The Land of a Hundred Little Hills: Our New Production

Ceol Connected have been in the midst of development for The Land of a Hundred Little Hills, a music filled co-production that is inspired by Patrick Kavanagh’s A Christmas Childhood. The Land of a Hundred Little Hills is unique gig theatre experience for young audiences commissioned by the Patrick Kavanagh Centre and Monaghan County Council and co-produced with the National Concert Hall and Draíocht Arts Centre, with funding from the Arts Council.

A Christmas Childhood was a natural starting point to develop a show for children that is inspired by Kavanagh’s work. The poem is packed with imagery and meaning that has the power to intrigue and delight children; from dancing stars in the morning east, to the tracks of cattle to a drinking place, to the winking glitter of a frosty dawn. In A Christmas Childhood, the memories of a young child at Christmas are intimately connected to nature, are imbued with music and mystery, and we observe how the ordinary can become extraordinary in the eyes of a young child.

The Land of a Hundred Little Hills takes these themes and threads them through a story about a young boy whose life is full of wonder, fantastical adventures, and a deep connection with the world around him. However, after growing up moving and away from home, he somehow loses his wonder along the way. It is only upon returning home that he begins to remember and truly understand what he has lost. Can he reconnect with the magic and joy of childhood once again? Can his childhood book of memories help him to rediscover his sense of wonder?

Thanks so much to Draíocht Arts Centre for supporting our ongoing development of ‘The Land of a Hundred Little Hills’. Check out some photos from our recent development & rehearsals in November/December 2022.

Behind the Scenes at Draíocht Arts Centre (Nov/Dec 2022)