THE MOTH & BUTTERFLY
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF
STORYTELLING & IMPROVISATION
JANUARY 30th - FEBRUARY 2nd 2025
FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAMME:
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30th:
1pm: The Two Truths of Thomas The Rhymer
WHEN: 1-2pm THURSDAY, JANUARY 30th, 2025
WHERE: O'DONOGHUE THEATRE, UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY
*FREE EVENT - BOOKING ESSENTIAL*
FREE EVENT - BOOKING ESSENTIAL
5pm: Festival Launch
THE MOTH & BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL LAUNCH!
WHEN: 5-7pm Irish Time, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30th, 2025
WHERE: THE BLUE NOTE,
3 WILLIAM ST WEST, WEST END, GALWAY
Join the Moth & Butterfly Cast and Crew as we launch of our 2025 Festival!
We'll have great craic and conversations, and maybe a drink or two!
Audience Age: 18+
FREE EVENT!
Friday, JANUARY 31st:
11am: Wonderous Tales - Stories As Gaeilge/Bearla
WHEN: 11am-11:30 and 12 noon - 12:30, FRIDAY, January 31st, 2025
WHERE: Galway City Museum
Wonderous Tales! Moth and Butterfly International Festival of Storytelling and Improvisation presents a delightful bilingual storytelling session with Máirín Mhic Lochlainn, storyteller-in-residence at the University of Galway, and Eimear De Burca, visiting guest artist from Kilkenny. This event is presented in partnership with the Galway City Museum.
Audience Age: Suitable for Ages 7–12 / Second to Sixth Class
FREE EVENT
7pm: Crocodile Paws
WHEN: 7-8.45 pm FRIDAY, JANUARY 31st, 2025
WHERE: BLUE TEAPOT THEATRE,
MUNSTER AVE, GALWAY CITY
IMPROV Performance with THE RENOWNED FINISH IMPROV DUO!
LIVE SCORE/DJ NICEOL BLUE
Please join us for a journey through time and space, inspired by you, the audience. Follow the characters as they weave their way through moments big and small to find out what awaits on the horizon.
These two improvisers travelled across oceans and met by chance, (right here in Ireland!). It was love at first sight, except that Sara is from the United States and Kaisa is from Finland. What to do? Well, that is a long story, but we will tell you this, their wedding was a delight. Needless to say, they are thrilled to be able to create and perform together and to share their duo show with you all!
This event is theatre setting: doors at 7, show at 7.30 - late admission not guaranteed.
Please email us in advance of attending (mothandbutterflystories@gmail.com) if you have additional accessibility requirements.
Audience Age: 18+
SATURDAY, February 1st:
11am: Stories for Children / Scéalta do Pháistí
IN ASSOCIATION WITH TONNTA
WHEN: 11am - 12pm SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1st, 2025
WHERE: CHARLIE BYRNES BOOKSHOP,
THE CORN STORE, MIDDLE ST, GALWAY CITY
Join Storytellers Máirín Mhic Lochlainn (Connemara) and Dan Serridge (Glasgow) for a Magical morning of bi-lingual storytelling (Gaeilge agus Bearla) in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop!
Stories for Children, and their adults are also welcome! Admission Free. A collaboration between Tonnta and Moth & Butterfly Festivals.
FREE EVENT!
1pm: Connections
WHEN: 1 pm - 4 pm SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1st 2025
WHERE: BLUE TEAPOT THEATRE,
MUNSTER AVE, GALWAY CITY
This workshop is about finding deep, meaningful connections with others. The workshop does not concentrate on the scene work but instead explores the way we can feel, hear and see each other as human beings as well as performers and improvisers.
We will create a safe environment in which to explore and go through a shared experience. The actual content of the workshop will unfold during the workshop since it is very much depending on the unique group of people attending it. Later on we will share these experiences with others and discuss how they will have an impact on our work on stage too.
Participant Age: 18+
7pm: Moth & Butterfly Flagship Event
THE MOTH & BUTTERFLY FLAGSHIP STORYTELLING SHOW!
WHEN: 7-9.30pm SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1st, 2024
WHERE: BLUE TEAPOT THEATRE,
MUNSTER AVE, GALWAY CITY
Join the Moth & Butterfly Crew, special festival ensemble, and audience tellers for our flagship night of storytelling and improvisation.
The event combines true, folk and improvised tales, all told to the theme of 'Horizons'.
These nights have been described as 'truly magical arts night', and sell out fast, so booking is essential!
This event is theatre setting: doors at 7, show at 7.30 - late admission not guaranteed.
Please email us in advance of attending (mothandbutterflystories@gmail.com) if you have additional accessibility requirements.
Audience Age: 18+
SUNDAy, February 2nd:
12pm: Afternoon Story Walk
A delightful WALK AROUND GALWAY WITH a storyteller!
WHEN: 12 - 1pm SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd, 2025
WHERE: DETAILS TO FOLLOW
Join our storyteller as they guide you around Galway, with stories to discover and delight along the way!
*DETAILS TO FOLLOW & WEATHER-DEPENDENT *
12 pm: Common Sense - Adding Flavour to your Storytelling
WHEN: 12 - 2 pm SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd, 2025
WHERE: BLUE TEAPOT THEATRE
MUNSTER AVENUE, GALWAY CITY
Join International storyteller Peter Chand for this 2-hour workshop where he will be guiding you to add aroma, taste, texture and sound; to enable your story to really sizzle!
When we start using our senses with deeper understanding, our story can connect in a much deeper way. You will also get the chance to experience a variety of storytelling techniques, including use of memory and visualisation to help enhance your story, presentation, or educational process.
All levels of experience welcome, but a willingness to participate is a minimum requirement. Suitable for storytellers, writers, tour guides, teachers, and anyone who uses narrative in their work.
Participant Age: 18+
3pm: Feast of Fools
WHEN: 3-4pm SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd, 2025
WHERE: ATHENRY HERITAGE CENTRE,
THE SQUARE, ATHENRY, CO. GALWAY
Ever poured gravy into your hat? Eaten next to a Sultan? Had a dinner party with the devil? Well now’s your chance!
The Feast of Fools will make this happen and more in one of the most unusual feeds you’ll ever have. Join storyteller Daniel Serridge at his dinner table of foolishness as he regales you with tales of disgusting banquets, salubrious suppers and measly meals. Prepare to get wined, dined and unrefined.
Disclaimer: There will be no food served at this event and as a consequence you’ll leave starving or never
want to eat again.
“Throughout, our host is as quick-witted and captivating as any young audience demands.” – The List
“I strongly urge EVERYONE to go see it. It has been a LOOONG time since I saw a performer so engaging and genuinely captivating…A complex and intelligent mix of childlike enthusiasm and mischief with enough cheek to keep even the most cynical and festival worn adult literally at the edge of their seat. Truly a gifted performer…Go see him immediately” – Anonymous
Audience Age: 6+
5.30pm: Mangoes On The Beach
WHEN: 5.30-7.15pm SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd, 2025
WHERE: ROUGE RESTAURANT, DOMINIC STREET
1937. India is still under British Rule, and in a small village in the north, a ten year old boy dreams of a better life. A life of endless oppoutunity free from the shackles of the caste system which has imprisoned his family for as long as anyone can remember.
British Indian Storyteller Peter Chand has taken the story of his parent's journey from the Punjab to England in the 1950's and seamlessly woven it with traditional Indian Folktales. The result is a unique performance that is moving, witty and thoughtful, delivered with great skill by one of Europe's most accomplished storytellers.
This little known story of migration has stirred audiences the length and breadth of Britain, and also in Greece, Canada, Austria and the Netherlands, and Moth & Butterfly are thrilled to bring it to Galway.
'He's a bridge between two cultures and two generations...I was spellbound' ~ Kim Normanton, BBC Radio 4
Doors at 5.30, show at 6.00, late admission not guaranteed.
Audience Age: 18+
8pm: The Big Story Circle
Join the ensemble and audience as we celebrate the last event of the festival!
WHEN: 8-9.30pm SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd, 2025
WHERE: ROUGE RESTAURANT, DOMINIC STREET
*NO ADVANCE BOOKING - DONATIONS AT THE DOOR*
Join us for The Big Story Circle! Come and Listen, come and tell, come and do both!
At the Story Circle we will share a short (5-7 min) story. All styles of storytelling are welcome! Those wishing to tell can sign up on entry.
Doors at 7.45pm. Admission is by donation/pay what you wish and donations are accepted at the door.
Priority seating will be offered to audience members from the previous show.
This is an over 18's event after 9pm, as the venue is a licensed premises.
*ADMISSION BY DONATION*
THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL:
Embracing Place - A Conversation
an online conversation about the place we live,
WHEN: AVAILABLE TO WATCH 30th JANUARY - 6th FEBRUARY, 2025
WHERE: ONLINE
*BOOKING REQUIRED - TICKETS BY DONATION*
Join ecologist Anja Murray, content creator Jane Casey, and storyteller Órla Mc Govern, for a lively conversation about the importance of stories in place, in our creative and actual landscape.
This is an online event. Booking by donation.
The Story Trail
An interactive listening TRAIL THROUGH THE PUBS OF GALWAY
WHEN: 30th JANUARY - 6th FEBRUARY, 2025
WHERE: CLICK BELOW FOR MAP
*FREE EVENT*
(DONATIONS APPRECIATED)
We asked a number of Galway City residents to give us their stories about Galway, from true stories to folk tales to myth and legend. Stories are placed in Galway Pubs, and are paired with a drink for your listening pleasure!
MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!
PLEASE USE OUR HASHTAG WHEN SHARING:
#mothandbutterflystories25
Thank you to our funders:
Our Festival Partners:
And our sponsors:
