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

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 and North Down Pipe Band Championships take place on Saturday 12 May 2018 in the picturesque grounds of Castle Park, Bangor commencing at 11.30am.

There is an entry of 41 bands and 46 Drum Majors, with one band travelling over from Scotland and seven bands travelling from the South of Ireland. The grade 1 competition has attracted the top grade 1 bands with Field Marshal Montgomery, St Laurence O’Toole, the Vale of Atholl and the Police Service of Northern Ireland all having submitted entries. There are 3 Adjudicators attending from Scotland and 5 from Northern Ireland, they will no doubt be served up with some of the best piping and drumming.

A Highland Dancing Competition will take place in First Bangor Presbyterian Church Hall which has attracted an entry of 60 which commences at 10.00 am. The Highland Dancing will add to the Scottish Flavour of the day in Bangor.

The Grand Finale will commence at 4.30pm and the Chieftain of the Day, Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Robert Adair, the will take the salute from the bands and Drum Majors and present the prizes.

This event is supported by Ards and North Down Borough Council.

For more information, rspbani.org or visitardsandnorthdown.com, or call 028 9127 0069.

TWO of musical theatres leading men and X Factor stars, Rhydian Roberts and G4 frontman Jonathan Ansell, have announced they will be bringing their nationwide tour to Hastings Hotels in October.

Les Musicals presents the biggest hit songs from the West End and Broadway and Jonathan and Rhydian will take to the stage at the Everglades Hotel in Derry-Londonderry on Thursday 11^th October, the Stormont Hotel in Belfast on Friday 12^th October and the Culloden Estate & Spa (dinner and show) in Holywood on Saturday 13^th October.

Jonathan Ansell and Rhydian Roberts have joined forces for the first time to create a dramatic and spine-tingling concert.  This vocally dynamic evening showcases the smash hits from the greatest musicals of all time from the West End and Broadway in this exhilarating live concert tour.

Allyson McKimm, Events Director of Hastings Hotels said: “We are thrilled to welcome the fabulous Les Musicals tour to three of our hotels in October. This unique live show will offer lovers of musical theatre with the opportunity to listen to two of the world’s finest voices bring some of the best-loved classics to life from Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Blood Brothers, Wicked, Jesus Christ Superstar, Carousel, West Side Story, The Lion King, Miss Saigon, Chess, Rocky Horror Picture Show, We Will Rock You and many more. This is something not to be missed!”

Tickets for all three shows are available at www.ticketmaster.co.uk

For any further information, please contact Allyson McKimm of Hastings Hotels on amckimm@hastingshotels.com

Theatre at The Mill presents A DOLL’S HOUSE on Thursday 31 May at 7.45pm, a new adaptation by Theatrical Niche Ltd based on HENRIK IBSEN’S classic tale.

Working with some of the UK’s leading Mental Health charities, they use Verbatim interviews and emotive Choreography to rocket Ibsen’s famous tale into a hugely relevant re-telling for modern audiences.

Exploring stigmas around gender and mental health, this artful adaptation focuses on the impossible idolisation of one ‘perfect’ woman, by a man who walks with weights around his ankles.

Mr & Mrs Helmer are the iconic power couple. They excel at work, staying on top, socialising. They excel at excelling. However, as his autobiography rolls out around Christmas-time, it seems there are a few things that Mr. Helmer may not have mentioned in the foreword.

A Doll’s House showcases the play-writing collaboration of two of Theatrical Niche’s founding members, as well as the direction of critically-acclaimed artist, Alice Sillett. This new production incorporates the words and intonations of mental abuse and mental health problem sufferers, giving Ibsen a resoundingly contemporary voice.

This performance is suitable for ages 12yrs+, group discount available.  Tickets from Box Office T: 028 9034 0202 or online theatreatthemill.com. Question and answers sessions are provided upon request.

Special rate available for schools and charities at Box Office.