Number of Mayo schools set for surprise visit from stage performers

Mayo is set to welcome a new immersive theatre experience to schools this November. Ballad of a Bandit, created by performer, director, and musician Miquel Barceló in collaboration with theatre company Branar, will tour 17 schools with 30 performances from November 3 to 27.

The tour will travel from Achill in the west to Carracastle on the Roscommon border, and from Ballycastle in the north to Roundfort in the south. In total, the tour will reach more than 700 children in their classrooms, including many rural and DEIS schools that may not have easy access to arts infrastructure.

Aimed at pupils from third to sixth class, the performances are designed to surprise students, with teachers and parents not to reveal them in advance.

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“The idea was to bring theatre directly to children where they are, in their own everyday spaces,” says Miquel Barceló. 

“I wanted to surprise them with something that feels ordinary at first – and then slowly opens up into a world of wonder and play. It’s about reminding all of us, adults and children alike, that magic can happen anywhere.”

Each class will be given an engagement pack for classroom use after the performance, which includes a comic from Mayo-based illustrator Maeve Clancy, an activity sheet, and a video workshop that encourages follow-up learning.