Stone Soup

Produced by Púca Puppets in 2010 in association with The Five Lamps Festival and The Seán Ó Casey Community Centre with assistance from Dublin City Council Arts Office

Deep in the worst winter of their history, starving villagers are surprised by the arrival of a mysterious stranger. How has she crossed the snow-blocked mountain passes? How can they feed her when they struggle to feed themselves? Doors are slammed in her face, but a young boy helps her tease the community into making and sharing her very special Stone Soup.

This lively adaptation shows the relevance of this ancient story today. A ‘puppet show’ without puppets, in collaboration with performers Joe Moylan and Amy Conroy, it features live soup making and talking vegetables. Performances can be followed by soup tasting and a discussion about the making of the show.

For children aged 5-10 years or a family audience. Capacity 100. Get in time approx three hours, re-setting one and a half hours. Two shows can be performed in one day. It may be possible to share the stage with another performance.

Link to reviews : Irish Theatre Magazine

Upcoming Performances (to be confirmed: please check with venues)

25.05.11 4pm The Grand Social, Dublin 1 Box Office 087 7800931
30.05.11 4pm Dunamaise, Portlaoise Box Office 057 8663355 www.dunamaise.ie
31.05.11 10am Dunamaise, Portlaoise Box Office 057 8663355 www.dunamaise.ie
01.06.11 10am & 12pm Hawkswell, Sligo, Box Office 071 9161518 www.hawkswell.com
02.06.11 10am & 12pm The Dock, Leitrim Box Office 071 9650828 www.thedock.ie
03.06.11 10am & 12pm Iontas, Castleblayney Box Office 042 9753400/1 www.iontascastleblayney.ie
04.06.11 1.30pm & 3.30pm The Market Place, Armagh Box Office 028 37521821 www.marketplacearmagh.com
06.06.11 3 pm Longford Box Office 043 3347888 www.backstage.ie
07.06.11 10am & 12pm Longford Box Office 043 3347888 www.backstage.ie
08.06.11 10am & 12pm Ramor, Virginia, Box Office 0498547074 www.ramortheatre.ie
10.06.11 11am & 7pm Mermaid, Bray Box Office 01 2724030 www.mermaidartscentre.ie
11.06.11 2pm Riverbank, Newbridge, Box Office 045 448327 www.riverbank.ie

Technical Requirements

Minimum stage requirements: 5.5 metres wide x 2.5 metres deep. Full black backdrop.
Lighting requirements: Pre-rig : 2 x profile FOH. Focus – entire playing area but off 2 x lighting stands.
2 x fresnel onstage over head. Focus – entire playing area
All 4 lights are on as audience come in and there are no changes. A level should be set so that actors are brightly lit but that cold light from birdies (carried by company with own stands) can still establish when turned on.

Lighting floor plan


2nd June Culture file on Lyric FM (podcast – mp3 format)