Waterford's nationally acclaimed Little Red Kettle theatre company is no stranger to big productions. Even by its standards, however, the production which opened on Monday at Garter Arts Centre is an ambitious undertaking.
Quest, written by Ben Hennessy and Liam Meagher, stars 82 of Waterford's most talented first-time actors, all under the age of 14. One of the largest and most exciting shows ever staged in the city, the play is co-produced with Garter Lane.
"The play on one level is a huge adventurous journey where characters with swords, wings and horses' hooves travel through sky, forest, fire and ice on a quest for the elements of life," says Hennessy, who has been writing and directing plays for children in partnership with Meagher for a decade.
"On another level it is about a huge group of children performing a play about this quest and their quest for exciting parts, cool costumes and more lines to say. It's a play about a play about a quest for a play . . . I think."
Little Red Kettle, which won the special judges' award at last year's Irish Times/ESB Theatre Awards, travelled to Japan in August to represent Ireland at the Toyama World Festival of Children's Theatre. Now back in its home city, it continues to blaze a trail in the world of children's theatre. Quest runs until Saturday, December 2nd.