Like an ice cream van for the Arts! FESTIVAL IN A VAN brings entertainment outside and makes it mobile
FESTIVAL IN A VAN FÉILE I VEAIN
Getting the show on the road
A mobile live arts event, Festival in a Van brings live performance to your door. A trad session at your window, a classical concert on the green, dramatic moments, or poets proclaiming in the garden, Festival in a Van is touring nationwide, bringing the magic of live performance back to Ireland.
Three vans have been transformed as mini mobile venues, and are popping up in parks, streets, squares, care homes and more; making safe, fun arts experiences part of life once more. Supported by Creative Ireland, and led by a team of theatre professionals, Festival in a Van is keeping live performance going, on the move, and coming to a place near you.
READ MORE ABOUT US...
TOUR DATES & INFO
2021
Carlow County - March 18th and 19th
Cian Kinsella, Brian Daly and Fiach Moriarty
Louth County - April 6th
Gavan Ring
Westmeath County - May 4th and 5th
Frank Byrne, David Kelly and Meadhbh Hughes
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown - May 10th and 11th
King Lear Schools Tour
Dublin - May 12th
King Lear Schools Tour
Galway - May 19th
Caroline Stanley, Colin Stanley and Ryan Crowell
Leitrim County - June 15th and 16th
Sinead Black and Saoirse Cummins
July and August: Words Move
Touring Ireland this summer with poetry and music, in partnership with Poetry Ireland and supported by The Arts Council. More info below
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown - July 6th and 7th
Karl Flood and Ronan MacGabhann
Offaly - August 16th
at the Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival
WORDS MOVE
Teaming up with the lovely people at Poetry Ireland, Festival in a Van takes to the road this summer. Ten Counties, Ten Poets, plus Singer Songwriters all coming together to remind us just how much words can truly move. We'll be visiting community centres, care homes and there'll be some public gigs too. Look out for specially commissioned poems popping up online, and in the newspapers too. With thanks to A Touring Grant from the Arts Council of Ireland click on to find out who's going, and where...
SCHOOLS
Festival in a Van brings performance to schools for children of all ages. From magic shows to sean nós, story telling to multicultural magic, our schools visits are a firm favourite. We work with Creative Schools, Local Authorities and directly with teachers to plan the perfect programme. At Secondary Level, we also create bespoke shows in line with the National Curriculum. In 2020, we toured scenes from Romeo and Juliet for Junior Certificate Students, and in 2021 we were delighted to present King Lear (in a Van) for the Leaving Certificate.
Details for 2022 will be available here well in advance.
NICE THINGS PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT FESTIVAL IN A VAN
"Thank you for bringing Festival in a Van to Mooorehall Lodge Ardee. From when Gemma, the van, crew and Gavan arrived it was like our Residents and staff got a new energy - a new life. The whole event from start to finish was just so uplifting. the Residents watching the crew set up, not knowing what was coming next and then Gavan starting to sing: you could hear a pin drop, just class. Festival in a Van was the topic of conversation at lunch times and for days afterwards with everyone. We, as staff spoke together about the event to try and describe feeling everyone came away with, and we said it was an energy, new beginning, new hope. After 12 months of Covid 19, that feeling that yes, we are going to be fine! It was a lovely feeling".
Frances @ Moorehall (Event: Gavan Ring, Co. Louth, April 2021)
"I just wanted to let you know how impressed everyone was by the Festival in a Van company and production. Everything happened so efficiently (thanks Anthony) without any hiccups and the students (sixth years in particular) were thrilled to see King Lear come alive on the school grounds, with real actors! It was great to see them ask so many questions afterwards! And the actors were very happy to oblige!"
Teacher at Our Lady of Mercy College, Beaumont (Event: King Lear (in a Van), May 2021)
"From the moment the van pulled up this morning you could feel the excitement grow at school today.
Some pupils were hanging out the window to see what was going on and how a normal van was supposed to transform into a magical stage - I nearly didn't know how they did it even though I watched the whole thing unfold in front of my eyes! Magic in itself.
Suddenly we were at a festival - with a stage, a secure area for around the stage - everything you would expect to see at any venue was there - no attention to detail spared.
We got the green light to start at 10am on the dot and by 10:01 there were 73 children and 40 Staff dancing together at a music festival! It was genuinely amazing. Joyce and Steve played together beautifully - his husky voice complemented by her powerful traditional singing. An incredible experience.
Our school community needed a lift like this - it was amazing. Thank you
Sarah McGinley, Principal, St. Josephs Special School, Galway
HOW TO BOOK
Vans can be hired as venues for your own programme, or we can programme for you. Vans can spend the day in one location or make up to three stops in one day, depending on distances and performance duration.
Costs for Festival in a Van are based on a full day’s hire including technical crew and Covid safety officer, fuel and all technical and safety equipment.
Festival in a van is available for Festivals, Local Authority Events, Schools, Care Homes, Private Hires and more.
To book Festival in a Van please email Gemma Tipton or click below
TECHNICAL SPEC
Van 1: Box Van, rear door, tail lift
Interior - 2400mm X 1900mm(w) X 1900mm (h)
Tail Lift - 1.2 meters depth X 2 meters wide (Not all playing area due to swing doors
Tech 1 - Sound/Lights
Tech 2 - Stage manager/driver/ Artist liaison/ H+S
Sound - 1 Desk + stereo left and right tops on stands + mic package as required
Lighting - Smart Batts X 3 +dressing (fairy lights or festoon and/or Freedom Sticks)
Van 2: Box Van, rear door, tail lift
Interior - 2400mm X 1900mm(w) X 1900mm ( H)
Tail Lift - 1000mm (d) X 2000mm (w)
Tech 1 - Sound/Lights
Tech 2 - Stage manager/driver/ Artist liaison/ H+S
Sound - 1 Desk + stereo left and right tops on stands + mic package as required
Lighting - Smart Batts X 3 +dressing (fairy lights or festoon and/or Freedom Sticks)
Van 3: Side door Transit-style
Interior - 1500mm(h) X 1200(w) 1400mm deep
Deck - 1200mmX1200 approx ( deck sits flush to side door to allow performer to sit outside of van)
Tech 1 - Sound/Lights
Tech 2 - Stage manager/driver/ Artist liaison/ H+S
Sound - 1 Desk + stereo left and right tops on stands + mic package as required
Lighting - Smart Batts X 2 +dressing (fairy lights or festoon and/or Freedom Sticks)
Each van travels with a sound and lighting technician, and a driver.
Covid safety for the vans is coordinated by Peter Jordan at Slua Event Safety Consultancy
Festival in a Van is responsible for the safety of its vans, teams and performers. Hiree is responsible for audience coordination and management.
GET IN TOUCH
Contact us with any queries and to find out more about booking your very own Festival in a Van
Please fill in the contact form
or you can email directly
