FLIP FLOP 2008!
Date: 18th - 26th October (workshops from 10th October)
Venues: Pavillion Theatre/ Mill Theatre / Various Libraries
Tickets: €7 (all shows)
Pavilion Workshops: €5 / or €10 (inc. a ticket to a show).

Well, it's back to school and down to the 9 to 3 grind for kids everywhere. But if you find yourself living for the weekends and dreading the mornings, don't despair - because from 19th - 26th October Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and the Pavillion Theatre has the perfect pick-me-up, with plays, stories, workshops and more in the 2nd annual FLIP FLOP Children's Theatre Festival!

Following last year's smash-hit success, the fantastic FLIP FLOP festival promises to be a celebration of the very best of children's theatre - with highlights including a 9ft Scottish Giant and his uncouth dog, a delightful production of Hansel and Gretel from acclaimed Lyngo Theatre Co, and the return of those dysfunctional storytellers from Theatre Lovett! There's also the hilarious Puca Puppets, the 2nd Flip Flop Children's Fiction Slam, workshops in Pavilion and throughout DLR and much, much more!

So check out the listings belowm then book your tickets online, by calling 01 231 2929 (Pavilion), 01 296 9340 (The Mill) or by contacting your local library directly (library events only).

PERFORMANCES

Big Rory & Ochie
Date: 18th & 19th October
Big Rory, a 9ft loveable Scottish rogue, will be out for a walk with his wayward mongrel in Dún Laoghaire and Dundrum and anywhere else Ochie can cause Caledonian canine chaos. Ring Pavilion Box Office at 01 231 2929 to find out when this friendly giant and his frisky mutt will be near you!

Lyngo Theatre
Circus Minimus  
Venue: Mill Theatre
Date: 19th October
Time: 12.00 & 14.00
Age: 2+
Every family is a circus - in lots of ways. Toddling clowns, teenage lions, mums who spin plates and dads who fly by the seat of their pants. Growing, eating, sleeping and dreaming has all the fun of the fair. Circus Minimus puts our everyday life in the spotlight and takes it beyond the ordinary, into dreams, up to the stars and beyond. A delightful must for small children.

Children's Fiction SLAM
Venue: Pavilion Theatre
Date: 21st October
Time: 19.00
Hosted by author and comedienne Aislinn O'Loughlin, the event is an opportunity for unpublished children's authors to read a short extract from their work in front of an audience of their peers, friends and two invited judges from the Irish publishing world - novelist Sarah Webb, and award-winning fantasy author Conor Kostick.  No cash prizes, no three book deals to be won, just the respect of your peers, and maybe a modest award. And even if you're not entering come down to hear what undiscovered talent is on show.

Writers who wish to enter the SLAM should email flipflop@paviliontheatre.ie for details. Anyone can enter as long as you have never been published. Closing date for entries: Friday October 17th.

Theatre Lovett
Fables, Tales and Tattlers
Age: 4+

Venue: Pavilion Theatre
Date: 20th & 21st October   
Time: 10.00 & 12.00

Venue: Mill Theatre
Date: 22nd & 23rd October October
Time: 16.00 (22nd) / 10.00 & 12.00 (23rd)

What if Hansel and Gretel never got out of the forest? And Little Red Riding Hood was really eaten by the Wolf? What then? No worries. Billy and Jilly are on the case, ready to pit their wits against any problems the task of story-telling might throw up. But...erm...they might just need a hand. So brush up on your fables and tales and get down to the Pavilion and Mill Theatres, because when Billy and Jilly start telling stories, you never know what to believe.

Púca Puppets
Róisín and the Seal - A Shadow Puppet show
Venue: Pavilion Theatre
Date: 23rd October   
Time: 10.00 & 12.00
Tickets: €7
Age: 7+
Róisín befriends a seal little knowing he will change into a boy to save her whenever she is in danger. When they meet a greedy fisherman who threatens the underwater wonderland he has shown her, Róisín has to help the boy find his lost sealskin - his only means to return to his world.
Written with humour and zest by poet Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, with music by Colm Ó Snodaigh of Kíla.

Lyngo Theatre
Hansel and Gretel
Venue: Pavilion Theatre
Date: 24th & 25th October    
Time: 12.00 (24th), 13.30 (25th), 16.00
Age: 5+
Is hunger stronger than love?
Hansel and Gretel's journey takes them from a house with empty cupboards and a mother who doesn't like children to a house made of sweets and someone who just loves children - on toast! Award-winning Lyngo Theatre serve up this well-loved fairy tale in atmospheric style presenting a musical theatre enchantment of spooky characters, captivating songs and haunting imagery.
The 4PM show on Friday 24th October is a Special Halloween Show. Come in fancy dress - prizes for best costumes!

Katzenjammer
The Four Hands on One Piano Music and Comedy Duo
Venue: Pavilion Theatre
Date: 26th October
Time: 15.00
Age: 6+