AN excited bunch of older children from Our Lady Queen of Peace NS held sway over the launch in Belltable for this year’s Bualadh Bos Festival, October 10 to 21.
Why? Because their own little lives and big stories feed a first-ever publication in the festival’s four years, comic mag ‘Bualadh Bos, Real Lives, Real Limerick Kids’. Pick up one of 5,000 copies around, a colourful, gutsy 20 pages with its own TV guide. All the concept of illustrator Fintan Taite and funded by some of the €20,000 investment in programming alone in BB’s 11 days.
Pic: Gareth Williams
Programme manager Marketa Dowling takes Limerick Post through thrilling highlights in October. What’s going on? “We have more events this year,” confirms this Czech born professional, flicking through the separate brochure. “Our flagship production is ‘Trash Test Dummies’ who are from Australia and world renowned. I saw them in Edinburgh Fringe Festival and loved them…
“‘Trash Test Dummies’ are top class clowning acrobatics, three of them in the sky and just the fastest movers. People, adults and children, were just laughing their heads off.”
“‘The Secret Garden’ is for older children aged seven and more and is a very, very beautiful version of the story. It’s from Cork based BrokenCrow Theatre Company and director Deirdre Dwyer who is super talented. This production is magic!! A garden grows during the show, brilliant to watch”.
Another first: Marketa nods to ‘The Assistant’s Revenge’, coming to Belltable on its premier run from Cahoots NI, up north. “There is a Hallowe’en theme to it and a mystery for older children aged seven and more. We have a show for schools (October 10 @11am) and for families as well (7pm).”
Pic: Gareth Williams
Addressing the OLQP giggles and grown up festival stakeholders, Lime Tree director Louise Donlon welcomed recurring favourites Theatre Lovett for October 17 and 18 and Fantasmagorical on October 21, who were a sell out previously.
“We have programmed in ‘flying&falling’ (from Berlin) at Dance Limerick for a first time partnership which will really appeal to small children aged two or so.”
Family shows are throughout and Bualadh Bos is touring with ‘The Shape of Things to Come’ and Scríobh Workshop over three dates for outreach access. Schedule and tickets for Belltable an Lime Tree at www.limetreetheatre.ie
