Ravara Productions is an amateur dramatic youth group working with young people aged 5-25 from all across the province.

Unlike any other theatre groups in Northern Ireland, Ravara is run entirely by young people, for young people. Vice-Chairman and Musical Director, Adam Darcy (20), explains, “A youth management committee and production team have a unique approach to producing theatre. The relationships between young directors and cast members allows for greater levels of collaboration, creativity and understanding throughout the artistic process”.

Only five years ago, a group of ten teenage theatre enthusiasts were amidst preparations for their first musical drama in the back garden of now Chairman, Jamie McClelland. Word quickly spread about the opportunities that were being provided to young people in this exclusive set-up, leading to continual growth in both membership and audiences. Ravara Productions swiftly moved from garden, to school hall, to the Waterfront Studio in 2013, for their critically acclaimed and sold out run of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’.

This year, Ravara Productions has decided to expand further with not one, but two ambitious productions in the pipeline. This decision will create more opportunities for all 200 volunteers to utilise their skills in a number of theatrical disciplines including music, acting, stage management, sound & lighting and set design.

For their junior members, aged 5-13, the Disney classic ‘Aladdin’ will be performed in Belvoir Players Studio from the 14th-16th of August.

The older members, aged 14-25, will stage the weird and wonderful ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ which includes classic songs such as ‘Skid Row’, ‘Dentist!’ (as performed by Steve Martin in the 1986 film version) and ‘Suddenly Seymour.’ The show, which tells the story of Seymour Krelborn and killer plant Audrey 2, will be suitable for all the family. Actor Ross White explains “Young kids love seeing the phenomenon that is a massive killer plant, and the zany comedy is brilliant for the older audiences. It is a light hearted show that promises to entertain.”

Indeed, describing Ravara Productions Audrey 2 as ‘massive’ is no exaggeration, as Local artist Jaymie Elliot (QUB graduate) has designed an Audrey 2 to rival any other. The 8x8ft monster can be seen at the Stranmillis College Theatre between 27th-31st of August.
(Tickets: http://www.ravaraproductions.com/tickets.html)

Today, Friday 1^st August, Armagh Gaol will re-open its doors to the public as a pop-up tourist attraction, for a limited time only.

The Gaol is earmarked for a major redevelopment, including the construction of a hotel and accommodation. This is the once in a lifetime opportunity to see the Gaol in its original state before work commences.

Tours of the Gaol will take place throughout the day each Friday and Saturday from 10am. Guided tours of the Gaol are conducted by experienced tour guides and visitors will be informed about the Gaol’s history that includes women and children imprisonment and the executions that took place in the grounds.

Operators from Belfast’s popular Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction & Conference Centre will oversee Armagh Gaol as a Visitor Attraction. .Managing Director, Kieran Quinn commented, “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase Armagh Gaol to the public and are privileged to be able to offer a visitor experience for both locals and tourists to the area alike, he said “The wealth of history within the walls speaks for itself and we’d encourage the public come along and to see it one last time.”

Armagh Gaol is one of Northern Ireland’s most important landmark buildings. Steeped in history, for most of its working life Armagh Gaol was the primary women’s prison in Northern Ireland until its closure in 1986.

• Armagh Gaol is one of Northern Ireland’s most important landmark buildings. Steeped in history, for most of its working life Armagh Gaol was the primary women’s prison in Northern Ireland until its closure in 1986.
• The Gaol is Grade B+ listed and has been vacant for over 20 years. The construction of the prison began in the 1780’s and it was extended in the style of Pentonville Prison in the 1840 and 1850s. The Gaol was largely designed by two of Ireland’s most renowned architects, Francis Cooley and William Murray.
• Armagh Gaol consisted of three prisons – one for women, one for debtors and one for felons. Executions were common, taking place in the Gaol square, but were later moved behind the prison walls. The last man to be executed at Armagh gaol was Joseph Fee in 1904.
• In the latter half of the 20th century, the Gaol accommodated high-profile political prisoners. Although the prison is often described as Armagh women’s Gaol, at various points in its history, various wings in the prison were used to hold male prisoners. Due to the growing prison population during the Troubles, Armagh also housed male remand and sentenced prisoners.

To Book

Guided tours- run every Friday & Saturday between 10.30am and 4.30pm

Tickets can be pre-booked online at www.armaghgaol.com or by calling
028 90 357 527