Fancy learning new skills or developing your creativity this year?

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre in Limavady has a wealth of fabulous creative courses for children and adults throughout January to March.

Starting this month, the popular Painting for Pleasure 12 week course for adults returns from Friday 13^th January and runs from 1.30pm -3.30pm weekly.

This informal course, tutored by Louie Winward, encourages complete beginners whilst providing support for those more experienced.

If painting isn’t your preference, local artist Gail Mahon hosts a two-part course in Expressive Drawing on January 21^st and January 28^th from 10am – 12.30pm. Using a range of materials and methods, this course will help you loosen up and express yourself creatively exploring the act of mark making.

Another local artist, Glenda Rolston tutors a four week course in Experimenting with Collage from Friday 27^th January, 7pm – 9pm weekly.

Participants will experiment with various collage techniques as well as illustration to create artworks.

Coming up in February are more great creative courses for adults including Connecting Creatively, a four week course introducing the therapeutic value of creative engagement and self-expression from February 2^nd, a four week course in Fused Glass from March 2^nd, Book Craft on March 4^th and 11^th and a Textile Felting course from March 30^th.

To book or find out more please contact the team at Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre on 028 777 60650 or visit www.roevalleyarts.com

If you’re looking to try something new in 2017, The Market Place Theatre in Armagh may just have exactly what you’re looking for!

The Spring | Summer 2017 season has just been released and January alone is packed full of interactive, innovative and downright interesting workshops for both adults and children. Many workshops are already booking fast, so you’ll need to be quick to secure your place.

The massively popular ‘Simply Ballroom & Latin’ classes are back, this time for improvers. Professional Dance Teacher Helen Cadwallader will give you an excellent step by step guide on how to Dance Ballroom & Latin. So let’s take the floor with the beautiful flowing Waltz, the fast and furious Quickstep, even the Stacarto Tango. You will also be taken thorough some basic Latin starting with Swing Jive, Cheeky Cha Cha Cha, and Sexy Samba. Classes are suitable for dancers who have attended previous workshops or have some knowledge of the dance styles.

‘Introduction To Portraiture’ with artist Patrick Mohan will look at aspects such as composition, measurement of the face, tonal range and getting a likeness. Artists & students alike will benefit from this fun and informative session. As the model is clothed for portraiture participants can also look at the depiction of clothing and differing hairstyles to broaden learning outcomes.

Or if writing is more your thing, then you’ll love the opportunity to take part in the Writing Ourselves class on 21 January. You may have a great desire to write but don’t know how or where to start; or you may simply want to explore your creativity through writing. In this workshop, we play with our imagination and dreams. We challenge our fears – of the blank page, of feeling foolish, of failure. We charm our inner critic, giving ourselves permission to write with courage and trust so we can persist with creative enchantment into our so-called real lives.

Continuing the series of highly successful photography workshops, ‘Capturing The Moment’ is a four night photography course that will have you taking amazing pictures with any camera –  compact, SLR or Bridge. Learn the secrets of the Pros in an active and lively environment. Each week will look at a different aspect of photography, which participants then explore and experiment with in between classes. Subjects will include framing, proportion, lighting, photographing subjects including landscape, people and portraits, night shots.

Learn how to be creative with your winter and spring wardrobe and to use the same clothes in different ways to create different looks at the ‘Fashion Perfect For Winter & Spring’ workshop. Find out the colours and shapes that flatter you the most and learn how to wear the same scarf in many different ways. This is a fun, informal workshop that is a great girlie day out with lots of tips to really help you enhance your seasonal looks. Be bold and brave as you try new colours to enhance your wardrobe or perhaps tone down patterns and colours for a more natural look!

The list of workshops on offer is endless. Visit the website at www.marketplacearmagh.com for full details and places can be booked by contacting the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821.

And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.

It was a packed house last Saturday (7th) on the opening night of Stewartstown Amateur Dramatic Society’s annual family pantomime, this year ‘Willy Wonka: the Pantomime’, at the Burnavon, Cookstown.

The show is playing on Fridays and Saturdays in January and is supported by funding from Mid Ulster District Council, the Department of Social Development and the Association of Independent Volunteer Centres.

Starring Niall Heron from Cookstown (Willy Wonka); Jack Carberry from Brackaville (Charlie Bucket); Oisin Quinn from Moneymore (Augustus Gloopus); Hannah Ferguson from Dungannon (Veruca Salty, who took the lead as Dorothy in last year’s ‘The Wizard of Oz); Emily Gribbin from Dungannon (Violet Broomhandler, who was lead in the 2014 Snow White panto), and with another star turn from Grandma Josephine  (the panto dame), as always played by John Glendinning, it’s an exciting and thrilling new spectacle for the group that builds on the successful run of 2016.

This year’s production is directed with imagination and verve by Brian Morgan, who was delighted with the preview and opening night audiences’ reaction as they experienced this year’s chocolate box of panto delights, saying ‘We know that audiences are going to love our production right across the run. We have packed the show full of surprises and there really will be something for everyone this year, from stunning costumes and cast make-up, to laughs aplenty and a classic soundtrack.’

John Glendinning, playing Grandma Josephine said ‘I’m looking forward to the rest of the shows we have lined up. It’s all good old-fashioned family fun, and who doesn’t like a bit of a laugh to cheer us all up this side of Christmas and the New Year. Stewartstown Amateur Dramatic Society is a very special community organisation to be involved in and I feel a fantastic experience for me and indeed all those involved, young and old.’

Over the past 18 years, Stewartstown Amateur Dramatic Society have provided a cross-community project that each year has got bigger and better and this year’s show has plenty of effects to wow its audience.

‘Willy Wonka: the Pantomime’ runs until 28th January, with many performances sold out. Tickets are priced £10 / £8 and a group booking offer – buy 8 tickets, get 2 free is also available. To check availability and book your tickets, call into the Box Office at the Burnavon, telephone on 028 8676 9949, or book online at www.burnavon.com

Down

Join the ranger team at National Trust Mount Stewart on Saturday 14th January for a day of tree planting to save the native red squirrel. Bring a packed lunch and be prepared for some physical work! Suitable clothing and footwear essential.  Meet at The Lookout, Mount Stewart. Please note that booking is essential.

Armagh

Antique ,Vintage and collectables fair, St. Marks Parish Church Armagh, Saturday 14th January 2017. Doors are open for to the public from 10am through to 4pm.  There will be a large variety of items available from model vehicles to militaria, jewellery to china and crystal, silver, antique oil lamps, clocks and furniture. Admission £1.

Fermanagh

Join the RSPB NI Fermanagh team this Saturday at Drumgay Lough to watch the wildlife which calls Drumgay Lough home.  You’ll see swans, geese and ducks – some of which have undertaken enormous journeys from Iceland, Scandinavia and western Russia – enjoying the winter weather in Fermanagh.  You’ll learn how to separate the divers from the dabblers, female ducks of different species and maybe hear buzzards overhead. If luck is really on our side, a chance encounter with an otter is possible! Binoculars and telescopes will be provided. Suitable outdoor clothing and footwear are necessary.

Tyrone

Hold your breath, make a wish, count to three……let Stewartstown Amateur Dramatic Society take you to a land of pure imagination in Willy Wonka’s Pantomime this Friday and Saturday at the Burnavon Theatre Cookstown.  Based on themes from Roald Dahl’s magical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this year’s box of delights follows the story of Charlie Bucket and the search for the golden ticket that could give him the chance to finally see inside Willy Wonka’s amazing chocolate factory. Willy Wonka’s Pantomime is packed full of song, dance, hilarity and of course…chocolate!

Derry

For the first time ever the classic nursery Rhyme Humpty Dumpty is brought to the stage at the Roe Valley Arts Centre this Saturday afternoon in this wonderful live interactive all singing and dancing production.  Humpty is going on a big adventure to climb the highest wall in the Kingdom, but Humpty needs your help!  Sing along; solve puzzles, and meet lots of famous children’s charters along the way including, The Three Little Pigs, Little Bo Peep and all the animals on Old MacDonald’s Farm and many more! With amazing costumes, dazzling stage sets and a host of colourful characters to bring you on the journey of a lifetime.  When Humpty climbs the highest wall in the Kingdom, who knows what might happen next?

Antrim

Portrush Theatre Company are delighted to be returning to Portrush Town Hall in 2017 with Dick Whittington. There will be eight shows between 13th-14th and 18th-21st January which includes a sensory performance on the 18th.  This rags to riches story follows a young man as he travels to London to seek his fortune. Things are never easy though as the evil Queen Rat is determined to take over the city and tries to stop Dick on his road to success.  Packed with great songs and hilarious comedy this is a show for all the family to enjoy!  Tickets are priced at £10 and available from Jingles, Portrush.

Belfast

Is there something you have always wanted to try but haven’t found the time to do it? This New Year why not Try Something New at the Crescent Arts Centre?  Based in the heart of South Belfast, the Crescent Arts Centre offers a variety of classes and workshops in a variety of art forms and we are delighted to launch our latest jam-programme for the forthcoming term starting in January!  This term choose from 48 new classes and workshops to the programme along with all your firm favourites for adults and children alike!

For more details on these events and to add your events free go to whatsonni.com. Follow us on twitter @whatsonNI and on facebook at fb.com/www.whatsonni.com for news, competitions and what’s on near you.

Have a creative start to 2017, check out Ards and North Down Borough Council’s brand new programme of art and creative classes starting up this January and taking place through to April.

Don’t miss the chance to learn a new skill and create your own artwork in the process.

Ards Arts Centre is offering an incredible range of longer courses (6-10 weeks) for the Winter/Spring season and it’s an ideal time to get to grips with an art or craft activity, to work with experienced artists, and to come away with your own creations.

As always it’s a wonderful programme offering something for every taste with many of the very popular courses back including Patchwork, Parchment, Illustration, Crochet, Drawing Skills, Calligraphy, Digital Photography, Jewellery-making, Floral Art and Guitar classes for adults and children.

Fancy trying something different? Ards Arts Centre are offering some exciting new classes this season. Try out weaving. Rosemary McCartney is inviting beginners and improvers and try a range of weaving techniques. Expand your visual art techniques with courses in both ‘Watercolour and Ink’ and ‘Acrylic and Oil Painting’ facilitated by Brigh Strawbridge-O’Hagan. Get to grips with printmaking in an exciting new course with Alice Burns.

Get a taste of creativity with Ards Arts Centre’s one day workshops. This season you can sample Sculptural Ceramics, explore your imagination with Drawing and Monotype Printing, make your own Stacking Rings, create beautiful Easter themed projects using the art of parchment!

Let the kids release their inner artist when Saturday Art Club returns on the 28 January, facilitated by Bernice Anderson, assisted by Judith Moore. Followed by a round the world ceramic tour on the programme for 6-12 year olds on Saturday afternoon, with Sandra Robinson as tour guide, assisted by Judith Moore. This ten-week adventure will help your children become skilled little potters and leave them fired up for more!

There’s so much on offer and the majority of classes suit beginners. With so much on offer, don’t miss enrolment day for all classes on Wednesday, 11^th January from 9pm-5pm at Ards Arts Centre, Conway Square, Newtownards.

To find out more, call Ards Arts Centre on 028 9181 0803 or visit ardsarts.com

The north coast based artist Louise McLean (of Atlantic Craft NI) recreates her interpretation of the rugged landscape and dramatic coastlines of Ireland through basketry this January at the Burnavon, Cookstown.

In this stunning exhibition, every basket hand-woven by Louise is unique, gathering its individual momentum and flow, resulting in dramatically sweeping organic shapes that echo bog-land, branches and beaches from the landscapes and coastlines that have inspired Louise.

Discussing her work, Louise says, “Every creation has evolved from traditional basket weaving techniques, the use of oxides, aged and dyed materials combined with various weaves, each unique in construction and form, each telling its own story. The materials I’ve used in each basket also reflect the uncertainty and passage of time as some materials have been connected to the earth growing for longer, while some elements within the baskets are found and gathered, these include pebbles, driftwood, kelp and rope, and who knows how long and far these have travelled.”

Visitors to the exhibition will see the bare branches of the Willow that Louise uses in her weaving, symbolising nature and the changing seasons, while bark, bogwood and beach combed baskets all evoking thoughts and memories of the diversity and rich heritage within our landscape.

The exhibition is on display from Tuesday 3rd – Tuesday 31st January, with free entry, and is open 9am – 5pm daily and 1 hour before scheduled performances. For more information contact the Burnavon Box Office on 028 8676 9949.

Free Golden Tickets Up For Grabs for Locals

Having been crowned the ‘World’s Leading Tourist Attraction’ at the prestigious World Travel Awards in the Maldives, Titanic Belfast, to say thank you for the support in 2016, is giving away complimentary tickets for local residents to the Titanic Experience for the 8^th January 2017.

Titanic Belfast’s NI Citizens Day event on 8^th January will provide the opportunity for locals to visit or re-visit the world-class landmark right on their doorstep, which tells the story of the Titanic, from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through her construction and launch, to her famous maiden voyage and tragic end, free-of-charge.
With over 1 million votes cast from over 216 countries in the awards, known as the ‘Tourism Oscars’, it beat off stiff competition from eight global finalists, including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and the Las Vegas Strip, USA, to become the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction.  Titanic Belfast recognises the key role Northern Ireland locals had to play in making Titanic Belfast ‘King of the World’ and will be issuing tickets for locals on its website on 4^th and 5^th January 2017.
Tim Husbands MBE, Chief Executive of Titanic Belfast, said, “Home is where the heart is for Titanic Belfast. We recognise that the Northern Ireland got behind us in our bid to become ‘King of the World’, from the public, industry partners, well-known personalities, politicians, sports stars and businesses. It was because of them and the hard work of our staff that we were voted on par with previous winners such as the Taj Mahal, Las Vegas Strip and the Pyramids of Egypt. To say thank you for your support in 2016 and to show our appreciation, we are throwing our doors open for locals on 8^th January to encourage those who have or haven’t visited to come down and enjoy the world-class experience on their doorstep!”

Described by The Guardian as “an inspiring testament to the Titanic and the city that built it”, more than three million people from around the world have already visited Titanic Belfast since opening in 2012. The Experience continues to go from strength to strength and has added the SS Nomadic, the world’s largest Titanic artefact to its offering over the last year.

Tickets will be released on www.titanicbelfast.com/citizensday at noon on Wednesday 4^th January with a second release at noon on Thursday 5^th January.  To bag one of these one-off golden tickets to beat the January blues and experience the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction, use promotion TBTHANKSNI when booking tickets.

For more information, visit www.titanicbelfast.com/citizensday.

Wedding show has been nominated as a finalist in the 2017 Northern Ireland Wedding Awards.

What better way to start planning your big day or to help you both put those special finishing touches in place than a visit to the Lagan Valley Island Wedding Fayre on Sunday 29^th January from 2 – 5pm.

Organised by Perfect Bliss Wedding Events, the show promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Couples can expect to be introduced to over 40 top local suppliers who can provide a wealth of knowledge and expertise you would expect to find from the finest in the wedding industry that will help create their dream day. There will also be live performances from wedding bands, a catwalk extravaganza at 4pm to enjoy, free entry and free car parking.

The Wedding Fayre is a great opportunity to view the stunning wedding facilities for up to 220 guests at Lagan Valley Island. Choose from the fantastic packages on offer e.g. book your reception for 60 guests for less than £1750. This includes room hire, a four course wedding banquet, chair covers, centrepieces, fairy light backdrop and much more. Tours of the stunning wedding facilities will be provided throughout the day of the event.

Those in attendance can meet with Lagan Valley Island’s experienced Registrars, wedding co-ordinators and catering team to take the first steps towards planning that special day. Check outhttps://www.laganvalleyisland.co.uk/weddingvenuesnorthernireland for more information on holding your wedding at Lagan Valley Island.

Entry to the Wedding Fayre is free and there is free car-parking onsite.

For more information on attending or to book a stand at the Wedding Fayre, contact Perfect Bliss Wedding Events on 07845 357339 or email: info@perfectblissweddingevents.com

Our Christmas Story at The Market Place Theatre, Armagh continues with the highly-acclaimed show, ‘Christmas Country Showtime’, returning on Friday 30^th December after another sold-out performance last year.

Topping the bill this year will be Ireland’s top country and gospel recording start Trudi Lalor, all the way from Tipperary. The line-up also features the true voice of country Joe Moore, the fabulous train whistle sounds of ‘Boxcar Brian’, the glamorous Olivia Douglas, sensational thirteen-year-old singing wonder Owen Mac along with his dad Dessie Mac, plus Jordan Mogey singing the old, traditional hits of Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams. Backing band for the night is ‘Country Harmony’ and all compered by ‘Mr Country’ himself, Sean Wallace. Tickets are priced £16.50 each.

Then providing the entertainment on New Year’s Eve are top Gospel band ‘Live Issue’ invites you to join them in celebrating the arrival of 2017 with an evening of quality Gospel music. The members of ‘Live Issue’ are marking their 10th anniversary since reforming in 2006 and in that time the group has toured regularly throughout the British Isles, Europe and America. ‘Live Issue’ is also noted as being one of the few bands from Ireland to grace the stage of the famous Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Joining ‘Live Issue’ on New Year’s Eve will be a host of special guests, making this evening of praise an event not to be missed. Tickets are priced £15 each.

Tickets for all performances can be booked through the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.marketplacearmagh.com And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews. For information on Christmas In Armagh visit www.ourstoryofchristmas.com | #ourstoryofchristmas