The Ark and Music Network present
a new music show created especially for ages 6+

WIRES, STRINGS & OTHER THINGS

Composed by Brian Irvine
Directed by Wouter Van Looy

On tour from 8 – 25 February 2022
and at The Ark from 8 March – 3 April 2022

Booking now open

The Ark and Music Network are delighted to join forces to present WIRES, STRINGS & OTHER THINGS, a music performance that encourages you to always be curious. To listen, respond to, and communicate through the sounds, music and stories that are all around you – wherever you are and whoever you are with.

This much-anticipated music commission from The Ark and Music Network has been a number of years in the making. Wires, Strings & Other Things was composed by the multi award-winning Brian Irvine, whose music was described by the Washington Post as “some of the most exhilarating and imaginative music you’ll ever hope to hear”, and directed by Belgian stage director and producer Wouter Van Looy, an innovative force in the international music, opera and musical theatre world.

This exciting new work has been specially created for children ages 6+ and will be performed by a trio of musicians live on stage - Andreea Banciu (viola), James Allsopp (bass clarinet), Ed Devane (electronic instruments) with stage and costume design by Alyson Cummins, video design by Erato Tzavara, and lighting design by Sarah Jane Shiels.

Creating and presenting new work for children and encouraging them to explore and express themselves through music and the arts is at the core of what The Ark does, while Music Network is dedicated to making high quality live music accessible to all communities throughout Ireland. Commissioning artists to create new work is a key part of the work of both organisations.

Following its preview performances at The Ark on Saturday 5 February, audiences around the country can experience Wires, Strings & Other Things live themselves from 8 – 25 February, before the show returns to The Ark for schools performances from 8 – 31 March, and as part of the Big Bang Festival on 2 & 3 April.

About WIRES, STRINGS & OTHER THINGS - meet Ed, Andreea and James, three totally different people with one thing in common – they are crazy about music and sound. Ed can usually be found in a corner, building unusual electronic instruments, tinkering with his own world of sound. Andreea plays the viola beautifully and reads complicated sheets of music as if they were fairy tales. And James? Well, James wanders a labyrinth of sound like an explorer, connecting and disrupting with his bass clarinet as he goes.

Anything can happen as they find each other and start to invent music together. What stories will they share when, with your help, they explore the magic and mystery of how to compose, perform and improvise?

Supported by the Arts Council, with project funding from Creative Europe. Additional support from Onassis Stegi.

TOUR DATES

Sat 5th Feb 2022 2pm & 4pm The Ark, Dublin (previews) | €15/€12.50 | 01 670 7788 www.ark.ie
Tue 8th Feb 2022 12pm Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise |€5/Teachers free | 057 8663355 www.dunamaise.ie
Wed 9th Feb 2022 12pm Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford | €5 | 051 855038 garterlane.ie promoted by Waterford Music
Fri 11th Feb 2022 10.30am glór, Ennis |€6 / Teachers go free |065 6843103 www.glor.ie
Sat 12th Feb 2022 12pm Belltable, Co. Limerick |€10 |061 953400 www.limetreetheatre.ie
Sun 13th February 2022 3pm Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr | Adults €10, children €5 | 057 9122911 www.birrtheatre.com
Tue 15th February 2022 11am & 1pm Townhall Cavan, Cavan | €7 | 049 4380494 www.townhallcavan.ticketsolve.com
Sat 19th February 2022 1.30pm Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda | €8 | 041 9833946 www.droichead.com
Tue 22nd February 2022 10.15am Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar | €5 children / Teachers go free | 094 9023733 www.linenhall.com
Wed 23rd February 2022 12pm Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray | €10 each or family of four €35| 01 2724030 www.mermaidartscentre.ie
Fri 25th February 2022 6pm Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny | Adults €10 Children €7 | 074 9129186 www.regionalculturalcentre.com

Tuesday 8th- Friday 11th March & Tuesday 29th-Thursday 31st March 10.15am & 12:15pm The Ark, Dublin (Schools Performances) | €6.50 (€5 Early Bird), Teachers go free | 01 670 7788 www.ark.ie
Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd April 2pm & 4pm The Ark, Dublin (part of Big Bang Festival) | €15/€12.50 | 01 670 7788 www.ark.ie

The performances at The Ark on Thursday 10 March at 12.15pm and Saturday 2 April at 4pm are relaxed performances.