A
barnstorming ride
Apart
from pantomimes (and specialised children’s festivals, such as
Spréacha) there is very little drama produced specifically for
children. Plays tend to target the adult market or to go for the “family”
entertainment product, so it is rare that a serious thought-provoking
piece of theatre comes along targetting the younger person.
“The Bus” by the much-vaunted Barnstorm theatre company
of Kilkenny, is a welcome exception to this. The play follows the progress
of the new boy as he familiarises himself with the politics of the school
bus and learns for himself the rules for survival – and acceptance.
Through his eyes we discover the mischief and mayhem of those bus journeys,
meeting a myriad of characters, from which he must distinguish the cool
from the not so cool, swots 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.
In short, fitting in is a challenge, especially when you’re just
ten years old and starting at a new school.
This is a high-energy ensemble piece with seven actors playing multiple
roles. The story is told through a mixture of monologue, dialogue and
synchronised movement. The style veers from slapstick to naturalistic,
with pathos and humour, some madness and also some moments of genuine
emotion. As always with Barnstorm, although the play specifically reflects
the child’s world, its universal theme makes it relevant to all
ages.
According to the resumé, the play “zings with explosive
energy and breathtaking physical hi-jinks.” I asked Barnstorm’s
Frances O’Connor if there was a danger that some of these “hi-jinks”
could be replicated by members of the audience at a later stage!
“I'm not a 100% sure what you mean here!” she laughed. “The
play is very physical; the actors are very energetic, using their bodies
and choreographed movements to convey the narrative of the play. We
provide a teachers’ resource packs at the end of the show, which
contains games and activities that they can use in class to further
discuss the play's themes.
“In this and on our publicity board in the foyer we emphasize
that The Bus is an entertaining play and not real life. The actors have
been especially trained and children are asked not to replicate any
of the hi-jinks!
“Of all of Barnstorm's productions, The Bus seems to resonate
very strongly with adults, as well as children. For many grown-ups,
it draws up memories from their own school days, both positive and negative!”
“The Bus” was written specifically for Barnstorm by Maeve
Ingoldsby and Philip Hardy. Maeve Ingoldsby has been working with Barnstorm
in different way for ten years. She is a former national school teacher
and parent and has written thirteen plays for young people, two children's
operas, numerous pantomimes, satirical revues and also many scripts
for television and radio. Philip Hardy is Barnstorm's Artistic Director.
The company will of course be well-known to younger audiences as they
normally play Draiocht at least once a year. The last occasion was of
course the performance of “Little Rudolf” in November 2007
which was a big hit with the under eights.
“The Bus” by Barnstorm has a running time of 65 minutes
and is suitable for children aged six to twelve years. There are two
performances each at Draíocht on Monday 31st March and Tuesday
1st April at 10.15am and 12.30pm.
Tickets are €10 / €9 group rate with two teachers free per
class.
Community Voice, Media
House, Church Avenue, Blanchardstown,
Dublin 15
Phone +353 1 822 1432 - Fax +353 1 640 4444
info@communityvoice.ie
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