Get ready to be amazed and captivated by Rain Falling Up, a Dumbworld Production in collaboration with Ulster Orchestra, Ulster Hall, Friday 16^th March.

Guaranteed to be a joyous concert for all the family, this spectacular musical production features a large chorus of 300 children from local schools in Belfast, the Ulster Orchestra and a live shadow puppet animation – all created with the support of world renowned film-maker, director and writer John McIlduff and composer Brian Irvine.

Combining music, song, narration and animation, Rain Falling Up, produced by Dumbworld in collaboration with the Ulster Orchestra and supported by National Lottery funding through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, tells the story of a little boy Jake, who is fascinated by all things scientific. One day, after being blamed for breaking his mum’s vase he comes to the conclusion that gravity is not his friend anymore. So he builds himself a gravity switch so he can turn gravity off. Life seems so much more fun when you can float around freely, but when the switch disappears and Jake finds himself drifting alone through the universe he realises that perhaps he made a mistake.

Rain Falling Up was first performed in the Waterfront Hall in 2010 with the Ulster Orchestra and has since been performed in Dublin, City of Derry and in the Italian city of Aosta, each time with a different orchestra and children’s choir. In 2013 Rain Falling Up, was nominated for a British Composers Award (community award).

The current project has been running since November 2017 involving a specially formed children’s chorus made up of 300 primary school children drawn from 10 schools across Belfast.  During the project children will have taken part in 130 workshops including; animation, developing music, performance, learning, composition and singing skills led by  Brian Irvine, the Dumbworld creative team and members of the Ulster Orchestra. Alongside these workshops the schools engaged in an art project focusing on the invention of their own gravity switches which will culminate in an exhibition of their work.
Looking forward to the performance at Ulster Hall, Creative Director of Dumbworld Production, and writer of Rain Falling Up, John McIlduff said;

“On behalf of Dumbworld Production we are delighted to be bringing Rain Falling Up back to Belfast.  Rain Falling Up is a joyful avalanche of orchestra, animation, narration and 300 singing children – a roller coasting rollicking ride that tells the uplifting story of one boy’s struggle with the ups and downs of gravity. Rain Falling Up bursts at the seams with hope, adventure, celebration and big unapologetic tunes. Watch out for the creaky, dancing Grandfather, the flocks of flying penguins and watch out for the black holes.”

John further added;
“Since November 2017 we have been working with 300 children from schools across Belfast to engage with each other as well as with professionals, including the Ulster Orchestra, to create this ambitious and exciting piece of work. Through image, music and words audiences of all ages will be charmed by this truly amazing and highly creative production. We are grateful for the support of our principal funder, Arts Council of Northern Ireland along with Belfast City Council as well as our project collaborator Ulster Orchestra and everyone on the Dumbworld creative team. We hope everyone who sees Rain Falling Up is truly inspired by this very unique experience.”

Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added;

“Dumbworld is an award-winning organisation that excels in creating bold and captivating new works.  The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is proud to support the Rain Falling Up project which has brought together many school children from across Belfast to share together in the joy of music-making, culminating in an epic finale performance in the Ulster Hall; an experience few will forget.”

Rain Falling Up takes place at Ulster Hall on Friday 16th March 2018, 7.30pm. Tickets are £12, Snr citizens & children (5yrs-16yrs) £5, and children under 5 go FREE. For further details visit www.ulsterhall.co.uk or www.dumbworld.com. Follow Dumbworld on Facebook @dumbworldltd, twitter @dumbworldltd and Instagram @dumbworldltd.

Belfast Cathedral is to be transformed into a high class dining room on the evening of March 24, offering a truly special night out as part of the BelFeast Festival.

Pews and kneelers will give way to some of the classiest tables in town, and diners will be able to enjoy atmospheric music throughout the evening from the Cathedral’s choristers and musicians.

St Anne’s is known not only as the spiritual heart of the booming Cathedral Quarter and the city of Belfast, but is also a key venue for concerts and corporate events.

This ability to switch from a ‘working’ place of worship, offering four services daily, to a breath-taking setting for events makes Belfast Cathedral a unique space in the city centre.

Following a reception on arrival, guests will enjoy a five-course dinner prepared by the talented chefs at Posh Nosh, served with paired wines from Mark Jefferson Wines.

Tickets are £60 per person and the evening will raise vital funds to further the mission and ministry of Belfast Cathedral.

BelFeast is a new three day food and drink festival based in and around the Cathedral Quarter aimed at showcasing everything great about the local food and drinks industry.

Holly Wilson, Marketing and Events Manager at Belfast Cathedral, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the headline event of the BelFeast Festival and look forward to welcoming you for an unforgettable dining experience and evening of music in the aisles of the majestic Belfast Cathedral.”

More information and tickets, contact Belfast Cathedral on 028 9032 8332 or visit www.belfastcathedral.org.

The annual Newtownabbey Drama Festival returns to The Courtyard Theatre from Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 March.  Offering five nights of full-length plays, from the best amateur dramatic groups from Northern Ireland and beyond.

Kick-starting the festival on Tuesday 13 March Newpoint Players present Seduction and Murder at the Red Barn. This is a new version of the play. It’s a farce. The style is Victorian melodrama with some music and dance. It draws upon the story of the Red Barn murder of Mariah Marten at Polested in 1829.

On Wednesday 14 March Rosemary Drama Group present Pride’s Crossing.  90-year-old Mabel is a passionate woman, preparing to throw a Fourth of July party for her granddaughter Minty Renoir. Present events call to Mabel’s mind memories of her life, and through these memories we glimpse her wit, resilience, youthful spunk and geriatric wilfulness. We see her as a young girl preparing to swim the English Channel.

The Clarence Players present John Gabriel Borkman on Thursday 15 March (Contains strong language and adult material) John Borkman has been in solitary seclusion in an upstairs room in his drab mansion since enduring a prison sentence for embezzlement. Still blindly hoping his career will be reignited, only his clerk Fodal, an aspiring poet, remained loyal to him throughout the years. Unhappily married to Gunhild, she is surprised when her twin sister Ella arrives. Having been tossed aside by Borkman in favour of her twin, Ella was left to raise their only child, Earhart. Now that he is grown up and in love with an older woman, the sisters become locked in a desperate spiritual battle over his future. As Borkman rages against the confines of his claustrophobic household, he ventures out into the snowy hills where he finally learns the true consequences of love betrayal.

Friday 16 March sees local group Theatre 3 Newtownabbey present Quartet.  Cecily, Reginald and Wilfred are in a home for retired opera singers and musicians. Each year, on the 10 October, there is a concert to celebrate Verdi’s birthday. Jean, who used to be married to Reggie, arrives at the home and disrupts their equilibrium. She still acts like a diva and refuses to sing in the gala, but, the show must go on.

Rounding off the festival on Saturday 17 March, Slemish Players present Say Cheese. Bridie and Val have won a competition organised by the Celtic Cheese Company. They have gained the crown of Ireland’s Happiest Couple. The prize is an enactment of their original wedding 30 years earlier. Will their new title hold fast for the day? Watch as the drama unfolds and the hilarity begins on this biggest of days.

Shows 8pm Tuesday – Friday and Saturday 7.30pm Tickets available from only £7, contact Box Office T: 028 9034 0202 or online thecourtyardtheatre.com

HASTINGS Hotels has launched its new Who Made My Breakfast? booklet which celebrates the dedication and passion of the group’s suppliers from across Northern Ireland and the local produce used in what is said to be the most important meal of the day.

The new booklet was launched at a recent Food NI event in the Culloden Estate & Spa with members, local suppliers and representatives from Tourism NI in attendance.

As part of the launch, the leading hotel collection has announced two new breakfast suppliers – Grand Café Coffee from UCC, roasted in County Antrim and Grant’s Dry Cured Bacon from Derry-Londonderry.

Also showcased in the booklet are the stories behind Hastings long-standing breakfast suppliers including black and white pudding from Gracehill Fine Foods in County Antrim, mushrooms from Malachy McKenna in Dungannon, Waggle Dance Honey from Portadown, Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt from Bangor and Just Live a Little granola and muesli from Portaferry.

Howard Hastings, Managing Director of Hastings Hotels said: “It is no secret that we at Hastings Hotels are extremely passionate about food provenance and our fabulous local suppliers. We make no apologies for only working with the very best of Northern Ireland’s food producers who continue to enable us to offer guests wonderful, seasonal menus in each of our six hotels.

“The Who Made My Breakfast? booklet is our little book of stories introducing our local suppliers and the delightful produce that helps us serve up the finest breakfasts every day. It allows guests to see the photos of the people responsible for the produce they are eating and find out more about where it comes from including McCann’s Apple Juice and White’s Oats from Co Armagh, Bushmills Whiskey which is served with the porridge, milk from Farmview Dairies and Thompson’s Tea from Belfast, Carnbrooke Meats from Dromara who produce Honeybee Sausages, Clements Eggs from County Down and Get Fresh Tomatoes from Bob Colhoun in Drumbeg,” Howard continued.

“Food is a hugely important part of the visitor experience and at Hastings Hotels we are exceptionally proud of our local suppliers who help us create great menus. We hope the new Who Made my Breakfast? booklet will help increase the business of our local suppliers, who I think are amongst the best in the world,” Howard concluded.

Details of the St Patrick’s Day Spring Carnival celebrations in Derry have been unveiled with an action packed weekend of entertainment on 17 and 18 March for all the family that includes, music, dance, food and culture.

The route of this year’s Carnival parade on Saturday 17 March has changed and will depart from Bishop Street car park at 2pm when the colourful spectacle of carnival participants will go through the city centre much to the delight of spectators.

The new route will see the parade depart Bishop Street car park, making its way toward the Diamond and down Shipquay Street towards Harbour Square Roundabout before heading up Custom House Street across Waterloo Place and down Strand Road to finish up at the Strand Road Carpark at around 3.30pm.

Welcoming the new route, the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Maoliosa McHugh said he was confident it made the event more accessible for the public.

“I am delighted that the Derry carnival parade on St Patrick’s Day will be taking place through the city centre and through areas such as Shipquay Street and Waterloo Place. Not only will it make it accessible to more people but it will bring atmosphere and colour to the city centre and help create a real festive spirit for St Patrick’s Day,” he said.

The theme for this year’s carnival parade is Spring is Sprung with a strong emphasis on the Spring goddess of growth and flowering. Up to 600 participants from local schools, youth clubs, community groups and arts and cultural organisations are expected to take part in the parade that will feature pageant pieces created by the North West Carnival Initiative, Greater Shantallow Community Arts, In Your Space Circus and Bluebell Arts Project.

Mayor McHugh says he is really looking forward to the parade and the range of events for everyone to enjoy over the weekend including the LegenDerry Food Festival in Guildhall Square, musical performances, street theatre and family activities, and the Ubuntu Global Festival.

“Derry is going to be a hive of activity over St Patrick’s weekend with something for every member of the family to come along and be part of. In addition to a real carnival atmosphere there is a strong focus on celebrating our diverse multi-cultures and making the event accessible and inclusive to everyone. A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes getting ready for the event and I am confident it will be a huge success for everyone involved.”

Among the highlights on St Patrick’s Day itself in addition to the parade will be the live musical performances on the Spring Stage at Guildhall Street with local musical acts, Dara, CCÉ Baile na gCailleach, Voices of the Foyle Choir and Suil.

The Mayor also will host a series of events in the Craft Village throughout the day including live traditional music and dancing, kids’ activities and crafts.

A key element of this year’s celebrations is the number of events being organised by organisations across the city including a St Patrick’s Day Road Race organised by the Foyle Hospice, a Family Dun Day at an Culturlann, Irish music and dance at Foyleside Shopping Centre, a Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication by the Apprentice Boys at the St Columb’s Cathedral, to name but a few.

For a full listing of what is happening log on to www.derrystrabane.com/springcarnival

For more info on the event follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/whatsonderrystrabane and Twitter @WhatsOnDS

A spell-binding theatrical performance by Cahoots NI takes to the stage at Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, 15th and 16th March.

‘Penguins’ is a unique production inspired by Roy and Silo, two male penguins living in Central Park Zoo who together hatched an abandoned egg and raised a chick.

Just like other penguin pairs, they walk, play, swim and dance together. When the duo decide to try and hatch a rock in place of an egg, they find themselves on an adventure that could mean raising a chick for real!

The adaption of the story is anticipated to be one of the most magical theatre productions to come out of Northern Ireland this year.

This co-production with Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Prime Theatre is a story of friendship, fun, identity which may leave some audience members wishing they were penguins!

The production on March 16th will be followed by a free learning and development workshop for artists, teachers and anyone interested in creative methods of working with young people. The workshop from 12.30pm – 1.30pm has been made available as part of the Fab Families inclusion programme at Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre. It will be facilitated by Steve Ball, Associate Director of Birmingham REP and Andrew Moffat MBE. Andrew is the author of “No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools” (Routledge, 2015) and was awarded an MBE for services to Equality and Diversity in Education in 2017. 

Director Paul Bosco McEneaney said: “I am thrilled to be working with Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre. Our team is excited to be not only bringing our amazing show to the North West but also hosting a seminar as part of the Fab Families Programme. We are looking forward to meeting you there.”

The 50-minute performance is suitable for children aged 3+ and will take place on Thursday 15^th March at 6pm and Friday 16^th March at 11am. Tickets are priced at £5. Teachers with school groups go free.

For further information and to book tickets please call 028 7776 0650.

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Paul Hamill has officially launched Antrim Live at The Old Courthouse.

Joined by Alderman John Smyth, Councillor Jim Montgomery, Councillor Neil Kelly, Councillor Roisin Lynch, Ursula Fay (Head of Arts & Culture) and some of the performers taking part in this event.

Antrim Live is an arts and cultural extravaganza set for Antrim Town from Friday 6- Sunday 8 April. There is a feast of festivities planned for this two-day cultural festival which includes headline act The Blame Game’s Neil Delamere.

Soda Popz, Northern Ireland’s only 50’s/60’s Rock N Roll band will kick start the line-up of events at The Old Courthouse on Friday 6 April. A Craft & Food Market, Baby Rave, Fun Fair, Live Street Entertainment and Story Telling with Mr Hullabaloo are just a few of the amazing activities lined up for Antrim Live.

A brand new attraction ‘Wonderland Wood Treasure Trail’ will keep treasure hunters young and old entertained. Join an array of quirky characters who will guide and surprise you through our Wonderful Wonderland Wood in Antrim Castle Gardens.

If you fancy yourself as a Busker make sure you are part of ‘Busking Live ‘on Saturday 7 April. Performers must be able to play acoustically or provide their own battery operated sound system if required. With a prize pot of £250 make sure you register today.

With something to tantalise every taste, Antrim Live is guaranteed to bring Antrim Town to life and will be the perfect day out this Easter! Tots, teens, seniors and shoppers are all catered for in what promises to be a fantastic festival of fun.

Check out the full programme www.antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/antrimlive

and make a date in the diary for Antrim Live! We know you’re going to LOVE Antrim Live!