Children’s theatre company, Branar will bring its show Grand Soft Day to the University of Galway’s O’Donoghue Centre from December 5-17, before it travels to New York in January when it will have its US premiere at the New Victory Theatre  on 42nd Street.

A playful show for all seasons, about the ever-changing weather and about always being prepared for the unexpected, Grand Soft Day was commissioned by The Ark Children’s Cultural Centre in Dublin, and premiered at the 2022 Dublin Theatre Festival.

It’s a mostly non-verbal piece that combines physical storytelling, live music and colourful wellies as it celebrates the wonder of the world around us.

Performed by Greg Hall, Helen Gregg, Jonathan Gunning and Linda Scaramella, the show is for children aged between two and six years and is a co-production between Branar and New International Encounter (UK/Norway).

Grand Soft Day followed its debut outing at the 2022 Dublin Theatre Festival with a sellout run at Baboró International Arts Festival for Children that October. In all, it was performed to more than 2,000 children across five venues in Ireland last year.

In January, Grand Soft Day will play for a fortnight in New York’s leading children’s venue, the New Victory Theatre, on Broadway. This prestigious space hosts the world’s best theatre for children and Branar is proud to fly the flag for Galway and Ireland, explains its founder and artistic director, Marc Mac Lochlainn,

Pictured: Jonathan Gunning, Linda Scaramella and Helen Gregg embrace the changing weather. PHOTO: ANITA MURPHY.