ages Friday 26th / Saturday 27th October Jack McNally’s Hotel has 13 rooms (all of them sunny) for 13 people (all of them different). There is old Mrs Chelsea who is noticeably wobbly, Norma and Dorma the Italian twins, and Mr Truro who plays the spoons. Lionel O’Brien talks about trains, and his son Little Lionel does too. Brenda and Michael can seem a bit rough – but their hearts are as big as their record collection. Melanie Woodcott dreams of the sea, while Jack McNally dreams of Melanie Woodcott. But when the visitors stop visiting, and the dust settles on the furniture, Jack McNally must become a hotel’s worth of guests. He takes a deep breath, puts on a wig, and opens the door...Louis Lovett is Ireland’s leading performer for young audiences. His one-man performance in The Girl who Forgot to Sing Badly (The Ark and Theatre Lovett) has received worldwide critical acclaim.

“Lovett is an incredibly accomplished physical actor whose gift dazzles when performing for children.”

- Irish Theatre Magazine

Photo: Mark Stedman

Theatre Performance Friday 26th 10.00am Schools Friday 26th 7.30pm Public Saturday 27th 2.30pm Public Theatre, Linenhall Duration: 60 minutes Capacity: 98 Tickets: €8, €25 (family of four) €6 (schools)

Funded by Arts Council Touring. Commissioned by Theatre Lovett in partnership with Strollers Touring Network. Theatre Lovett are part of Six in the Attic – An Irish Theatre Institute resource-sharing initiative.

DROP-IN WORKSHOP How Long is a Piece of String?

Age: 4 years+ Saturday 27th to Monday 29th October Find out that string isn’t just string at all. It’s actually the starting point for making all sorts of brilliant fun stuff, from decorations like dreamcatchers to fun puppets and lots more. Your limit? Your imagination! Artist Katy Newman will be on hand to make sure you don’t get all tied up in knots!

Drop-in Workshop 11.00am-4.30pm each day Foyer, Linenhall Duration: 15 minutes Tickets: €1 (Available only on the day)

WORKSHOPS Roman Around Age: 7-12 years Saturday 27th October Get all heavy-duty on the costume front and start thinking centurions and armour!

Be inspired by a classical military vibe and create your own customised armour using a variety of materials. Art warrior Cathy Hack will be on hand to keep pillage to a minimum!

Workshop 10.00am-11.30am or 12.00pm-1.30pm Community Arts Room, Linenhall Duration: 90 minutes Capacity: 15 Tickets: €7 per participant

A World of Drums Age: Families 5 years+ & accompanying adults of all ages Saturday 27th October An interactive and fun workshop introducing participants to rhythms from all over the world. Join bodhrán player and percussionist extraordinaire Robbie Harris for a musical world tour exploring rhythms from Africa, Latin America and Asia as well as closer to home. Percussion instruments will be provided for all participants.

Workshop 12.00pm-1.30pm St Patrick’s Boys’ School Duration: 90 minutes Capacity: 25 Tickets: €7, €25 (family of four)

STORY TIME Dogger and Other Stories Age: 3-5 years Saturday 27th October Join Linenhall Director Marie Farrell for Story Time featuring Shirley Hughes’ charming and captivating Dogger, and other stories.

11.00am-11.20am Linenhall Gallery Duration: 20 minutes Capacity: 30 Tickets: Free (Booking essential)

Horrid Henry Strikes Again!

Age: 5-8 years Saturday 27th October Linenhall Chairman Eamon Smith is back for another totally engaging reading performance from a selection of Horrid Henry stories by Francesca Simon 3.45pm-4.05pm Linenhall Gallery Duration: 20 minutes Capacity: 30 Tickets: Free (Booking essential)

WORKSHOP Bring your Toys to Life Age: 5-8 years Sunday 28th October Learn to animate your own toys using puppeteering skills! Top puppeteer and Branar Theatre Director Marc MacLochlainn will be showing you lots of top tips to bring your toys to life and give them their very own character. Have you a toy dog who’s eager to chase a stick, or a monkey who wants to play the drums? Bring them along and make them come to life!

Presented in association with Branar Theatre Company.

Workshop 10.00am-11.30am Community Arts Room, Linenhall Duration: 90 minutes Capacity: 15 Tickets: €7

HOT TIP: If you like this workshop you might also like Branar’s performance Croí á Mhúscailt at 2.00pm or 4.00pm on Sunday.

WORKSHOPS Scissors, Story, Art! Age: 8-11 years Sunday 28th October Take scissors, some paper, your imagination and a scene from a story and create a visual artwork using cut paper techniques in this exciting workshop with Maeve Clancy, creator of the brilliant Paper Tales exhibition from last year’s RoolaBoola.

Participants will work together to create a large-scale paper scene which will then be exhibited in our Print Gallery for the remainder of the festival. Ready, steady, cut!

Workshop 12.00pm-1.30pm Community Arts Room, Linenhall Duration: 90 minutes Capacity: 12 Tickets: €7

Make a Friend for Little Owl Lost Age: 5&6 years Sunday 28th October Invent your own character inspired by Chris Haughton’s popular Little Owl Lost storybook. Artist Maeve Clancy will read the book with you and explore the way Chris has created his characters, and then using paints, markers and pencils you’ll create your very own character.

Workshop 3.00pm-3.45pm Community Arts Room, Linenhall Duration: 45 minutes Capacity: 10 Tickets: €6

WORKSHOPS First Steps in Music Age: 5&6 years Sunday 28th October An innovative and fun-filled introduction to understanding music involving different exercises associated with melody and rhythm, song and dance, with professional musician and teacher Edel McDonnell. First Steps in Music is built on the principles advocated by composer and educationalist Zoltán Kodály, who believed that music is for everyone.

Workshops 12.00pm-1.00pm St Patrick’s Boys’ School Duration: 60 minutes Capacity: 12 Tickets: €7 per participant

Parent & Toddler First Steps in Music Age: 3&4 years and parent Sunday 28th October Enter a nurturing environment where parents and children can develop a love of music-making together. Take part in playful activities that will prepare your child for the development of accurate rhythmic and singing skills and sensitivity to the expressive qualities in music - in an enjoyable and stimulating way through a carefully chosen repertoire of songs and rhymes. Music is for everyone.

Workshops 10.00am-10.45am or 11.00am-11.45am St Patrick’s Boys’ School Duration: 45 minutes Capacity: 8 pairs per workshop Tickets: €7 per pair Note: This workshop is designed for adult and child pairs

PERFORMANCE Croí á Mhúscailt / Awakening a Heart Branar

Age: 5 years+ and adults of all ages Sunday 28th October Níl Daideo ina chathaoir níos mó. Tá Mamó ag cur a saol agus a gcuid cuimhní i málaí ach baineann an cailín óg gach rud amach, chun spraoi leo. Pléann an scéal seo an gaol idir sean agus óg go paiteanta.

Grandad is not in his chair anymore. Granny packs away the memories of their life in suitcases. The girl unpacks them and breathes new life into them. In this magical story, we explore the relationship between young and old. Exquisitely told with puppetry, music and a wonderful chair. Branar, once again, take us on a beautiful heartwarming journey into the world of a girl and her Granny.

Theatre Performance 2.00pm or 4.00pm Theatre, Linenhall Duration: 40 minutes Capacity: 98 Tickets: €8, €25 (family of four) “This is magic of a high order.” - Derek West, Irish Theatre Magazine (of Branar’s previous show An Seanfhear Beag) “...Branar (...) instruct, stimulate and inspire young audiences.” - Siobhán O’Gorman, Irish Theatre Magazine HOT TIP: If you like this show you might also like the workshops Bring Your Toys to Life (Sunday, 10am) or Music for Film (Monday, 1pm).

WORKSHOPS Little Boots Story-Making Workshop Age: 5-8 years Monday 29th October A pair of little boots. Who do they belong to? Why are they there? What do we do with these little tiny boots? This exciting workshop uses the building blocks of storymaking (who, what, where, why, when) to help children build their own stories and their own imaginary worlds. Using a variety of drama processes such as roleplaying, storytelling and character-making, dramatist Fiona McDonagh and the children will work together to create the story of The Little Boots. The aim of this workshop is to encourage children’s imagination, inspire creativity and play, and create a memorable learning experience.

Workshop 11.00am-12.00pm St Patrick’s Boys’ School Duration: 60 minutes Capacity: 20 Tickets: €7

Story-Making from Scratch Age: 8-11 years Monday 29th October Using a prop as a starting point, build your very own mystery story. This exciting workshop, designed for older children, uses the fundamentals of story-making and drama processes such as role-playing, storytelling and character-making to guide participants on their story-making journey. Dramatist Fiona McDonagh will be on hand to help out every step of the way. Who, what, why, where, when? You decide!

Workshop 1.30pm-3.00pm St Patrick’s Boys’ School Duration: 90 minutes Capacity: 25 Tickets: €7

WORKSHOP Music for Film Age: 7-12 years Monday 29th October See for yourself how music makes film come alive. Participants will work with musician, performer, and composer Morgan Cooke to create a film soundtrack using an assortment of instruments. The workshop will conclude with a live performance of the final creation before our feature-film screening. This is a fantastic opportunity to get a taste of the work of a music and theatre professional. Morgan Cooke is the creator of the music score for Branar’s Croí á Mhúscailt (also in our programme), and has created soundscapes for multiple silent films.

(Some musical experience preferred.).

Presented in association with the Irish Film Institute and Branar Theatre Company.

Workshop 1.00pm-3.30pm (with performance at 4.00pm) Community Arts Room, Linenhall Duration: 150 minutes Capacity: 12 Tickets: €10

HOT TIP: If you like this workshop you might also like Croí á Mhúscailt at 2.00pm or 4.00pm on Sunday presented by Branar Theatre Company.

FILM The Gruffalo / The Gruffalo’s Child Movie Double Bill Age: 3-6 years Monday 29th October

A little brown mouse on a stroll through the deep, dark wood makes up a story about an imaginary monster called the Gruffalo to scare away a fox, an owl and a snake who are all intent on eating our tiny hero.

But what happens when the mouse comes face to face with the creature for real?

In the delightful sequel, despite her father’s warnings, the Gruffalo’s child sets off into the woods on a winter’s night to discover if the ‘big bad mouse’ of her father’s story really exists. In reality neither big nor bad, the quick-witted mouse again has to find a way to escape!

A completely captivating and charming pair of animated films suitable for even the very young based faithfully on the much-loved children’s books by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. An all-star cast including Helena Bonham Carter, James Corden provide the voices. The Gruffalo was nominated for both an Oscar and a BAFTA for best Short Animation.

“Magical.” – BBC “Top notch.” Geoff Berkshire, Metromix New York “Ingenious…Full of warmth (and) humanity.” – The Independent Film double bill 12.30pm-1.30pm Theatre, Linenhall Duration: 54 minutes (27 minutes per film) Capacity: 144 Tickets: €5

FILM A Cat in Paris Age: 7-12 years Monday 29th October Dino is a pet cat that leads a double life. By day he lives with Zoe and her mother Jeanne, a police detective. But at night Dino slips off to work with agile, big-hearted cat burglar Nico as he plies his trade among the rooftops of Paris. But when Zoe decides to follow Dino on his night-time adventures, she falls into the hands of Victor Costa, a gangster who is planning to steal a rare statue. Can cat and cat burglar save the young girl from the bumbling thieves? A thrilling, stylish and beautifully drawn animated cartoon by Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol, suitable for older children.

“Gorgeous.” - The New York Times “Irresistible. A charming visually sparkling Parisian fantasy!” - Empire Magazine “Beautifully drawn. A stylish celebration of storytelling.” - The Boston Globe Film 4.00pm-5.10pm Theatre, Linenhall Duration: 65 mins Capacity: 144 Tickets: €5

HOT TIP: If this film is your kind of thing, you might like the Music for Film workshop at 1.00pm on Monday.