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family · Saturday 1 August 2026 · 2:00pm 
George Bernard Shaw Theatre Family Summer Show
At George Bernard Shaw Theatre · Old Dublin Road, Carlow Town, Co. Carlow
At George Bernard Shaw Theatre · Old Dublin Road, Carlow Town, Co. Carlow
A Saturday afternoon at the theatre is one of the best ways to break up the long stretch of the school summer holidays, and this family production at the George Bernard Shaw Theatre gives children in Carlow something to genuinely look forward to. Live performance holds young audiences differently to a screen - the energy in a 335-seat theatre, the costumes, the fact that the actors are right there - and VISUAL’s summer family programme has built a reliable reputation for getting that right. Whether you have toddlers or older primary schoolers in tow, an afternoon show at a dedicated theatre is a different kind of day out.
The George Bernard Shaw Theatre sits inside VISUAL, Carlow’s flagship arts centre on the Old Dublin Road. The theatre itself holds 335 people and is a proper proscenium stage, not a hall or a community centre - acoustics, lighting and sightlines are all to a professional standard. The summer family show is a live production suitable for children and families, scheduled for 2:00pm on Saturday 1st August 2026. Productions in this slot have previously included musical theatre, children’s adaptations of classic stories and visiting touring companies from around Ireland. Shows typically run around one hour without an interval - a format well suited to younger audience members. Tickets start from €10, and family ticket prices may be available; it is worth checking with the box office when booking.
Carlow Town is easily reached from Dublin via the M7/M9 motorway - take Junction 4 and follow signs into town. The journey from Dublin is under an hour on a clear run. Bus Eireann services connect Carlow to Dublin, Waterford, Kilkenny and other towns, and Carlow Train Station is on the Dublin Heuston - Waterford line. VISUAL is only a five-minute walk from Carlow Train Station - exit the station and follow the road toward St. Leo’s College; the venue entrance is shortly on the left. From the bus station the walk is around ten minutes via Barrack Street. By car, Town Council pay parking is available at the Old Dublin Road entrance; evening parking after 6:30pm is complimentary. Accessible spaces are on site.
VISUAL itself is worth arriving early for - the contemporary art galleries are free to enter and open Tuesday to Saturday, so you can look around before the show. Carlow Town is compact and easy to walk, with the River Barrow close by. There is more to see in Carlow and across Co. Carlow.
Heading to George Bernard Shaw Theatre in Carlow? Carlow has plenty more to see. Read the Carlow area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.