Maeve Ingoldsby - an Irish children's theatre legend remembered

Barnstorm Theatre Company's Autumn production is The Bus, a work for young audiences written by the late Maeve Ingoldsby and Barnstorm's Artistic Director, Philip Hardy, and updated in 2024 by John Morton.

Set aboard the school bus, the play follows the progress of the new boy in class as he is faced with the politics of the bus, and the mischief and mayhem of those journeys.

"Many people will remember The Bus and Maeve Ingoldsby who was so involved in the development of Barnstorm over many years," says Philip Hardy who also directs the show.

"This new production is a celebration of her legacy and an exciting opportunity for us to visit the show again in memory of Maeve".

Below, Philip remembers Maeve, who passed away in 2021, and celebrates her life and work.

Maeve was great. She was gregarious, generous and outgoing - always pushing others into the limelight while quietly blending into the background herself.

She was one of Ireland's most prolific writers, working both individually and collaboratively. You've seen and heard her work, and probably never knew who created it.

We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

Listen: Sunday Miscellany - Thanksgiving, Irish Style by Maeve Ingoldsby

Her first TYA play was Firestone for Team Educational Theatre Company in 1990. She went on to write Earwigs, The Monkey Puzzle Tree and Out of Line for TEAM. Maeve then spent ten years as Writer in Residence and later Script Editor with Barnstorm Theatre Company in Kilkenny. She also wrote for The Project Arts Centre, The Civic Theatre, An Damer and Calypso Theatre Company. Maeve wrote seven Gaiety Theatre Pantos, and six pantomimes for The Performing Arts School Galway. Oh yes, she did!!!

Maeve worked extensively in schools, and with youth and adult groups facilitating drama and writing workshops all over Ireland.

We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

Listen: Drama On One - A Proper Da by Maeve Ingoldsby

Her longstanding engagement with Barnstorm started with Crabs in a Bucket, which she wrote following a playwriting workshop and series of devising sessions with their early Youth Theatre members. They would begin with a chat about children and their lot in Ireland and the stories/characters that might create a piece of theatre. Then sound out the children in schools and mix their ideas into the pot. In the end, Maeve would produce a first draft script that she called Pea Soup – thick and full of potential but not easy to navigate. Then the paring, refining and dramaturgy would ensue until there was a workable script.

Maeve continued working with Barnstorm and was hugely effective in supporting new and emerging writers through a series of projects like the Confinement Monologues, Love in Lockdown, and Bench Tales.

Her legacy lives on, not just in Barnstorm but within the Theatre for Young Audiences sector in Ireland.

The Bus is at the Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny until October 22nd - find out more here.