Twenty young Waterford thespians are preparing for the trip of a lifetime to next month's World Festival of Children's Theatre in Japan. Little Red Kettle, the children's theatre company, has already received national recognition for its work. It is one of 22 groups selected from 76 applicants taking part in the festival in Toyama.
A play first produced by the company in 1996, The Four Euclids Of Squid And The Festival Of Imagination And Wild Fancy, was the only one from Britain and Ireland selected to be performed at this year's event.
This is also the first time Ireland has been represented at the prestigious festival since it was established nine years ago.
Today is the final full day of rehearsals for the young actors, aged from nine to 12, before the play begins a week-long run at the Garter Lane theatre tomorrow.
Written and directed by Liam Meagher and Ben Hennessy, the play is described as a huge celebration of the legendary world, featuring characters and creatures such as the Trojan Horse, Humpty Dumpty, Unicorn, Darth Vader, Yellow Submarine, Medusa, the Children of Lir and Huckleberry Finn.
Ms Mary Boland, the director of children's programmes at Little Red Kettle, says the invitation to participate in Japan is a major boost for the company, which was a recent winner at the Irish Times/ESB theatre awards.
As well as performing at the nine-day festival, the Waterford children will participate in Japanese dance and art workshops.
The Japanese ambassador to Ireland, Ms Kazuko Yokoo, will attend tomorrow night's opening at Garter Lane.
Ms Boland stresses that the play is not just for children. "It's for everybody from eight to 100."