![Envelopes And Packages
for ages 5-9 [France]
A postman carries a whole world on his bicycle – all wrapped up in parcels. When curiosity gets the better of him he opens the parcels to reveal a world of dreams, holidays, jungles, and volcanoes. This show takes its audience on a magical journey full of fantasy and adventure.](https://www.draiocht.ie/content/images/EnvelopesPackages_2006.jpg?v=1673544976)
![1900
for ages 10+ [Belgium]
This beautiful adaptation of the Italian novella, Novecento, tells the story of a unique man who never sets foot on dry land. On January 1 1900, a small baby boy was found abandoned on The Virginian, a transatlantic ship. 1900, named after the year he was born, is a true orphan who knows nothing about his parents or past. At a young age, he becomes a piano prodigy and helps to create the new era of jazz. This gentle, funny, touching and profound play uses a small cast, puppets and a minimal set to convey the remarkable life of a man who experiences the outside world from his ever moving sanctuary.](https://www.draiocht.ie/content/images/1900_2006.jpg?v=1673544974)
![The Ugly Duckling
for ages 5-8 [Italy]
Using live music, text and dance, the much loved tale of The Ugly Duckling is re-created for us. Through virtual scenery created with computerized images projected on to the floor we go on The Ugly Duckling’s journey with him, meeting all the characters that make him
question his place in the world until that startling and beautiful moment comes when The Ugly Duckling’s true self is revealed.](https://www.draiocht.ie/content/images/TheUglyDuckling_2006.jpg?v=1673544977)
![Snowflake
for ages 4+ [USA]
Without a single word, Gale LaJoye’s Snowflake shows a child how to turn sorrow into joy. Using the magic of illusion, Gale floats in mid-air, breathes life into toys, creates imaginative music and dances The Nutcracker on skis. In Snowflake, a funny and poignant play, Gale LaJoye lives up to his international reputation as a unique and inspiring entertainer.](https://www.draiocht.ie/content/images/Snowflake_2006.jpg?v=1673544976)
![Animals
for ages 3-6 [Spain]
Using a diverse range of objects and materials, award winning El Retablo Puppet Theatre create an extraordinary parade of animals right in front of our eyes. This show explores the animal world in poetic, playful and humorous ways. The forms, colours, sounds and rhythms created, captivate and amaze both children and adults. This is puppetry at its very best.](https://www.draiocht.ie/content/images/Animals_2006.jpg?v=1673544975)
![A Long Time Ago
for all ages [Ireland]
Andrew Bracey, Cian Donnelly, Brendan Jamison, Nevan Lahart, Mark McGreevy.
A Long Time Ago brings together five artists whose work recalls the visual world of children’s play. Remembering a world that is saturated with colour in every facet, toys, cartoons, food, packaging, TV, in a uniquely personal way each artist reflects this environment playfully through memory and experience. With nostalgia or a desire to recreate innocence and wonder, these artists create an exhibition which will appeal to both children and adults.](https://www.draiocht.ie/content/images/ALongTimeAgo_2006.jpg?v=1673544975)
The Elephant in the Room
Draíocht & Paul Curley in Primary Schools
February 2026
February 2026
It’s the third annual Spréacha Festival at Draíocht in Blanchardstown. Guaranteed to capture the minds and hearts of children everywhere, the six day Spréacha Festival line up includes theatre performances, puppetry, storytelling and visual art exhibitions for children aged between 3 and 12 years & families. With a top ticket price of just €5, and many events free, you’d be mad to miss out on the ‘sparkling’ Spréacha Festival 2006!
This year’s festival welcomes five companies from France, Belgium, Italy, USA and Spain to Fingal to spark all our imaginations. Four of the five companies will present the Irish premiere of their show in Draíocht!
Enjoy stories about a postman whose curiosity gets the better of him, making him open the parcels he’s carrying, revealing stories of holidays, jungles, volcanoes and more (Envelopes & Packages, presented by Vélo Théatre, France, for 5-9 year olds); an orphaned baby boy who becomes a piano prodigy, all the time living aboard a transatlantic ship (1900, presented by Ultima Thule, Belgium, for 10+ year olds); the much loved tale of the Ugly Duckling (The Ugly Duckling, presented by Crying Out Loud/TPO, Italy, for 5-8 year olds); the magic of illusion, music and dance in a wonderful dialogue free show that shows children how to turn sorrow into joy (Snowflake, presented by LaJoye Productions, USA, for 4+ year olds & families); and an extraordinary parade of puppet animals made from a diverse range of objects and materials (Animals, presented by El Retablo Puppet Theatre, Spain, for 3-6 year olds & families) … and that’s just to start.
Add to that a visual arts programme especially for children. A Long Time Ago brings together five artists whose work recalls the visual world of children’s play. Remembering a world that is saturated with colour in every facet - toys, cartoons, food, packaging, TV - in a uniquely personal way each artist reflects this environment playfully through memory and experience. With nostalgia or a desire to recreate innocence and wonder these five artists create an exhibition which will appeal to both children and adults. Featured artists are Andrew Bracey, Cian Donnelly, Brendan Jamison, Nevan Lahart, and Mark McGreevey.
The festival’s sparkle also extends to some of Fingal’s Libraries, which will be host to a series of wonderful events and workshops by top writers and storytellers, including Toby Kinsella, Valerie Coyne, John Carpenter, Liz Weir, Oisín McGann and Marita Conlon-McKenna, especially for 5-12 year olds (Library events run from 12-16 June in Blanchardstown, Baldoyle, Howth, Swords and Skerries).
Presented by Draíocht in partnership with Fingal County Council, County Manager John Tierney expressed his delight at Fingal’s continued involvement;
"This is the third consecutive year of this unique and important cultural event, celebrating as it does the very best in children’s theatre from around the world. Fingal County Council can proudly boast of its commitment to arts development over the last decade. Through the work of our arts staff, our Arts Centres and our Libraries, we are committed to the ideal of excellence and access for all, regardless of social standing or geographical location. Spréacha 2006, which is aimed at children between 3 and 12 years of age, seeks to ‘spark’ children’s imagination through exposure to the very best theatre companies worldwide. It is my hope that Spréacha will continue to build on its success and become the premier Children’s Arts Festival in the Country." - John Tierney, Manager, Fingal County Council
Festival Director Emer McGowan expressed her excitement as Spréacha 2006 approaches;
"Spréacha is a very special time at Draíocht where we present the very best of International Children’s Theatre companies to the children, schools and families of Dublin 15, Fingal and beyond. The Festival alongside our Children’s/Youth Arts programme represents Draíocht’s commitment to bringing high quality arts experiences to children at affordable prices and within their own area. Each show is carefully chosen and each of them has those magical moments which can entertain, enrich and educate all of us." - Emer McGowan, Director, Spréacha & Draíocht
