That's Life Magic Garden Festival

Over many years, That's Life has developed a model of interactive theatre which draws on multisensory elements, using touch, sound, music and interactive props, which has become known as The Magic Garden Festival. Our goal is to engage people of all levels of ability supported by the Brother's of Charity, creating a show which is very visual, and involves the audience every step of the way. That’s Life commissions a cast of professional actors and musicians, as well as puppet makers and set designers to develop each event. The goal is to provide a fully immersed environment, where the participants are able to engage with the performers within each scene of the story or installation. Adults with ID are also involved in the creative process, working with art facilitators to paint and build props for the yearly spectacle.

Stills from this years Magic Garden Festival production - The Octopus's Wedding Photo Credit - Geoff Allan

The Octopuses Wedding is the festival's latest production, a promenade-style outdoor show staged at the walled garden at Kilcornan House, Clarinbridge. This venue has hosted the Magic Garden Festival for the last three years. The show was a huge success with each performance sold out. The cast performed two shows per day for five days, engaging over three hundred adults with ID plus their support staff

The Octopus's Wedding - Magic Garden Festival 2023

Do you like a good party?! The Chieftain of the Giants invites you to the unforgettable Octopus's Wedding, a unique and immersive outdoor experience.

Follow 'The Jellyfish Babies' wedding band as they journey through the Kilcornan Islands to reach the ceremony. Encounter fascinating characters, sing along to lively tunes, and explore the underwater realm of the Octopus and his mysterious bride-to-be.

Prepare yourself for an action-packed adventure filled with music, celebration, and surprises.

Club Tropicana

On Wednesday evening, we entertained a crowd of over 200 people at 'Club Tropicana', our renowned clubbing and live music event for adults with intellectual disability and their friends. This extraordinary gathering brings together a talented team of musicians, DJs, and performers with ID. Club Tropicana provides a fantastic opportunity for individuals to enjoy a night out, socialize, and dance the night away in style. The highlight of our social calendar, Club Tropicana is truly unique event with an atmosphere of pure celebration.

It was a night not to be missed!

One important aspect of Club Tropicana is the art which is created to decorate the space for the event. That’s Life run a series of making workshops in the lead up to the event involving various groups of adults with ID over the course of eight weeks. In this way we can bring together aspects of our visual art programme to coincide with the production and installation for Club Tropicana. In these making workshops we engage with adults of different levels of ability and find this format of working together of a theme to be most inclusive. In this model of working we are able to create tasks for people which are well matched with their level of ability, and yet everyone is working toward a shared goal.

The event itself was a big success with over 200 attendees. That’s Life players with ID performed with Electric Dreams band, and DJs with ID from Bounce kept the dancefloor full. Galway band Lewd Tunes also performed on the night, with a special appearance from the large octopus puppet from the show!