Month: January 2019

Following from the huge success of The Man Who Fell to Pieces, Tinderbox Theatre Company returns to The MAC, 12 – 23^RD Feb, with the political tour de force Ubu the King inspired by Ubu Roi by Alfred Jarry. Grotesque, gruesome and hilariously absurd, Ubu the King is political, poignant and deeply resonates with today’s Government and the ever-threatening political dictatorships that are currently causing upheavals and uncertainty across the globe.

Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi created a revolutionary stir in Paris when it first premiered in 1906, sending shockwaves across Europe with its heavy parody on the Bourgeois Class and satirical view on the corruption of people in power. Tinderbox’s production will imaginatively transpose the classic tale to a modern French Patisserie kitchen where Head Chef Ubu and his sous chef Ma Ubu wife cause chaos and tyranny with disastrous consequences.

This hilarious production directed by Patrick J O’Reilly promises to be a theatrical event of dance choreography, stunning visuals and delicious multi-roling performances from five Northern Irish performers (see cast list). It will combine European clown and physical caricature to create a viscerally powerful production that transposes an audience to performances full of trickery, comedy and high quality entertainment. The production is supported with original music composition by Katie Richardson and design by Ciaran Bagnall.

Director of Ubu the King, Patrick J O’Reilly commented:

“I am incredibly excited to present the absurdist masterpiece Ubu the King by Alfred Jarry at The MAC in February 2019. The show sparked riots when it first premiered in Paris, due its unforgiving nature in revealing the brutality and grotesquery evident in humanity. Given our current political and social circumstances, such as Brexit and far-right extremist voices strengthening in power across the world, the absurdity so beautifully captured in Ubu the King unfortunately seems all too real in 2019.  Ubu the King by Alfred Jarry is a fearless, anarchic and deeply moving piece of absurdist theatre, shining an unapologetic light on dictatorship regimes, far-right extremist views and the dark shadows of our history.”

Damian Smyth, Head of Literature and Drama, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said:

“I can’t wait to see how Tinderbox’s Ubu the King gets to grips with the already bizarre character of contemporary politics. The Arts Council is Tinderbox’s principal funder for the very purpose of encouraging ambitious projects and bringing to them its distinctive inventive practice and this production promises audiences the opportunity to see a masterpiece of absurdist, physical theatre, brilliantly interpreted for our day. Ubu the King will be one of the most entertaining arts events of the year and I encourage everyone to go along.”

Ubu the King will run at The MAC 12 – 23 Feb, 3pm and 8pm in the Upstairs theatre. Tickets £12:50 – £18.  Advisory: 18+. For further information visit www.themaclive.com or www.tinderbox.org.uk

Sat 2nd November – Tickets on sale Mon 4th Feb

Justin is on the road again with his all singing and dancing show JUSTIN LIVE! Justin stars in the CBeebies smash hit television shows Gigglebiz, Something Special, Jollywobbles and Justin’s House. He has also provided character voices for Tweenies, Boo, Toddworld, Shaun the Sheep and many many more. He has also received numerous children’s BAFTA’s for his work and in 2008 was awarded an MBE for his services to television and to charity organisations. In the eyes of a whole generation he is a superstar.

Given his hectic schedule and huge popularity it is a huge coup for the Millennium Forum to be hosting Justin’s self penned show Justin Live! this Autumn.

Justin Live! is a show written and performed by Justin himself. He promises lots of songs, laughter and fun for all the family. There will be some Custard Pies too! Producer Steve Boden from Imagine Theatre who are bringing the show to the Forum explains how the show came about:

“At Imagine we have worked with Justin Fletcher for a number of years on various projects and Justin Live originated a few years ago after Justin expressed an interest in developing a live show to give children their first taster of a live theatrical experience. The select dates we have done over the last few years were a huge success and we are thrilled to be able to give the children (and adults!) of Derry/Londonderry and the surrounding areas an opportunity to experience Justin Live!. It is a fabulous, fun, action packed, interactive show which gets everyone involved, and the children absolutely love it!”

Steve goes on to say, “Historically the show has sold out so we do recommend booking tickets as early as possible to avoid disappointment.”

Justin cannot wait to begin the tour and says “I am very excited about coming to the Millennium Forum and getting to meet so many new friends. The support and warm welcome I receive from my audiences is just wonderful. I look forward to seeing you all soon!”

Justin Live! performs at the Millennium Forum on Saturday 2nd November. Tickets go on sale from the Box Office on Monday 4th February. Telephone 71 264455 or visit millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.

Join us for an evening with Nuala McKeever as she brings her hilarious new stand up show ‘Letting Go or Losing It’ to The Courtyard Theatre on Friday 8 February. Having sold out in Belfast, this show lifts the lid on what it’s really like to be a middle aged woman.

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If you’re gliding gracefully towards the second half of your life, maybe this isn’t the show for you. However if you want reassurance that you’re not the only one struggling with all the things life throws at you, step right up!

Weight gain, menopause, bereavement and becoming invisible – just some of the joys that await the woman of a certain age! Throw in disappearing libido, Donald Trump and comfy shoes and the picture gets even more depressing. Everything’s heading south and there’s no border to stop the slide. The picture isn’t all that much rosier for men either!

What to do? Lie down and take it (at least that makes your stomach look flatter) or stand up and laugh? Nuala McKeever gives both a go in her hilarious new show as she transforms the awful into the awfully funny, by way of her trademark wit and compassion.

Suitable for men and women and those who define as both or neither.

Tickets from Box Office T: 028 9034 0202 or online thecourtyardtheatre.com

Airport partners with Tourism NI and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for competition to celebrate region’s lesser known attractions and experiences

George Best Belfast City Airport has partnered with Tourism NI and all eleven Councils in the province to launch the search for Northern Ireland’s Best Small Visitor Attraction – with £30,000 of free marketing support and brand visibility at the airport on offer to the winner.

The competition is open to visitor attractions and experiences across Northern Ireland that have an annual footfall of less than 100,000. The prize will include £20,000 of branding on site at Belfast City Airport which welcomes approximately 2.6m passengers each year, and £10,000 of online support through the airport’s digital channels.

To take part in the competition, attractions should submit their entries via email to Naomi@lighthouseni.com by Friday 1^st March 2019, with the relevant Council then selecting a shortlist of three attractions to progress to the next stage of the competition.

The chosen attractions will then feature on the airport’s Facebook page, with the most popular from each council progressing to the final which will see a judging panel visit, experience and score each of the attractions.

Katy Best, Commercial Director at Belfast City Airport, commented:

“In 2017 we ran a hugely successful competition with Food NI to launch the search for Northern Ireland’s Best Food or Drink Product. County Armagh’s Long Meadow Cider won the title and benefited hugely from significant presence in the airport and on our digital channels.

“The smaller visitor attractions and experiences are hugely important to the overall tourism industry here in Northern Ireland and that is why they were chosen as the focus of this year’s campaign. The competition gives these attractions a chance to shine and to boost their visibility amongst a huge audience of potential local and overseas visitors.

“With 2.6m passengers using the airport each year, this is a perfect platform to promote these attractions across our extensive range of advertising formats that target a variety of demographics including both inbound and outbound passengers.

“We are really pleased to be working with Tourism NI and all eleven local Councils to raise the profile of some of Northern Ireland’s smaller and lesser known attractions and would encourage all establishments with a tourism offering and an annual footfall of less than 100,000 to consider entering.”

The £20,000 of free advertising on offer at the airport will be on a number of formats within the terminal, while the £10,000 of digital support will include activities such as email solus campaigns and social media take overs. 

Tourism NI’s Chief Executive, John McGrillen, said:

“We are thrilled to have partnered with Belfast City Airport for what I’m sure will be a very successful initiative.

“This is a superb opportunity for the smaller attractions in Northern Ireland that most likely don’t have extensive marketing budgets.

“Our focus is on encouraging visitors to extend their stay in the region, and this competition should raise awareness of the huge choice of attractions and experiences visitors have when they arrive in Northern Ireland.

“£30,000 of advertising at Belfast City Airport will have a significant impact for the winning attraction and I would encourage all attractions with an annual footfall of less than 100,000 to apply.”

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Councillor Paul Michael commented: “This competition is a fantastic opportunity for local tourist providers to avail of £30,000 marketing support, to boost their business. “We look forward to receiving entries from many of our fabulous small visitor attractions and I would like to thank George Best Belfast City Airport and Tourism NI for providing this great opportunity.”

For more information on how to enter, terms and conditions and to download an entry form, please visit www.belfastcityairport.com/TourismNI

Belfast City Airport can also be found on Facebook (George Best Belfast City Airport) and Twitter (@BelfastCity_Air).

Northern Ireland boasts an irresistible collection of places to stay including beautiful B&Bs, luxurious spa hotels and great value self-catering properties. Discover NI has selected the best offers of the week to help you plan a short break.

·         One Night B&B, The Old Inn, Co. Down from £85 per room

With its traditional thatched roof, beamed ceilings and many open fires the four-star Old Inn  hotel provides a cosy, relaxed atmosphere. Located in the coastal town of Bangor, this hotel is the perfect base to explore the area. Offer includes an overnight stay with a full Irish breakfast the following morning. To book call 028 9185 3255. Offer available until 31 March 2019.

·         One Night B&B, Belmore Court and Motel, Co. Fermanagh from £80 per room

The four-star Belmore Court gives the opportunity to experience the Fermanagh Lakelands’ breathtaking scenery, myriad attractions and rich heritage. Located in the centre of Fermanagh town this comfortable hotel provides a warm resting spot for a relaxing overnight stay. Offer includes an overnight stay with full Irish breakfast the following morning. To book call 028 6632 6632. Offer available until 31 March 2019.

·         One Night B&B, Templeton Hotel, County Antrim from £79 per room The three-star Templeton hotel is conveniently located in Templepatrick, only a 20-minute drive from Belfast City Centre and close to Belfast International Airport. This luxurious hotel offers warm and welcoming surroundings suitable for any occasion. Offer includes one overnight stay with breakfast the following morning. Price based on two people sharing. To book call 028 9443 2984. Offer available until 31 March 2019.

BALLYWILLAN DRAMA GROUP PRESENT – CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG

Date: Tues 15 Jan – Sat 2 Feb

Time: 7.45pm

Venue: Riverside Theatre, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine

Contact: T: (028) 7012 3123 W: www.riversidetheatre.org

Featuring a cast of leading musical theatre stars to head the company as they tell the story of Caractacus Potts, his children, Jeremy and Jemima, a restored old race-car and their adventures. Featuring brand new costumes, a superb signature set and the undoubted star of the show – the magical car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – this is the perfect family show. Tickets priced £16 – £25.

CHOCOLATE TASTING AND DINNER

Date: Fri 25 Jan

Time: 7.30pm

Venue: The Anglers Rest, 660 Seacoast Road, Benone BT49 0LG

Contact: T: 07919 332843 E: chocolatemanor@btinternet.com W: www.thechocolatemanor.com

Take a journey through Chocolate & tantalise your taste buds with our tasting session, followed by a 3 course dinner at the fabulous, award-winning Angler’s Rest. Learn about how our favourite chocolate is created, and be guided through a cocoa journey, uncovering flavours you may not have experienced in chocolate before. Cost £30. Booking essential – limited places.

DRAM ON THE BANN

Date: Sat 26 Jan

Time: 2.30pm – 5.30pm

Venue: Departs from The Crannagh, 78 Portstewart Rd, Coleraine BT52 1SB

Contact: T: 07912 408 256 E: causewayfoodie@gmail.com W: www.causewaycoastfoodietours.com

An informal boat trip on the beautiful River Bann offering a relaxed and informative afternoon of whiskey or gin, food tasting and a light sprinkling of stunning scenery and wildlife on the Bann Estuary. Cost £59pp. Booking essential. Hosted by Causeway Coast Foodie Tours.

RORY & RACHEL’S KOREAN KITCHEN

Date: Sat 26 Jan

Time: 7.30pm

Venue: Ursa Minor Bakehouse, 45 Ann St, Ballycastle BT54 6AA

Contact: E: ursaminorbakehouse@gmail.com W: www.ursaminorbakehouse.com

Rory & Rachel return after an epic trip through Korea – a vegetarian feast of unapologetically funk laden food awaits. Whether it’s the crunchy, spicy fair of LA’s K-Town, the tradition sumptuous broths and stews of Busan or the sizzling street food of Seoul, you’ll get a taste of it all. Rory and Rachel bring their favourite recipes from their travels to Ballycastle for a Korean inspired banquet. Not to be missed. Cost £25. BYOB.

ULSTER-SCOTS SOCIAL

Date: Sat 26 Jan

Time: 7.30pm – 9.45pm

Venue: Peter Thompson Hall, 68 Freehall Road, Castlerock BT51 4RA

Contact:

Programme to include a short overview of the life, work and legacy of W.F. Marshall, including recitations of his poetry, musical interludes of traditional Scottish and Irish tunes, renditions by Farmer Poet, Brian Rankin and Scottish Country Dance show-cased by Elizabeth Brown-Kerr. Supper provided.

QUIZ NIGHT

Date: Wed 30 Jan

Time: 6.30pm – 7.30pm

Venue: Limavady Library, 5 Connell Street, Limavady BT49 0EA

Contact: T: 028 7776 2540 E: limavady.library@nilibraries.net

Get a team together or come along on the night and join a group for some quizzing fun. Booking desirable. Admission FREE.

SAM HENRY: CONNECTING WITH THE PAST

Date: 5 December – 26 January

Time: 9.30am – 5pm (Monday – Saturday)

Venue: Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre, 24 Main Street, Limavady

Contact: T: 028 7776 0650 E: information@rvacc.co.uk W: www.roevalleyarts.com

This exhibition explores some of the work that groups in the Causeway Coast and Glens area have been involved in as part of the ‘Sam Henry: Connecting with the Past Collecting for the Future’ project.  Admission FREE.

A COLLECTION OF RELIEF PRINTS, WOODCUTS AND ETCHINGS

Date: Sat 5 Jan – Sat 23 Feb                          

Time: Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm. Sat 10am – 1pm

Venue: Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart

Contact: T: (028) 7083 1400 E: info@flowerfield.org W: www.flowerfield.org

Artist and print maker Robert Sellar gifted a collection of his work to Flowerfield Arts Centre before he died at the venerable age of 92. A quiet man, he was a master print maker and his work compares with other post-modernist printmakers like Julian Trevelyan and Eric Ravilious. Each year, we present his collection for everyone to enjoy. Admission FREE.

CAUSEWAY 1718: SOCIETY IN TRANSITION

Date: Wed 9 Jan – Thurs 28 Feb                         

Time: Mon – Thurs & Sat 9.00am – 5.00pm Friday 9.00am – 4.30pm

Venue: Ballymoney Museum, Town Hall, Townhead Street, Ballymoney BT53 6BE

Contact: T: (028) 2766 0230E: cms@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

This fascinating exhibition explores the people and places of the Causeway area, connecting local people and places with bigger national stories. Discover what was happening, why it happened, and what the 1718 Bann Valley Migration was all about. Admission FREE.

DOMINICAN COLLEGE COLLECTIVE

Date: Thurs 10 – Wed 23 Jan  

Time: Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm. Sat 10am – 1pm

Venue: Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart

Contact: T: (028) 7083 1400 E: info@flowerfield.org W: www.flowerfield.org

We are delighted to present this exhibition of project work created by GCSE students at Dominican College, Portstewart. The students worked with renowned ceramicist Adam Frew assisted by Fiona Shannon in a series of pottery workshops to create this body of work. Admission FREE.

THE SELLER GIFT

Date: Sat 5 Jan – Sat 23 Feb

Time: Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm. Sat 10am – 1pm

Venue: Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart

Contact: (028) 7083 1400 E: info@flowerfield.org W: www.flowerfield.org

The Seller Gift exhibition is a collection of relief prints, woodcuts and etchings from artist Robert Seller. Artist and print maker Robert Sellar gifted a collection of his work to Flowerfield Arts Centre before he died at the venerable age of 92. A quiet man, he was a master print maker and his work compares with other post-modernist printmakers like Julian Trevelyan and Eric Ravilious.

The SSE Arena, Belfast: Thursday 24 October

BEVERLEY KNIGHT ANNOUNCED AS GUEST ARTIST FOR ANDREA BOCELLI’S HEADLINE TOUR

The world’s most beloved tenor, Andrea Bocelli, is delighted to announce that the queen of British Soul Beverley Knight will join him on his highly anticipated upcoming headline tour this autumn.  2019 sees Beverley celebrate an incredible 25 years as a major performing and recording artist, which includes selling over a million albums in the UK alone. Knight who is also a successful West End star having performed in The Bodyguard, Memphis and Cats will be adding her spectacular vocal talent to the Birmingham, Glasgow, Belfast, Leeds and Manchester dates.

Andrea Bocelli rounded 2018 off in style with sell-out shows in London and Dublin, as well as achieving his first number one in the UK album charts. The release of his highly anticipated 16-track album ‘Si’ gave Bocelli his first UK number one album, which was also the first classical number one in The Official Album Charts.

‘Si’ is Bocelli’s first all-new material album in 14 years – billed as “a celebration of love, family, faith and hope”. ‘Si’ features tracks co-written with Ed Sheeran and Tiziano Ferro as well as duets with Dua Lipa, fellow contemporary classical star Josh Groban and soprano Aida Garifullina. The album also sees Bocelli’s 20-year old son Matteo collaborate with him on the track ‘Fall On Me’ which appears on the soundtrack to the upcoming Disney movie, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.

Reportedly the biggest selling solo classical artist of all time with over 80 million worldwide album sales, Bocelli has performed for four US Presidents, two Popes and many Royal families across the world, as well as at high-profile ceremonies for the Olympic Games and the World Cup. The Maestro has countless music awards to his name over the past 25 years in music and even boasts a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which he received in 2010 for his contribution to live theatre.

Bocelli is acclaimed worldwide as one of the most accomplished representatives of Italy’s finest vocal tradition, his rich and unique voice being one of the most distinctive of all time. The tenor actively supports numerous philanthropic causes furthering medical and scientific research, tackling poverty, as well as promoting compulsory primary education worldwide.

These 2019 show dates will showcase songs from Bocelli’s latest album as well as a wide repertoire from across his previous 15 studio albums and are set to be some of the most hotly anticipated live performances of 2019.

andreabocelli.com

Tickets on sale now:

The SSE Arena, Belfast Box Office: Tel. 02890 739074
Book on Line: www.ssearenabelfast.com

Ticketmaster: In person: From 100 Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide
By Telephone (24 Hour):   0844 277 44 55 (ROL: 0818 719300)
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