Clodagh Mooney Duggan from The Ark introduces the Dublin Theatre Festival presentations for (very!) little people this October at the popular children's cultural centre.
This year, as The Ark turns 30, it's celebrating its 30 years of partnership with Dublin Theatre Festival with an exciting new step - theatre for babies.
Founded in 1995, The Ark's vision has always been the arts for every child. Now, for the first time, it has extended that invitation to audiences aged 0+.
This year we're presenting Univers, a 40-minute multisensory performance designed especially for babies and their grown-ups. With lush live music, stunning visuals and beautiful performances, the production gives even the youngest audience the chance to experience the joy of theatre.
For grownups, it is a rare opportunity for uninterrupted time with their baby in a place designed for them.
"We've been inspired by our international colleagues", says Director Aideen Howard. "So we have begun this journey of programming for babies by inviting and presenting some international work, and we are very excited to have this beautiful piece."
Accessibility is also central to The Ark's mission, and this season also includes Beyond Universe, a specially adapted version of the show for children with complex needs. In a gentle sensory environment, performers use music, objects, and visuals to create a cosmos where children can explore this nonverbal work at their own pace.
While babies are a focus this year, The Ark is also presenting work for older children as part of Dublin Theatre Festival's Theatre for Children season.
For ages 4–8, Leaves is a world premiere from Galway company Branar, based on Stephen Hogtun’s picture book. Told without words through puppetry, Maeve Clancy’s delicate design and Colm Mac Con Iomaire’s original score, the piece follows an old oak tree in its final year as it nurtures a young sapling, with playful help from some squirrels.
For ages 7+, The Little Prince invites children and families into Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s timeless tale. In a spellbinding solo performance, poet Toby Thompson captures the novella’s poetic spirit, asking audiences to look at the world with their hearts. With ISL-interpreted, audio-described, relaxed and captioned shows, it continues The Ark’s commitment to accessibility.
The Ark’s 2025 season reflects its purpose: to realise children’s right to art and culture with ambition and joy.
For thirty years, we've championed children’s right to art and culture, guided by values of dreaming big, having fun, thinking ahead, opening hearts and minds, and showing kindness. Univers, is a chance to start this from birth.
This October, from birth to 12, The Ark’s Dublin Theatre Festival programme has something for everyone.
Find out more about The Ark's Dublin Theatre Festival programme for children here
