Politics is the theme of Barnstorm Theatre's latest high-energy production, and children from six to 12 are packing the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny to see it.
This story, however, has nothing to with tribunals, elections or referendums. Rather, it is "the politics of the school bus" that is explored in the new play by Maeve Ingoldsby and Barnstorm's artistic director, Philip Hardy. The Bus, featuring a cast of seven adults, follows the progress of a new boy on the school bus as he negotiates a minefield of shifting allegiances, uncertain loyalties, sudden hostilities, pranks and casual cruelties. Although written for primary school children, adults who attended the play's gala night performance on Friday identified just as readily with the scenario, according to Barnstorm administrator Sally Harris. There is a marked difference, however, in the way children and adults react to plays. When the actor Stephen Kelly, playing the new boy, does a monologue and asks questions like "Have you ever felt really ashamed of yourself?" some children, says Sally, will shout back 'Yes' "You would never get that kind of response from an adult audience." When Barnstorm staged a play for under-six-year-olds, The Elves & The Shoemakers, before Christmas, audience members screamed when the lights went down at the start of the show. Barnstorm, which is based in Kilkenny and celebrated its 10th birthday at the end of last year, will be provoking similar responses with audiences around the country when The Bus, appropriately, takes to the road after its run ends at the Watergate on Friday. Its tour begins in Tralee next week before moving on to Waterford, Limerick, Longford, Dublin, Galway, Mullingar and other venues. Performances take place at 10 a.m. and 12.30 p.m., and also 8 p.m. at the Watergate.
