It may specialise in bringing long-neglected works back to life, but Wexford Festival Opera will have a ghostly conclusion this weekend.
"Putting the fun back into funerals" is how Spraoi director T.V. Honan describes the Hallowe'en street spectacular which will round off this year's festival in an unprecedented manner.
The final opera on Sunday has been brought forward to 5 p.m. so that the artists and audience will be able to join in the outdoor millennium party, which begins at 8 p.m.
Waterford-based Spraoi is joining forces with two other street theatre companies, Macnas of Galway and Bui Bolg of Wexford, to create a Hallowe'en ghost train which will run the length of the quay, stopping at stations such as Gory Junction and Trainsylvania.
A ghostly mix of witch doctors, vampires, banshees, werewolves and a variety of other spooks will follow in the train's wake, all under the creative direction of Macnas founder Paraic Breathnach.
The ubiquitous ESB millennium drum will also be in attendance for the event, which is sponsored by the Government-backed Millennium Festivals Company.
A fireworks display is also planned, and locals are being encouraged to join in the fun by turning up in fancy dress.
A huge turnout is expected in line with the record-breaking attendances which have been seen at this year's festival.
While the main productions are usually booked out in advance, other events such as lunchtime recitals, which are normally pay-at-the-door, have also been sold out well before performance time, according to the festival director, Mr Jerome Hynes. "We are absolutely thrilled with the way it has gone," he said.
