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
The Show, On The Road
A mobile live arts event, Festival in a Van brings live performance to you. A trad session in the town square, a classical concert on the green, Shakespeare at schools, craic at care homes, and poets proclaiming in parks... Festival in a Van tours nationwide, bringing the magic of live performance to the parts and places other venues cannot reach.
Our van has been transformed as a mini mobile venue. Equipped with sound, lights, a drop down stage and a truly lovely crew, we are popping up in parks, streets, squares, care homes and more. During the lockdowns, we made safe, fun arts experiences part of life again. Now we're back on the road, bringing art to where you are.
Supported by Creative Ireland, and led by a team of theatre professionals, Festival in a Van is is available to festivals, community groups, schools, Local Authorities, and absolutely anyone who likes the idea of something wonderful coming their way.
TOUR DATES & INFO
ANNOUNCING THE SHARED MUSIC SESSIONS
An international concert series of events with Irish musicians coming together with Ukrainian musicians, and musicians from other refugee communities via Festival in a Van. The Shared Music Sessions are supported by Creative Ireland, and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
For full events listing and details of the shared music sessions in Autumn / Winter 2022 click below
Upcoming Festival in a Van Events
Discover what else the van is doing in 2022
including schools based and community events.
Meet the Musicians sessions with Music Generation
Festival in a Van are delighted to collaborate with Music Generation for a series of Meet the Musicians sessions; creating opportunities for musicians to perform for a wide range of audiences across the broadest of age groups, in communities throughout Ireland. Festival in a Van & Music Generation and very grateful to Kildare County Council & the Arts Council for their support of our Pilot session on 7th October in Kildare - full details coming very soon.
making vans happen where you are
If you would like Festival in a Van to visit you, or if you are planning a Festival and would like to hold performances somewhere that there isn't a stage, or like the idea of having a Cancellation-Proof Pop Up as part of your programme, please contact us for more information.
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.
In the meantime visit schools page to view details of past productions
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
NICE THINGS PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT FESTIVAL IN A VAN
"We absolutely loved it! The children were so engaged and the whole crew were lovely. Children were walking home dancing!! Thank you so much"
Bríd Brophy, Principal @ St. Mary's Primary School, Dublin 7
(Event: Back to School Celebration with Gomba Educare, September 2022)
"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
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
