The award winning world of Nicole and Martin returns to Ireland for the second time with 3 days of performances in Castlebar. With them they bring to the Harlequin Centre Car Park, (beside boots) the renowned White Tent and a plethora of canvas and wood marquee that are nestled together creating a magical world of tents, flags and lights, old-fashioned circus caravans, and modern glossy-red horse power.  
 
Inside The White Tent the world of theatre and Grimms fairy-tales comes to life. Ancient folk tales take on a new guise with the unique storytelling style of the talented Swiss-French duo Nicole and Martin. Children and adults alike are taken on a journey to another world. The stories are played out with a colourful mix of words, music, song, dance, juggling and acrobatics. The extraordinarily high quality of the productions and the breathtaking skill of the artists opens a door on these wonderful tales to reveal not only the exuberance of their telling but their hidden wisdom.
 
The Musicians of Bremen (19th July @ 7pm)
A donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster are old and tired and no longer fulfill their master’s expectations. A tragic end seems unavoidable. So the four animals decide to escape. They set off for Bremen, where they intend to start a new life as town musicians. But on the path through the forest they discover a robbers’ hideout. Drawing on all their forces (and with an almighty hullabaloo) the animals chase the robbers from the house, and celebrate their success with a big feast. The animals are so happy in their new house will they ever make it to Bremen?
 
The Fisherman and his Wife (20th July @ 7pm)
The fisherman sits and waits for a fish to bite. And to his amazement the fish that he catches is an enchanted one: one that grants the fisherman and his wife many wishes. What their wishes are you will find out from the fisherman’s repeated, and repeated, and repeated trips to the sea...! This play is an exciting journey from one wish to the next until the biggest wish of them all.

The Girl Without Hands (Irish Premier) (21st July @ 7pm)
A poor Miller meets a stranger in the forest who makes him the following proposition: “Give me only what’s behind your mill and I will make you rich, very rich.” There isn’t anything behind my Mill, thinks the Miller, apart from an old apple tree. He accepts the terms. But oh, he should not have. Behind his Mill his daughter had been sweeping. The pact with the devil signed and sealed, the fate will fall on the Girl. How will she manage to escape it?

Tickets for each show are €15 and are available from the Royal Theatre Box Office on 0818 300 000 or 094 90 23111. Family tickets (2+2) cost €45. For further information please check the Royal Theatre website on: www.royaltheatre.ie or www.ticketmaster.ie