Branar puppet magic for Roolaboola

HEARTWARMING?The Branar theatre company presents ‘BlΡth/The Flower’ at this year’s RoolaBoola Festival in the Linenhall in Castlebar.

Dark autumn evenings, Halloween just around the corner and the October Bank Holiday… at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar it can mean only one thing: RoolaBoola!
The Linenhall’s annual children’s arts festival is back with another brilliant programme of shows, workshops and more for ages 2-12 years and their families.
Part of this year’s programme, Branar theatre company presents BlΡth/The Flower,  a magical stage adaptation of the children’s book of the same name by John Light, told with puppets, original music and a huge amount of creative imagination.
It’s the story of a young boy living in a grey, colourless world, who finds a magical book that leads him to a packet of flower seeds in a junk shop, and with them a way to transform his drab world of concrete. The book was originally illustrated by Lisa Evans, but it is artist Maeve Clancy, now living on Achill, who brings the story to visual life for this imaginative staging, creating a captivating paper city in which the puppets act out the enchanting tale. Adding to the magic, Colm Mac Con Iomaire (of Irish rock group The Frames) created the atmospheric music for the show.

High quality
Based down the road in Galway, Branar has been producing work of the highest quality since 2001, and the company has produced a host of shows including recent successes The Way Back Home and Croí Ρ Mhúscailt / Awakening a Heart, and the company regularly tours nationally as well as internationally. And, while the titles of Branar’s shows are bilingual, you don’t have to have Irish to engage with the company’s productions. Branar’s founder and Artistic Director Marc Mac Lochlainn, a lecturer in Educational Drama and Theatre, confirms, “We create shows that are not language dependant and that captivate the audience both young and old.” Branar’s beautifully crafted puppet theatre enchants audiences both young and old, and while the shows are aimed primarily at a younger audience (BlΡth is aimed at ages 6 years and up), the artistry and creative imagination in the company’s productions ensures there is always plenty for adults to enjoy too.

Details
Branar presents BlΡth/The Flower at the Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar on Monday October 26 with shows at 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Maeve Clancy presents the art workshop Build a City with BlΡth for 8-12s on Monday, October 26 at 2.30pm and 4.30pm. RoolaBoola Children’s Arts Festival runs at the Linenhall over the Bank Holiday weekend October 24 to 26, and into the following week. Full programme and booking on www.thelinenhall.com and from the Linenhall on 094 9023733.