The Foyle Merchant and Maritime markets, a 42-feet catamaran with an international jazz band on board, visiting Tall ships, Flavours of the Foyle Seafood Kitchen and Trail and a spectacular VOYAGES showcase event that will bring the River Foyle alight with music and animation are just some of the highlights announced today as part of the Foyle Maritime Festival that will take place in Derry from 14-22 July 2018.

The Festival, which is one of Ireland’s top maritime celebratory events, attracting over 160,000 people in 2016, will once again welcome the Clipper Round the World Race when the city acts as a host port for the fourth consecutive time for this much anticipated event.

Announcing details of the exciting festival programme, the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Maolíosa McHugh said the theme for this year’s Foyle Maritime Festival is “Voyages” with a strong emphasis on the city and district’s strong maritime history.

He said: “This year’s Foyle Maritime Festival promises to be another huge success for everyone involved. The programme has something for everyone with a bespoke and exciting programme of entertainment and animation on and alongside the River Foyle, including a food festival, artisan markets, live music and a range of keynote events that will justify the international audiences that the festival attracts to the city.

“I particularly like the idea that the theme of the festival is Voyages as Derry is synonymous with the sea and this acknowledges our rich maritime heritage and the journeys that we as a people, place and individuals have experienced. Not only was the city a major Irish emigration port throughout the phases of resettlement, it also played a key role in World War II when ships from the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the US navy were all stationed here.”

Jacqueline Whoriskey, Head of Festival and Events with Derry City and Strabane District Council says they have been working closely with festival partners the Loughs Agency and Foyle Port to ensure that this year’s programme reflects the significance of the event for the city and the close relationship it has with the river and its maritime heritage.

“The highlight event of the festival will be a spectacular VOYAGES showcase event on and alongside the river that encompasses land, water and air with the Clipper Race yachts joining Tall Ships, cruisers, yachts and punts from across the region and beyond as part of a live theatrical performance that will culminate with light and fireworks on the water,” she said.

In addition to the festival programme, local promoters have programmed a range of entertainment and musical events in Ebrington Square to coincide with the festival including two outdoor concerts that will add considerably to the range of events and musical experiences on offer throughout the nine days of the event.

There will be visiting tall ships berthed along the Quay and to add to the splendour of the occasion there will be a wide variety of food and bespoke craft stalls in both the Foyle Merchant and Maritime markets as well as lots of water activities including the River Foyle Races, organised by the Loughs Agency and participants from a variety of rowing and yacht clubs across the country.

Helena Hasson, Event Co-ordinator with the Council, said other highlights include the arrival and departure of the Clipper race yachts, boat tours and motor runs down the River Foyle and an interactive education area entitled ‘The Science of Water’ sponsored by DuPont Kevlar®.

“We are very grateful to all of our funders, sponsors and festival partners, who have been working with Council to develop this year’s programme. This is a huge week for the city to showcase all that’s best about our city and region and the support from everyone has been brilliant. She also added ‘We are delighted that in addition to our festival programme, local promoters have independently programmed a range of entertainment and musical events, including two large outdoor concerts in Ebrington Square to coincide with the festival.

“Likewise we are thrilled that the Foyle Cup is also on at the time of the festival and we’re working with the event organisers to support all event plans. With so much to experience in the city between 14 -22 July we are confident that locals and visitors alike will enjoy one of the most exciting weeks of entertainment and sport that city has hosted for several years.”

Encouraging the public to put the dates in their diaries and to extend an invitation to family and friends to come home for the celebrations, the Mayor said:

“The Foyle Maritime Festival is hugely important for the City and District and the wider North West region in promoting the area as a world class tourism destination and a maritime hub. The programme of events being put together for the festival is phenomenal with something for everyone to enjoy, whether it’s boating and yachting, live music and animation, or maritime history. The event has been hugely successful in the past attracting over 100,000 people and we are confident that this year will be another amazing celebration that will put our city and district on the international map.

“We are particularly keen to attract people from the city and district and wider region to take this opportunity to come home and be part of the festival celebrations. Not only is it a chance to catch up with family and friends but it’s a great opportunity to see how the city has transformed and developed and ready to welcome you back.”

The full festival programme will be launched in the coming weeks but details of the festival are available online where you can sign up for updates at  www.foylemaritimefestival.com or you can follow us on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/foylemaritimefestival  and on Twitter @Foylemaritime

Belfast’s only dedicated Jazz bar, Berts will bring to life the illicit world of the Roaring Twenties with a themed night of swinging jazz and bootlegged booze on Friday 25^th May.

Berts Jazz Bar and Monkey 47 presents The Golden Age of Jazz Party, inviting guests to don their best ‘flapper’ attire and be transported back to 1920’s New York where prohibition ruled the streets, but jazz ruled the city.

The evening will pay homage to a genre of music that captivated a generation, with exuberant big band jazz performances from ‘Kyron Bourke and The Hard Boiled Shimmy Shammers’, speakeasy cocktails and an atmosphere reminiscent of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel.

Guests will be greeted with a complimentary Monkey 47 Teapot Punch cocktail on arrival and there will be a prize for the most glamourous attire on the night. While dining tickets are sold out, guys and dolls can grab a spot at the bar with standing tickets for £15.

Expect glitz and glamour from start to finish, with surprise performances and a pop-up photo Moon Booth where guests can have their picture taken in-front of a beautiful night sky backdrop.

Speaking about the event, Kyron Bourke, lead singer of The Hard Boiled Shimmy Shammers said, “The Hard Boiled Shimmy Shammers are simply the Bee’s Knees. Their music will transport you right back to the Roaring Twenties to speakeasy’s where zozzled flappers and their jelly beans once illegally imbibed jag juice and foot juice, not to mention noodle juice. This is no phonus balonus, these guys are the real Tabasco.”

To find out more or book a Standing ticket, visit facebook.com/bertsjazzbar https://events.glistrr.com/merchant/e/121https://events.glistrr.com/merchant/e/121https://events.glistrr.com/merchant/e/121or call Berts Jazz Bar on 028 9026 2713.

 

What: The Golden Age of Jazz Party

When: Friday 25^th May

Where: Berts Jazz Bar, 16 Skipper Street, Belfast

Evocative and lyrical songs such as Wood and Weatherly’s Roses of Picardy and Elgar’s Sea Pictures give the flavour for what promises to be a ravishing afternoon recital by Kathryn Rudge on Bank Holiday Monday in the stunning acoustics of Portico Arts & Heritage Centre in Portaferry.

Mezzo-soprano Kathryn Rudge is the darling of classical music for good reason. “It doesn’t take long (five notes maybe) to hear why people are so excited. Her mezzo-soprano voice already has tremendous reserves of power, impeccable intonation, the capacity for a gloriously sustained legato and, most interesting of all, a distinctive vocal quality. The timbre has white-hot intensity that extends undiminished through all of two octaves.” The Times

Performing an afternoon concert at 2pm on Bank Holiday Monday (28 May), Kathryn will be accompanied by pianist James Baillieu. Described by The Daily Telegraph as ‘in a class of his own’ James Baillieu has been the prize-winner of the Wigmore Hall Song Competition, Das Lied International Song Competition, Kathleen Ferrier and Richard Tauber Competitions. James has given solo and chamber recitals throughout Europe and further afield. He collaborates with a wide range of singers and instrumentalists including Ian Bostridge, Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Annette Dasch, Markus Werba and Catherine Wyn Rogers.

This recital will be the concluding concert of Festiv’Ards 2018, the four-day festival celebrating the best in classical music that takes place 25-28 May. Supported by Ards and North Down Borough Council and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, this year’s festival programme includes a free opening concert with pianist Michael McHale on Friday 25 May at 7.30pm. Saturday’s afternoon concert at 2pm features violinist Patrick Rafter before the star choral group The Tallis Scholars perform at 7.30pm. On Sunday, classical guitarist Thibaut Garcia performs at 2pm then the Ficino Ensemble at 7.30pm. Bank Holiday Monday morning starts with organist Daniel Cook at 11am before Kathryn Rudge and James Baillieu take to the stage at 2pm.

For further information on any of the concerts happening during Festiv’Ards please visit www.porticoards.com or buy tickets in person at The Rock Bakery in Portaferry.

5 stars all round for ‘The Nature of Forgetting’ coming to the MAC 31 May – 3 June

‘Utterly unmissable.’  (★★★★★ The Edinburgh Reporter)

Produced by Theatre Re, The Nature of Forgetting comes to the MAC Belfast for a limited run from 31 May – 3 June following a sell-out run at the 2017 London International Mime Festival.

The Nature of Forgetting is a powerful, explosive and joyous piece about what is left when memory and recollection are gone.  Featuring a multi-talented ensemble of actors, this show examines the fragile human condition of dementia, in a compelling, physical style embracing mime, theatre and live music.

Tom has just turned 55. As he dresses for his birthday party, tangled threads of disappearing memories spark him into life, unravelling as a tale of friendship, love and guilt.

This ambitious project with actors, mimes and musicians has been created in collaboration with UCL Neuroscience Professor Kate Jeffery and inspired by interviews and workshops with organisations such as the Alzheimer’s Society. It was in development for 16 months and was conceived by the theatre’s director Guillaume Pigé.

Guillaume Pigé comments, “The Nature of Forgetting is not about dementia. It is about the fragility of life and that eternal ‘something’ we all share that is left when memory is gone. Our collaboration with Professor Kate Jeffery and our interviews with people living with dementia and their carers have resulted in a life-affirming journey into a weakening mind, where broken does not have to mean defeated.”

Simon Magill, Creative Director at the MAC says: “Continuing to bring you the very best across all art forms, we are delighted to be hosting this really extraordinary production.  It is a joyous, vital story full of survival and hope.”

Theatre Re presents The Nature of Forgetting at the MAC from 31 May – 3 June.

For more information about the show or to book, visit themaclive.com.  Supported by National Lottery funding through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

The Ards Puppet Festival rolls into Newtownards this May Bank Holiday Weekend!

Taking place from Saturday 26 May – Monday 28 May, the Ards and North Down Borough Council festival will be bigger and better than ever before, offering a jam-packed programme filled with puppet fun!

Over the three days, Conway Square will be transformed into a pop-up puppet village, featuring an eclectic mix of scheduled performances, street theatre, free puppet workshops and plenty of madcap puppet shenanigans! Look out for puppets in all shapes and sizes, from socks to shadows and strings, there’ll be lots of quirky characters to meet!

One of the programme highlights will be The Elephant Extravaganza which will take place on Sunday and Monday afternoon. Prepare to be amazed by ‘Harminder,’ Festive Road’s impressive, larger-than-life mechanical Asian elephant. Pedal-power brings her to life, with her ear, head and trunk movements adding to the spectacle as she perambulates. Standing at 4.5 metres, she is sure to be an impressive sight as she wows the crowds!

The festival Big Top in Conway Square will be buzzing with an impressive programme of high-quality shows scheduled over the three days. On Saturday, Banyan Theatre Company’s Red Riding Hood and The DaSilva Marionette Circus Troupe will perform, on Sunday visitors can catch The Cardboard Carnival and on Monday, A Strange New Space, Winner of the Edinburgh Fringe Primary Times Children’s Choice Award 2017 and The Dinosaur Detectives will take to the stage. Admission to the Big Top shows is £2 per person.

Outside in Conway Square, there’s plenty happening too. Have tea with The Big Bad Wolf, laugh at The Alchemist’s failed attempts to make gold, join Dr Frankenstein as he creates new life, or seek out Aloisuous Ginderbalm, the 700-year-old Swedish Troll! Dangerous Dave and The Boggarts will also entertain the crowds with their antics and look out for the delightful puppet walkabouts who will animate the area over the whole weekend.

The Craft Tent will offer free interactive workshops where children can build their very own puppets, guided by local artists. Or there’s a Puppet Scavenger Hunt throughout Newtownards Town Centre on Saturday and Monday. Follow the clues to find puppets hidden in shop windows! Pop-up puppet shows will take place in Wardens on Saturday and Monday at 1pm and 3pm.

Admission to the festival is free. Big Top Shows cost £2 per person. All other performances and activities are free of charge.

Ards Puppet Festival takes place from 26 – 28 May in Conway Square Newtownards. For more information go to: www.visitardsandnorthdown.com or www.ardsarts.com

 

The show has been described as “a love letter to all the classic Victorian magic tricks” (What’s On Stage), “an evening of astonishment” (The Stage) and a “tour de force performance” (WestEndWilma).

So what should you expect? That I’m afraid is a secret, with audiences been sworn to secrecy, we have been told it’s very much a show you need to see to believe.

However to whet your appetite and remind you of Derren Browns amazing skillset here are our top five favourite moments from the past 18 years which left us open mouthed and in awe:

 

1. What would you do if the world was ending and zombies roamed the earth? A favourite topic around the watercooler but Derren Brown took it a step further in this production. He selected a twenty something year old victim called Steven and convinced him with an elaborate set, fake social media posts and a lot of actors that a meteor had hit the earth and this was the end. Brown weaved a tale which was incredible to watch and inspired Steven to want more out of life.

 

2. The System. When it comes to betting shops I know I would like Derren Brown to give me a tip or too. In the final episode of this production Brown gets a member of the public to bet £4000 of her own money on a horse based on his bogus prediction only to lose it. However he later informed the shocked victim that he changed the bet to the winning horse at the last minute.

 

3. Escape Part of the Trick or Treat series. Victim Angela picked a Trick card and unlucky for her Derren quite literally throw her in at the deep end. When she was handcuffed, secured in a sack and submerged underwater. Angela was given a brief tuition in escape artistry but we as an audience held our collective breathe as we waited for her to appear free from her shackles and above the waterline.

 

4. The Heist Who wouldn’t want to rob a bank and get away with it. Known to be a personal favourite of Mr Brown, the heist sets up a group of unsuspecting fans to rob a fake security van. Through subliminal messages and instructions the group willingly carry out an armed robbery.

 

5. Russian Roulette One of Derren Browns best known stunts and one which raised his profile significantly in the mainstream. Derren selected one person to load a single bullet into a six-shot revolver before he would point the gun to his own head and attempt to guess which chamber was lethal. Adding to the suspense Derren’s third guess was incorrect as he pointed the gun to a nearby sandbag and pulled the trigger on an empty chamber. The action paused we all gasped but quick to recover and redeem himself Darren correctly fired the fifth shot into the sandbag.

 WOW!  We can’t wait to see this awarding winning illusionist LIVE and be prepared to be astounded and awe struck. The Best of Derren Brown Underground Grand Opera House Belfast 22-26 May. Tickets on sale now!