Footsbarn Theatre – the renowned international touring theatre company – is bringing its production of The Crock Of Gold to Baile na bPoc (Ballynabuck) on the Dingle Peninsula from August 18–22. The shows, based on the novel by Irish author James Stephens, feature original music by Glen Hansard and Brendan Begley, who will both be on hand to perform the compositions each night.

The performances of The Crock of Gold will be followed by concerts inside the Footsbarn Tent from a star-studded selection of musical guests, including:

• August 18: Rónán Ó Snodaigh & Myles O’Reilly with guests The Messages
• August 19: Glen Hansard with guests Lemoncello
• August 20: Interference with guest Sadie Jemmett
• August 21: Junior Brother with guests Stephen James Smith and Zoe Hayter
• August 22: The Ó Beaglaoich Family + Friends (there will be no theatre performance of The Crock Of Gold on this night)

"I’m delighted to be travelling and playing with these wild Bards and Thespians once more!" Hansard remarked on Instagram. "We’ll move through the country in August. Footsbarn Theatre do things in the old tradition of raising the tent in the village, going out into the streets to drum up interest, then performing in the evening to the villagers. If you’ve ever seen Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, it’s akin to the travelling players in that film.

"This year they have adapted James Stephen’s wild Irish mythical novel The Crock of Gold for the tent. Myself and the giant that is Breandán Begley have written songs and music and we’ll be part of the show. Playing along from the side. We’ve invited guest musicians to come give intimate concerts each night also. So if you happen to be in The Kerry area near Dingle, in Seamus Begley’s field to be exact! The very edge of Ireland in early August we’d love to see you there! Or in Galway in August too, or at Electric Picnic. If you feel like playing, or helping erect the tent or take it down we’d much appreciate it! Support independent theatre, support your local crazy big hearted bards!"

Following the Dingle stop, Footsbarn heads to Galway’s Blackbox Theatre (August 26–27 )and Electric Picnic (September 2–4).

For tickets, see here – and watch Myles O'Reilly's footage of Footsbarn Theatre's production of The Crock of Gold, shot in France in 2021, below:

Revisit our interview with Glen Hansard from the Hot Press Annual 2022 here.