Splashing in puddles, wind whipping your hair, crunching frost under your feet, and rain dripping on your nose – now that’s a grand soft day. A playful show about always being prepared even though you do not know what the day will bring.

Commissioned by The Ark, Grand Soft Day is a predominantly non-verbal piece that combines physical storytelling, live music and colourful wellies, performed by Greg Hall, Helen Gregg, Jonathan Gunning and Linda Scaramella.

It is an international co-production from the award-winning teams of Branar (Ireland) and New International Encounter (UK/Norway).

Branar is one of Ireland’s leading theatre companies making work for children. Based in the West of Ireland, Branar is renowned for creating highly imaginative and beautiful work. The company tours nationally and internationally, bringing its work with equal enthusiasm to leading arts venues as to local schools in Galway, Ireland.

Branar is committed to reaching its audience, wherever they are. Branar’s aim is to install not just wildness inside audiences but wonder, joy, curiosity and compassion. Established in 2001, New International Encounter (NIE) is an international theatre company that creates award-winning shows and participation projects with young people through a mix of physical theatre, multiple languages, live music, storytelling and a European ensemble.

The core of the group is made up of 20 artists from Norway, the UK, Poland, Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain, Denmark and France. NIE creates spellbinding theatre, which has been performed in over 25 countries on 4 continents, from New York to Shanghai, and Berlin to Sydney.

Supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Arts Council England, Culture Ireland, Galway City Council and Foras na Gaeilge.