Cruinniú na nÓg is Ireland’s national day of free creativity for children and young people under 18, and this year it takes place on Saturday 7 June 2025.
Here at An Grianán we’ll be celebrating all things youth theatre with performances and workshops all afternoon starting at 12 noon.
All events are free admission on the door – however we do advise pre-booking for the Youth Theatre Ireland Taster workshop as places are limited.
The Schedule:
One Ted Falls Out of the Bed
An Grianán Youth Theatre
12pm and 12.40pm
Our junior cast ages 7 to 12 perform their adaptation of the children’s storybook in the foyer. When Ted falls out of bed, three tearaway mice whisk him off on a breathtaking adventure. They zoom around in fast cars, go on a balloon ride and climb a building-block mountain. It’s all very exciting, but will Ted ever get back to his bed?
Comedy Club
An Grianán Youth Theatre
1pm to 1.30pm
Our 10-12 year olds will present a series of short comedy sketches in the foyer at An Grianán Theatre from 1pm-1.30pm.
Youth Theatre Island
3pm
Presented by Youth Theatre Ireland in partnership with Theatre and Dance NI
Featuring performances from An Grianán Youth Theatre, Sligo Youth Theatre and Kildare Youth Theatre. The show will last around one hour and each youth theatre will perform for 10-15 minutes each. These plays have been devised or written for and by young performers. The age range for these performances is 12+ and is a great chance to see what youth theatre is all about.
Youth Theatre Ireland Taster Workshop
4.30pm
A one hour workshop suitable for young people ages 12-18 who are currently not in a youth theatre or involved in the creative arts.
What Is Youth Theatre, and Why Come?
Youth Theatre provides young people with the chance to participate in an activity that will positively shape their development as confident, creative and articulate people with the desire and the tools to succeed in life. 80% of youth theatre members say participation in
youth theatre helped them to become more confident.
Youth Theatre gives young people a safe space to express themselves, be heard, be who they are, make new friends, and most importantly, have fun!
About Cruinniú na nÓg
Ireland is the first, and only, country in the world to have a national day of free creativity for children and young people under 18. Cruinniú na nÓg is a flagship initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme’s Creative Youth Plan to enable the creative potential of children and young people. The inaugural Cruinniú na nÓg took place on 23rd June 2018 and for the past number of years, including under exceptional circumstances in 2020, young people and families have come together to enjoy, a wide range of creative activities including workshops and tutorials to recitals and readings in every city, town and village across the country. Delivered in partnership with the 31 Local Authorities and supported by RTÉ, you are invited to participate in a programme of fun, free, creative activities; from graffiti art workshops to stop-motion animation, to coding and architecture workshops!
