A mini ‘Big Top’ is to be placed at the top of Jenkin’s Lane in Waterford City inside which visitors will step into a world of pure imagination and the story of Narnia will unfold in a magical way before their eyes.
Festivalgoers will step through the Winterval wardrobe and be transported to a spectacular adaptation of the C.S. Lewis classic 'The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe'. Beautifully accompanied by Christmas melodies, this ground-breaking one-hour show will leave you enchanted from the beginning, captivated throughout and gripping your seats as you cheer for Aslan.
Festival Co-Director Trevor Darmody says, “Broken Theatre and Winterval have created an extraordinary show filled with jaw-dropping acrobatic displays, aerial performances, fire breathing and fire throwing as the audience is taken on a thrilling journey through the story of Narnia culminating in a dramatic closing battle scene. Festivalgoers will be thrilled and mesmerised by this pioneering street theatre spectacular. It’s certainly going to be a highlight at this year’s festival.”
‘A Narnia Christmas’ is aimed at families and is suitable for young children. 1 hour performances will take place each Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the festival with 2 shows each Friday, 4.30pm and 7.30pm and at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm each Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available at www.winterval.ie
In addition, there is a feast of live entertainment at Winterval 2023. The Winterval Main Stage at Gladstone Street will host 21 days of live free performances from choirs, fun children's Christmas discos, shadow puppetry shows by Ben Hennessey, and an array of live musicians. One of the highlights at this year's main stage will be a live shadow puppet show from Ben Hennessy, ‘FIACHR AND THE WINTER ELK’ which will be performed each weekend of Winterval from November 25th until December 11th at 6pm, 6.40pm and 7.20pm.
At Garter Lane Theatre HELP SAVE SANTA’S MAGIC live adventure show where all the boys and girls in the audience can go on an adventure to help Sam and Ella find Santa’s lost magic red sack. The evil Jack Frost and his army (well 3 anyway) of Frosties have stolen Santa’s bag. Santa has no magic without his special red sack and Christmas will never be the same again! Ella and Sam are having none of it!! But they can’t do it alone, help them out at these 1 hour live shows on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 24th to December 10th.
At the House of Waterford, a wonderful winter music series is on offer from Saturday, Nov 25th and this will run every Saturday & Sunday until Dec 23rd. These free lunchtime recitals will take place in their showroom from 1pm to 4 pm where festival goers can enjoy some of Waterford’s most talented musicians while surrounded by crystal masterpieces over a warming lunch with friends in the Waterford Café or make your afternoon even more special by indulging in glass of champagne from the newly opened Waterford Bar.All the fun of Winterval commences on November 17th with the arrival of Santa Claus to the City and the switching on of the Christmas lights. The Winterval firm favourites will be on offer across the city until December 23rd, from the ice rink on the city’s Quayside to the Elf workshops, Polish Christmas, Santa’s VR sleigh ride, helter-skelter, helicopter trips with Santa, festive river cruises aboard the Barrow Princess and more. There will also be a brand new Lego exhibition and workshops, a 360 video booth, a Winterval Book of Love, Candlelight music sessions in the city’s 13th-century undercrofts, Yuletide scenes at Christ Church Cathedral and more.
Winterval is supported by Waterford City and County Council as well as a host of other local, national and international businesses, all of whom have a keen interest in Waterford and the Southeast region; including Bausch + Lomb as returning sponsors of the reimagined Winterval Illuminates light show; Glenveagh Homes have taken a two-year named sponsorship of the Glenveagh Christmas Market at Winterval; Expressway returns as the festival's official transport partners, as do City Square Shopping Centre as sponsors of Santa's Mini Express Train, and the Port of Waterford as named sponsors of the Port of Waterford Eye.
The full Winterval Festival programme is available to view and book online at www.winterval.ie
