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family · Tuesday 7 July 2026 · 9:30am 
Wicked-ish Panto Camp at Watergate Theatre
At Watergate Theatre · Parliament Street, Kilkenny City, Co. Kilkenny
At Watergate Theatre · Parliament Street, Kilkenny City, Co. Kilkenny
A week of singing, dancing, and acting in one of Kilkenny’s most loved venues - the Watergate Theatre’s Wicked-ish Panto Camp is a full-immersion theatre experience for children who want to do more than just watch a show. Inspired by the spellbinding world of Wicked and delivered with a generous dose of panto sparkle, it is aimed at young performers who want to get on stage, learn from professionals, and create something of their own. There are two sessions: ages 6 to 10 run the week of 7 to 11 July, and ages 11 to 14 run the following week, 14 to 18 July. Both start at 9:30am.
Director Christine Scarry and Choreographer David Doyle lead each session, bringing proper theatrical experience into a camp setting. Children spend the week learning the building blocks of stage performance - singing, movement, and acting - while working towards their own theatrical interpretation of the Land of Oz. The structure mixes technique with play: it is not a passive workshop but a proper creative process with professional direction at its centre. The Watergate is a working professional theatre on Parliament Street in Kilkenny City, so participants spend the week in a real backstage-and-stage environment rather than a school hall. Spaces are limited, so booking early is the practical approach. Contact the box office at boxoffice@watergatetheatre.com or call 056 776 1674 (Wednesday to Saturday, 2 to 6pm) to check availability and confirm pricing for 2026.
Kilkenny City is well connected by road and rail. From Dublin, the M9 motorway brings you to the outskirts in under two hours. From Cork, Waterford or Limerick, the N25 and N24 connect directly. Irish Rail runs regular Intercity services from Dublin Heuston to Kilkenny MacDonagh Station, with the journey taking around 90 minutes. From the station, Parliament Street is a short walk into the city centre. Street parking is available throughout the city, with multi-storey car parks at Irishtown and at the Kilkenny Shopping Centre close by. The theatre itself sits in the centre of the medieval city, which makes drop-off convenient for parents.
If you are bringing children for the camp, Kilkenny City gives you a full day’s worth of things to do while you wait. Kilkenny Castle and its grounds are minutes away, and the medieval mile of lanes and abbeys keeps all ages occupied. There is more to see in Kilkenny and across Co. Kilkenny.
Heading to Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny? Kilkenny has plenty more to see. Read the Kilkenny area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.