Kilkenny's Barnstorm celebrates legacy of writer in upcoming production

Barnstorm Theatre Company will present its 2024 Autumn production - The Bus at the Dublin Theatre Festival later this month and to the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny.

Written by Maeve Ingoldsby and Barnstorm’s Artistic Director, Philip Hardy, and updated in 2024 by John Morton, this play is suitable for children aged 6 - 12 years.

“Many people will remember The Bus and Maeve Ingoldsby who was so involved in the development of Barnstorm over many years. This new production is a celebration of her legacy and an exciting opportunity for us to visit the show again in memory of Maeve” says Philip Hardy who directs.

Set aboard the school bus, the play follows the progress of the new boy as he is faced with the politics of the school bus, where he meets a myriad of characters from which he must distinguish the cool from the not so cool, nerds from dossers, the geeks from the lads. He has to learn where to sit, who to talk to and when to lie low – in short how to survive as one of the gang. Through his eyes, we discover the mischief and mayhem of those bus journeys.

The Bus employs a highly physical style of presentation, incorporating elements of music and song, with moments of high comedy, tense confrontation and emotional truth, to create an exuberant, insightful and highly entertaining piece of children’s theatre. The play has a large cast - seven actors drawn from all over Ireland.

Together the cast will depict 17 characters in this fast paced show! Barnstorm first produced The Bus in 2002 and it is one of the company’s most popular plays to date. As always with Barnstorm, although the play specifically reflects the child’s world, its universal theme makes it relevant to all ages.

The Bus opens in the Dublin Theatre Festival and then onto the Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny on Tuesday October 15 until October 22. Tickets cost only €10 and are on sale now from Barnstorm on (056) 7751266.