Ards & North Down Borough Council is delighted to welcome the incredibly talented Canadian fiddler, singer and step dancer April Verch with her band to Portico, Portaferry as part of a Moving On Music tour, on 11^th May.

A captivating performer, April has been touring extensively for over two decades and has recently released an 18-track album documenting her work, ‘The April Verch Anthology’.

While Verch is perhaps best known for playing traditional fiddle styles from her native Ottawa Valley, Canada, her performances extend into old-time American and Appalachian styles and beyond, for a well-rounded tour-de-force of North Americana sounds. Verch tours with world-class musicians as a trio, featuring acoustic guitar, mandolin, bass and clawhammer banjo in addition to Verch’s vocals, fiddle and foot percussion.

With an ‘almost superhuman’ presence on stage, April flawlessly intertwines her fiddle playing, step dancing and singing; sometimes she sings, steps and fiddles all at once, with apparent ease and precision. Verch is – as they say – a triple threat in performance, her live show a beautiful companion to her music: versatile, robust, and masterfully executed.

Built in 1839, the beautiful Greek-inspired Portico has recently undergone a £1.5m restoration which included a structural overhaul and its transformation into an atmospheric venue which oozes character and charm.

The April Verch Band will perform at Portico, Portaferry on Thursday 11^th May, 7.30pm. Tickets are £12 and available from www.ardsarts.com or 028 9181 0803

This Friday, 14^th April, Conway Square will host fantastic family fun from 12.30pm-5pm

Look out for world class street theatre acts with a spectacular Spring Street Carnival at 3pm, it’s a treat for all the family this Easter holiday!

Over 180 local children will take part in Newtownards debut Spring Carnival, including children from Abbey Primary and dance groups, VAD Productions, Born to Perform, Excel and Le Chance de Danser.

The Spring Street Carnival will leave St Marks on Church Street, travel through Regent Street, Frances Street, Castle Place, High Street, Mill Street, Gibson’s Lane then back to Regent street.

The Beat Initiative have been working for months creating costumes and floats to represent spring.Come watch and welcome spring with giant puppets, animals and creatures with fantastic live music. This will be a chance to show off and celebrate all things Ards!

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Deborah Girvan said ‘It’s very exciting to be leading this Spring Carnival in Newtownards, I am looking forward to meeting all the children who will take part’  

Don’t miss Bruce Airhead, Bang On and Comedy duo Airborne who will entertain in Conway Square form 12.30-5pm. Come and have a go in the 3D Art Workshop or make spring flower bottles, bumble bees and birds throughout the afternoons festivities!

Newtownards is the only place to be this Good Friday!

Come to Bangor this Easter Monday, 17^th April to see a Spectacular Spring Street Carnival travel through the town at 3pm. Led by The Mayor of Ards and North Down this is a Springtime spectacular not to be missed!

Over 180 children and young people from local schools, dance and performance groups will take part including Kilmaine Primary, Glenlola Collegiate, Le Chance de Danser, Tiny Beat, SERC Music and NI Stars.

Look out for mythical and magical creatures, budding flowers and baby animals, Spring faeries and fantastic live music as Spring will awake with The Beat Carnivals most ambitious creation yet!

The Spring Street Carnival will leave Bangor Town Hall at 3pm, travel Castle Park Avenue, Main Street, Bridge street, High Street, Bingham Street, Mills Road, Hamilton road back to Main Street and the Town Hall.

Family Fun will be in full swing from 12pm-5pm with Project 24 being the place to be for all you budding artists as there will be an array of interactive and amazing Spring Street Art and Crafts including a giant cube of live cartoon drawing!  Why not stroll the promenade and enjoy the free children’s Land Train?

Bangor Super Trial will transform McKee Clock Arena into an eye opening daredevil course. World number 2 Adam ‘The Destroyer’ Raga will showcase his death-defying stunts The 7 times World Champion will be returning to Bangor where he made his arena debut at the tender age of 16. The event will start at 12 o’clock with two qualifying heats before the final at 4pm. Andy Perry from Trialstar NI said ‘We are very excited to have Adam as part of our many superb Trial Bike supremo’s in our Super Trial in Bangor. With the hugely popular Springtime Carnival and the first class family entertainment on offer, this Easter Monday will be better than ever!’

The North Down Museum will have a fabulous Easter Trial. Tickets £1. Follow clues throughout the museum in order to solve the puzzle and get your Easter egg. Afterwards make Easter crafts to take home. A great time for all the family!

The Train, a musical based on the 1971 contraceptive train with music by Riverdance composer Bill Whelan, takes to the stage at the MAC this Easter.

 By Arthur Riordan and Bill Whelan

Directed by Lynne Parker for Rough Magic Theatre Company

Rough Magic Theatre Company have announced that their musical The Train will take to the stage at the MAC in Belfast from April 19-23.

This completes an important step of the journey for this fictional celebration of a remarkable media coup; when 47 women challenged the restrictive laws of the Irish State in 1971, by taking a train to Belfast and returning to Dublin with forbidden contraceptives.

Simon Magill, Creative Director at the MAC, said: “We always strive to offer our audiences the best in homegrown Irish drama and we are delighted to welcome back Rough Magic to present their fantastic musical, The Train, at the MAC. Direct from its run at The Abbey Theatre, Dublin, it is fitting that we re-trace the steps of 47 trailblazing women from Dublin to Belfast.”

The show is directed by Belfast-born Lynne Parker, with book and lyrics by Arthur Riordan (‘Improbable Frequency’) and music composed by Bill Whelan (‘Riverdance’).

“To take The Train – literally – to Belfast is a hugely exciting prospect, mirroring the original journey and giving us a tremendous platform to raise awareness of the issues in the piece.” said Lynne Parker.   It was a time, as the women of ‘71 said, ‘when the world turned on its axis’. We are living through such a time now and this history has real currency.”

The cast will be Clare Barrett, Danielle Galligan, Kate Gilmore, Darragh Kelly, Lisa Lambe, Karen McCartney, Sophie Jo Wasson Louis Lovett and Ross Gaynor, with a live band under the musical direction of Cathal Synnott

In an environment where gender equality in theatre has never been more pertinent, this watershed moment in Irish social and political life is joyously captured by Arthur Riordan’s wit and Bill Whelan’s dynamic score.

Bill Whelan said of this 2017 production, “When Arthur Riordan and I began working on the Train for Rough Magic some years ago, it seemed that the issues raised in 1971 were still startlingly relevant. Given recent political upheavals, it would now appear that the further we move from the actual historical event, the more relevant and urgent those issues have become.”

For more information and to book, visit themaclive.com.

The focus is firmly on celebrating and encouraging creativity for all the family this summer, as the Burnavon releases its brand new summer programme.

Covering June to August, musical highlights include Irish Country Music star, Robert Mizzell, and a fantastic line up for the annual July Celebrations Concert, headlined by traditional Scottish and Irish music fusion band, KasK.

Emerging local talent also gets the chance to shine with performances in June from Caroline Creggan Dance School, and the phenomenon that is Superstars, who have been rehearsing their new show, ‘Happily Ever After’ with amazing commitment and dedication!

Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre Company return with their new puppet show, Magic of the Mummy: Tales of ancient Egypt on Friday 2nd June. Suitable for ages 5 – 12 years old, beautifully made rod puppets, intriguing shadow sequences, and masterful storytelling are the key elements in this children’s show, which magically brings the Egyptian world to life.

And of course being summertime, there’s an opportunity to get involved in the Burnavon’s series of workshops in arts, crafts and dance for all those budding ballerinas and makers, as Ballet Ireland return with their annual summer school from Monday 31st July – Friday 4th August. The Burnavon summer scheme runs from Monday 7th – Friday 11th August, ensuring that the focus is firmly on providing lots for the kids to do in the summer holidays.

This August, Star Wars fans will have another opportunity to see the amazing Invasion Mid Ulster II. Ireland’s longest running Star Wars costuming club, The Emerald Garrison take over the Burnavon Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August. Including a line-up of fun, interactive activities, life sized props and sets, the brand new Snow Speeder Spaceship on display this year for the first time will be a highlight for all Star Wars fans, young and old.

The Burnavon is also encouraging you to get out and about, and visit all the interesting places on your doorstep this summer to find out the stories of our local places and faces. Day trips departing from the Burnavon are available to Beaghmore Stone Circles, the U.S. Grant and William Carlton trail, Upperlands Linen Village and Seamus Heaney HomePlace in June, July, August and September.

The Burnavon’s new season programme can be downloaded from their website, www.burnavon.com or is available for free at the Box Office, Burn Road, Cookstown. Tickets can be purchased through Box Office on 028 8676 9949 or online. Become a fan on Facebook or follow the theatre on Twitter @burnavon theatre for all the latest news, reminders of what’s on and a glimpse of behind the scenes during the season.

Tourism NI has today launched a Journey of Doors passport that allows  Game of Thrones® fans to visit the 10 Game of Thrones Doors across Northern Ireland and collect a unique stamp at each of the locations.

The Doors, created by Tourism Ireland and Tourism NI, were  carved from trees blown down in Storm Gertrude in January 2016 at the Dark Hedges in Co Antrim – perhaps the most iconic Game of Thrones® filming location in Northern Ireland. Each door depicts moments inspired by Season 6 referencing key scenes and events from the show.

The intricately carved doors are legacy pieces demonstrating the connection between the fantasy world of the show and the reality that is Northern Ireland.  The doors hang in pubs and other venues in Northern Ireland close to filming locations giving visitors a brand new Game of Thrones® territory experience to enjoy.

Judith Webb, Tourism NI Experience Development Officer commented; “Game of Thrones® is one of the most popular TV shows of all time currently broadcast in 199 territories worldwide. Northern Ireland is home to many of the filming locations that frequently appear on our screens and as a result, the show has been transformative for screen tourism in Northern Ireland.

“Fans from around the world are visiting Northern Ireland for the unique Game of Thrones ® visitor experience on offer that combines the stunning filming locations with the doors situated in local bars and restaurants.

“The Journey of Doors souvenir passport is an interactive way for visitors and Game of Thrones® fans to travel to each of the doors and collect a unique stamp at each location. To navigate their way around Northern Ireland to the ten doors and the accessible filming locations visitors can download the Game of Thrones® Filming Locations Northern Ireland  app.“

Brian Twomey, Tourism Ireland’s Head of Marketing Communications, said: “The ‘Journey of Doors’ passport is a really great follow-up to our ‘Doors of Thrones’ campaign from last year. It’s an innovative way to encourage fans everywhere to come and experience Northern Ireland and its Game of Thrones connections – inspiring them to discover the doors which tell the story of series six and seek out the nearby film locations.

“We’ll be distributing the passport through our offices around the world – to our network of international tour operators and travel journalists, as well as to potential holidaymakers for Northern Ireland.

“Our 2016 ‘Doors of Thrones’ campaign reached an estimated 126 million people around the world, with the campaign’s short films being viewed 17 million times – generating coverage worth about £11.3 million.”

The Journey of Doors passport is available from the 10 pubs and restaurants where the Doors of Thrones are located as well as many of the Visitor Information Centres across Northern Ireland. It can also be downloaded from http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/gameofthronesdoors

There are 25 Game of Thrones® filming locations in Northern Ireland that are accessible to the public and visitors can choose from a range of guided location tours or immerse themselves in Game of Thrones® themed adventures such as archery, cycle tours or banquets.