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!

Armagh Craft Fair returns for the eighth year to the wonderful surroundings of The Market Place Theatre and Arts Centre in Armagh on Saturday 26 May.

Bringing high quality craft to the heart of Armagh City, this highly anticipated annual event offers something for everyone. The fair will feature over 45 fantastic craft stalls from makers across Northern Ireland and Ireland, 7 free craft demonstrations from master crafters throughout the day including hands on creative craft making experiences for adults and children, free children’s drop in creative craft sessions, family workshops, musical entertainment, great food & much more.

Crafts on show at this year’s Craft Fair include printed textiles, jewellery, wood, metal, basketry, glass, soaps, candles, ceramics, hand-made paper and books, artisan foods and fantastic craft gifts for children, amongst many other superb and unique craft forms.

You can get hands-on and have a go yourself, with the free craft demonstrations throughout the day. Ever had a burning desire to try your hand at Pottery, Wet Felting, Flame Worked Glass, Basket Making, Silver Jewellery Techniques, Weaving, Sculpture or Wood Turning? Well now’s your chance to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in. Watch the Master Crafters as they demonstrate their skills and then have a go yourself at learning a new skill. Opportunities will be available for both adults and children.

When you’re in the venue, don’t forget to view this year’s fabulous Art Of Craft Exhibition, ‘Fused’, by artist Caroline Getty. ‘Fused’ forms part of Northern Ireland’s first Linen Biennale, celebrating the past, present and future landscape of linen through an extended arts festival. Caroline’s work incorporates delicate linen material immersed within strong ceramic forms, portraying a powerful and echoing remembrance of the linen industry within Northern Ireland.

With live music performances throughout the day, and the on-site bar and café facilities for when you need a break from all your craft shopping, this promises a superb day out in the heart of Armagh City.

This year’s Craft Fair will run from 10.30am to 5pm at The Market Place Theatre. Entrance is free, as are all craft demonstrations, and most of the creative experiences. For further information, bookings and to download the full programme go to www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre You can also follow developments on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) for the latest information and video previews.

The Ards Puppet Festival is coming to Newtownards this May Bank Holiday weekend 26 – 28 May with a fantastic programme full of puppet fun!

Over the three days of the festival, Conway Square will be transformed into a pop-up puppet village packed with puppets of all shapes and sizes! Look out for puppet shows, walkabout characters, street theatre, craft activities and more!

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. She loves nothing more than packing her trunk and going to new places to make new friends!

Standing an impressive 4.5 metres in height, Harminder will be a sight to behold as she ambles around Conway Square with a dancer on her back. The Elephant Extravaganza will take place on Sunday 27 and Monday 28 May at 2pm and 4.30pm. Don’t miss it!

Other highlights include: The DaSilva Marionette Circus Troupe who are performing in the festival Big Top on Saturday 26 May at 2pm and 4pm. Come and be amazed by aerial acrobatics on the flying trapeze, spectacular cycling stunts and the antics of cheeky clowns. This show cleverly incorporates marionette puppets with real circus performers – a treat for the whole family! On Sunday 27 May at 1pm and 3pm, The Cardboard Carnival will take place in the Big Top. This ultimate animal show is beautifully crafted from cardboard, inspired by Camille Saint-Saens’ music.

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

An impressive array of local musicians, poets and visual artists have come together to support the Save CQ Fundraiser which will take place at the Black Box in Belfast on Thursday 7 June at 7.30pm.

Save CQ is a voluntary campaign group which is advocating for equitable urban development and is calling upon Castlebrooke Investments to “Develop, Not Demolish” 12 acres of Cathedral Quarter in the centre of Belfast.

Featuring music from the darkly swoonsome Ex-Isles, beautiful rhythmic melodies from Dandy’s Loft, high energy jazz and punk from The Tony Strickland Quartet and floor fillers from DJ Liam McCartan, the Save CQ Fundraiser will also include a campaign update, a performance of a new piece of writing by poet Colin Hassard, and a very special prize draw!

Rebekah McCabe, Chair of the Save CQ campaign said:

“Cathedral Quarter is the beating heart of Northern Ireland’s arts and cultural scene.  We are thrilled that so many artists and businesses have got behind the Save CQ Fundraiser and we are hoping that all those members of the public who have added their voices to the Save CQ campaign so far will do so too. 

The volunteers behind the Save CQ campaign have been fighting the current version of the Royal Exchange Development proposal for over 18 months and there’s still quite a way to go!  All funds raised at the Black Box event will support the Save CQ campaign into this next phase, to investigate alternative proposals for the area and ensure that any development creates a culturally flourishing community in the historic centre of the city.”

The Save CQ campaign team has also lined up a fantastic selection of raffle prizes which have been kindly donated by local artists, businesses and event promoters:

• 2 x tickets to Belfast Gin Festival
• A Belfast City Map by Model Citizen
• A print of North Street Arcade by artist James Ashe
• £20 voucher for Sunflower Bar
• 4 x tickets to ‘The History of Peace accordin’ to my Ma’ at the Grand Opera House
• A print by artist Peter Hutchinson
• An artwork by Kev Largey
• Lunch for 2 at OX Restaurant
• A year’s membership of the Black Box – including discounts on in-house events, free tea and coffee refills and discounts with Framewerk and Velo Café Magasin

Raffle tickets for the Save CQ Fundraiser prizes are £1 each, £5 per strip, and are available to buy now from savecq.wordpress.com 

Tickets for the Save CQ Fundraiser are £10 and are on sale now from www.blackboxbelfast.com. 

For further information on the Save CQ campaign and how you can make a difference, visit savecq.wordpress.com  

Make a date in your diary for the 8^th Belfast Book Festival, supported by Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council, 6th – 16^th June.

Over 11 days the world of books will open up via unique and diverse events featuring high profile authors as well as events exploring a range of interests and themes.

With The Crescent as its home, the festival will take place in various venues across the city.   New this year is the internationally recognised Lit Crawl were, for one night only, venues across the Queens Quarter including Botanic Gardens and Tropical Ravine will offer FREE and  exciting events which will  introduce festival goers to new experiences such as a Poetry JukeBox Jaunt at Botanic Gardens featuring the poetry of Mairtin Crawford & Heather Newcombe (bring your own headphones).

The Family Fun Day at Lower Crescent Park is this year inspired by the works of Roald Dahl. For further details on the festival programme visit www.belfastbookfestival.com