Lúminaria 26 Feb - 1 Mar 2025

There is an emergency in the village of Lúminaria and only Lúna can save them.

Join Lúna on an adventure into the sky as she tries to find the light to protect her mother and the villagers from darkness. Lúminaria has a wonderful array of characters played by three amazing actors. With colourful puppets and original music, Lúminaria brings the audience on a whimsical journey into the unknown.

As Lúna faces her deepest fears, we learn about courage, love and finding light in the darkest of moments.

A Backstage Theatre production supported by Arts Council Ireland with development support from Creative Ireland and Roscommon Arts Centre.

Classroom Pack

Curricular Links...

Attending and reflecting on theatre performances with your class will explore many of the key strands of the Drama and English curricula, particularly in relation to: examining the relationship between story, theme and life experience; using insights arising out of dramatic action to draw conclusions about life and people; receptiveness to language; competence and confidence in using language; emotional and imaginative development through language; reflection on drama and listening and responding.

About the Artists

Fionnuala Gygax - Writer

Fionnuala Gygax is a Writer/Actor based in Dublin. She is a co-founder of Two Sparks production company and Chaos Factory theatre company.

For the theatre, Fionnuala has written a number of plays including Hotel Happiness (Project Arts Centre, 2022), Lúminaria (National Tour, 2022), Twenty Fifty (The New Theatre, 2021), Below Below (Smock Alley, 2017) and Hostel 16 (Smock Alley, 2016).

in 2024, she completed her short film The Island, as part of the Actor as Creator scheme, which premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh. She has also written a feature film, SONC, produced by Paddy Hayes (as part of the Cine4 scheme). This film recently received BAI funding and will be shot in 2025.

In 2017 she was awarded the Next Generation Award from the Arts Council. In 2016 she was nominated for the Stewart Parker writing award.

Maisie Lee - Director

Maisie is an audio and theatre artist interested in work with a strong storytelling element. Her work spans radio documentary, radio drama, theatre for adults and theatre for young audiences.

Recent work includes the theatrical installation The Shape of Quiet Feelings and audio documentary Don’t Forget to Wash Your Hands (both commissioned by Baboró International Arts Festival for Children); Prickly (DLR Mill Theatre); The Dead House (Dublin Theatre Festival); Embargo (Fishamble New Play Company) and In Our Veins (Abbey Theatre and Bitter Like a Lemon).

She is Artist in Residence for Baboró International Arts Festival for Children and set up and facilitates their Children’s Panel. She has also previously held positions as Artist in Residence for Backstage Theatre Longford and Resident Assistant Director in the Abbey Theatre.