Down

Recreate the summer steam train excursion of yester-year with our steam train along the edge of Belfast Lough. This summer excursion on Saturday 25^th May will offer passengers steam train travel from Bangor station to Belfast Central station and return. For the historically minded, the steam train will offer a unique chance to travel south from Bangor on the former Belfast and County Down Railway line to Belfast. Departure times: Bangor Station 13:35;  Belfast Central 15:15.  For all our County Down events click HERE.

Tyrone

The Factory Girls comes to the Burnavon Cookstown on Thursday 23^rd May. It tells the story of five women facing the threat of redundancy, who stage a lock-in in a shirt factory in Co. Donegal when faced with losing their jobs.  The characters are five strong and independent women: Ellen, Una, Vera, Rosemary and Rebecca who take on the boss and the union. These “girls” may never get back their jobs, but their brief adventure has brought each of them the insight that will give them the courage to soldier on. Described as a truly realistic play filled with humour, charm, fine acting and staging, this is a heart-warming play that will tug at every emotion.    For all our County Tyrone listings click  HERE.

Fermanagh

The Puppet Lab presents EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM at the Ardowen Theatre on Wednesday 22nd May.  Adapted from the book by Janet and Allen Ahlberg, Each Peach Pear Plum is set in a delightful green meadow with a river running through it, songs and music bring a variety of nursery rhyme characters to life on their way to Mother Hubbard’s for some Plum Pie.  This performance is suitable for children aged 3+ and their families.  For all our County Fermanagh listings click  HERE.

Derry

Tamlaght O’Crilly Vintage Rally Group are holding their annual Vintage Fair and Rally on Saturday 25th May 2013 from 12pm-4pm.  There will be music by Fiddler Adam, Simon Peters and others, as well as animals and retriever dogs on show. With a variety of stalls, games, bouncy castle,  huge display of vintage vehicles and tractors there is something for all the family. There will also be free craft and cookery workshops, health checks and advisory services. Admission £5.  For all our County Derry/Londonderry listings click HERE.

Armagh

The May bank holidays at Armagh Planetarium are out of this world. Join in on Monday 27th May for the Planet Aliens workshop where you will design and make your very own model alien with the help of the fantastic Emerald Garrison sculptors.  The Emerald Garrison will also be demonstrating how they have created some of their amazing props and sets using clay.  This is a hands-on workshop where you will get the opportunity to create your own unique sculpture to take home. Each workshop will last approximately 40 minutes where fun is guaranteed for all the family. All we ask is that you use your imagination!  For all our County Armagh listings click HERE.

Antrim

Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival, an exciting new annual celebration of our rich local maritime history, culture, music, and food will take place between 24th May and 2nd June 2013, located on the stunningly beautiful landscapes and waters between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island on the spectacular north coast of Ireland, right in the heart of the Causeway Coast and Glens.  With on the water and seaside based ‘get involved’ activities including kayaking, diving, paddleboarding, surfing and more, historic and modern sea craft, dinghy and yacht racing, competitions, local and historic talks, tours, guided walks, open days and exhibitions there will be something to interest everyone including plenty of family friendly activities. The Festival will also include a special seafood themed food and craft market with cookery demonstrations, and a Can’t Cook Won’t Cook challenge by local Councillors. Local cafes, bars and restaurants will also be offering special menus and events throughout the event to celebrate our unique food offering. In the evenings there will be a wealth of entertainment to choose from including music, drama and films including great local, national and international singers and bands. For all County Antrim listings click HERE.

Belfast

As the city gets set for summer, Belfast is playing host to some magnificent ships that have sailed the high seas at the Belfast Titanic Maritime Festival, 25-27 May. The festival will celebrate the city’s unique maritime heritage alongside Titanic activities that will include tours, talks, exhibitions and drama as well as family friendly entertainment and music throughout the three days.  For all our Belfast events listings click HERE.

Ilex has joined Invest NI and DCAL as a principal sponsor of EBN Congress, the biggest international innovation conference in Northern Ireland this year, which is being organised by NORIBIC (Northern Ireland Business and Innovation Centre).

Matt McNulty, Interim Chair of Ilex and Dr Bernard Toal, Chief Executive of NORIBIC, were pictured making the announcement.

Dr Bernard Toal, chief executive of NORIBIC says that given Ilex’s strategic role in the economic growth of North West, Ilex’s support is particularly welcome.

“The congress focuses on the three key areas of the ‘One Plan’ for the regeneration of the city that Ilex has driven – social innovation, cultural innovation and digital innovation. So Ilex’s support for the congress is both extremely welcome and very significant,” he adds.

Matt McNulty, Interim Chair of Ilex added: “Ilex is delighted to support the EBN Congress in Derry~Londonderry.  Not only will this conference draw people from around the world to the city, it will positively promote its regeneration in line with our ambition of the One Plan. It will also project the city as a location of choice for investment and will have a substantial economic impact, generating over £700,000 for the local economy.”

Topping the programme for the three day conference (29^th-31^st May) will be Steve Wozniak, who has been a Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for more than thirty years.  In 1976, Wozniak co-founded Apple Computer Inc with Steve Jobs, helping to shape the computing industry with his design of Apple’s first line of products.

EBN Congress 2013 will include a series of events and exhibitions including the Digital, Cultural and Social Innovation networking Villages.  It will begin on 29^th May with a civic reception hosted by the Mayor of Derry, followed by a cultural welcome event in the Craft Village.  The Millennium Forum will then stage the main conference on 30^th and 31^st May with a Gala Dinner and Concert showcasing many local acts at The Venue at Ebrington on the Thursday evening (30^th May).

Further information about EBN Congress is available at: www.noribic.com/ebncongress

Ilex urc was established to promote the physical, economic and social regeneration of Derry~Londonderry and has specific responsibility to manage and re-develop former military base Ebrington (26 acres) www.ilex-urc.com

“Still the sexiest and funniest show in town”

Evening Standard

THE NEW 40^th ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION OF

THE LEGENDARY MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA IS COMING

TO THE MILLENNIUM FORUM

2 – 7 SEPTEMBER 2013

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

The Rocky Horror Show 40th Anniversary production is coming to the Millennium Forum between 2 – 7 September as part of its year-long run. Ben Forster, who won the ITV1 series Superstar and then went on to play the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar, will star as Brad. West End actor Oliver Thornton, who has appeared in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Phantom Of the Opera, Les Miserables, Chicago and Starlight Express, stars as the lead character Frank ‘n’ Furter. Philip Franks, from The Darling Buds of May and Heartbeat, plays the Narrator.

Since its first appearance at the Royal Court Theatre in June 1973, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show has become the world’s favourite Rock N’ Roll musical. It has been performed worldwide for nearly 40 years in over 30 countries in every continent and has been translated into more than 20 languages. To celebrate the 40^th anniversary, Christopher Luscombe has created a new production for a year-long UK tour.

This musical extravaganza will feature all of its famous musical classics including “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit Janet” and of course, the timeless floor-filler, “The Time-Warp”.

The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank ’n’ Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house, whilst on their way to visit their former college professor. It is an adventure they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks, and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits. Directed by Christopher Luscombe, The Rocky Horror Show is a guaranteed party, which famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music and encourages audience participation meaning, of course, getting dressed in your most outrageous fancy dress.

Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show is the boldest bash of them all. Be warned, this show has rude parts!

The Rocky Horror Show performs at the Millennium Forum from Mon 2^nd to Sat 7^th September.  Tickets are now available from the Box Office.  Telephone 71 264455 or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.

“ONE OF THE BEST STAND-UP COMICS OUT THERE…PACKED WITH DEFT SILLINESS AND SHREWD OBSERVATION” Guardian

Alan Davies - photograph courtesy of Tony Briggs

Following the phenomenal success of the Australian and UK Tours of Life Is Pain in 2012 (his first live Stand-up show for more than a decade), a critically acclaimed tour of New Zealand and two nights at London’s Hammersmith Apollo earlier this year, Alan Davies – the much-loved star of iconic television series such as Jonathan Creek and QI – will tour the UK again this Autumn due to popular demand.

Alan began his career in stand-up comedy in 1988 and was runner-up in the City Limits New Act of the Year contest 1989. He was named Time Out Best Young Comic in 1991 and made his network television debut on Tonight with Jonathan Ross in 1992. In 1993 two appearances on C4’s Viva Cabaret led to a nomination for a British Comedy Award as Best Newcomer.

In 1994 he won an Edinburgh Festival Critics Award for Comedy and a Perrier Award Nomination and the show was released on VHS as Live At The Lyric. The following year he appeared at the Montreal, Melbourne and Auckland Comedy Festivals and was nominated for a British Comedy Award as Best Stand-Up Comedian..

In 1996 he took the eponymous role of Jonathan Creek, written by David Renwick. The show ran for 14 years and has been seen by audiences worldwide. A special episode was filmed earlier this year and is due to be transmitted this Easter.

His 1998 show, Urban Trauma ran at the Duchess Theatre before touring the UK and was recorded for a DVD and shown on BBC1 with a documentary series about the tour, Stand-Up with Alan Davies.

In 2001 Alan took the role of Bob in Russel T.Davies’ Bob & Rose for which he was awarded Best Actor in a Drama at the Monte Carlo Television Awards.

In 2002, he starred in Auntie and Me by Morris Panych for another sell-out season at Edinburgh before transferring to the Wyndham’s Theatre for a four month West End run. That same year Alan took part in a comedy pilot hosted by Stephen Fry. QI has subsequently run every year since 2003.

The lead role in two series of the ITV1 legal drama, The Brief, followed, and in 2009 Penguin published his first book, My Favourite People 1978-1988 which was adapted into a three part documentary series for Channel 4 called Teenage Revolution (also the title for the paperback).

In 2010 he took the lead role of chef Roland White in the BBC2 sitcom Whites and in 2011 Alan co-wrote and starred in a short film for Sky One as part of their Little Crackers Christmas season before returning to Australia for a successful tour of QI Live followed by a sell-out tour of his new stand-up show, Life Is Pain.

Alan’s performance of Life Is Pain was recorded at HMV Hammersmith Apollo earlier this year and will be released on DVD in November 2013.

Alan Davies performs at the Millennium Forum on Sat 30^th November. Tickets are now available from the Box Office.  Telephone 71 264455 or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.

Millennium Forum – Mon 17^th to Sat 22^nd June

For over 50 years, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap has been the world’s longest running stage production. The first ever tour of the record-breaking production opened on 11 September 2012 in Canterbury and will tour through 2013 due to unprecedented demand. It arrives at the Millennium Forum for one week only on Monday 17^th May.

The cast for the second leg of the tour includes: Steven France (Eastenders, The Bill) as Christopher Wren, Karl Howman (Brush Strokes) as Mr Paravicini, Bruno Langley (Coronation Street, Doctor Who) as Giles Ralston, Graham Seed (Yes, Prime Minister UK Tour, BBC Radio 4’s The Archers) as Major Metcalf and Jemma Walker (Family Affairs, Eastenders) as Mollie Ralston. Elizabeth Power (EastEnders) as Mrs Boyle and Clare Wilkie (Eastenders) will play Miss Casewell.  Bob Saul will reprise his West End role as Sgt Trotter.

This classic murder mystery play is now in its 60^th year in London’s West End. Agatha Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard welcomed the audience for this diamond jubilee celebratory evening, which was also the 25,000^th performance.

Mousetrap Productions has licensed 60 productions of The Mousetrap world-wide to mark the 60^th year. During this period the world’s longest running show will be seen in every continent, with professional productions scheduled for Australia, China, Korea, Turkey, South Africa, Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Scandinavia, Venezuela, and across the United States and Canada.

The Mousetrap performs at the Millennium Forum from Mon 17^th to Sat 22^nd June.  Tickets are now available from the Box Office.  Telephone 71 264455 or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.