North Down Museum’s Christmas Craft Market is taking place this weekend, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 November.

 

A popular date on the shopping calendar, the market will be packed with a total of 20 local artists and crafters providing an array of handmade goods, ideal for those special stocking fillers.

Come along and browse the stalls which will be dotted around the historical museum building – start your Christmas shopping or even finish it!

Coffee Cure, the museum café will be open throughout the event where visitors can enjoy tea, coffee, lunch and snacks.

There will be live music in the café from 1pm – 3pm on both days. Up and coming talent Courtney Craig will be performing on the Saturday and popular local artists Rachel McCarthy and Stephen Macartney will be playing on Sunday.

Speaking about the Christmas Craft Market, North Down Museum Manager, Heather McGuicken said; ‘The Museum’s Christmas Market is a fun and festive way to purchase unique, local, hand crafted items for your loved ones.  Come and see something different while shopping this year’.

 

The market runs from 10am to 4.30pm on Saturday 24 and 12pm to 4.30pm on Sunday 25 November. Parking and admission is free at North Down Museum.

For more information on the Christmas Craft Market and other events and exhibitions, visit www.northdownmuseum.com

 

Leave winter behind this Christmas and escape to balmy oriental nights as The Market Place Theatre in Armagh takes you on a high-flying, magical carpet ride headed for the exotic and mystical lands of the East, with the spectacular and breathtaking pantomime ‘Aladdin’.

This year’s Christmas spectacular, ‘Aladdin’, will combine dazzling costumes, stunning sets, mischievous fun and thrilling musical numbers all wrapped up in an adventure unlike any you will have ever witnessed….oh yes it will!!

Join a cast of well-loved characters including old Widow Twanky and her poor son Aladdin, and let your imagination take flight with this action-packed and mesmerizing pantomime. Times are tough but Aladdin’s life is dramatically changed when he falls in love with the most beautiful woman in the Kingdom. Enter the evilest baddie in the Kingdom, Abanazer. Will the evil Abanazer destroy Aladdin’s dreams to get rich and marry the Princess? A high-flying adventure you won’t want to miss.

Performances will run from Saturday 1 December, right up to Sunday 23 December, at a variety of times to suit all ages! Ticket prices range from £10 to £15. Tickets are selling fast, with the best availability remaining on the last week.

To book your tickets for the most exciting pantomime of the season, phone the Box Office now on [028] 3752 1821. The house is sure to be packed to the rafters for this annual festive hit, so book now, before it’s too late! There are BSL signed, captioned and relaxed performances during the run. Please contact the Box Office for full details.

Tickets for all performances can be booked through the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre 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.

 

This Christmas, the MAC is delighted to announce it will once again be collaborating with award-winning children’s theatre company Cahoots NI for a magical production of the classic fairytale, The Elves and The Shoemaker.

Treat the whole family by picking up the most flexible Family Saver ticket in town, valid Monday – Friday, save 10% when you purchase 4 or more tickets.

Based on the much-loved story by the Brothers Grimm, The Elves and The Shoemaker is the uplifting story of a kind-hearted tradesman who has fallen on hard times and is assisted by a mischievous band of nocturnal fairy folk. Suitable for all ages, audiences will need to keep their eyes peeled for some of the fairyland’s best-known characters who just might pop up to make it Belfast’s funniest, festive family show.

As ever with the MAC’s Christmas shows, expect a unique twist on the traditional fairytale format with a funny script co-written by Simon Magill and Stephen Beggs, under the direction of Paul Bosco Mc Eneaney, and an enchanting festive score from Garth McConaghie.

Simon Magill, Creative Director at the MAC has said, “Simply put, this year’s Christmas show promises to be absolutely spectacular. With the inimitable Sean Kearns as our eponymous shoemaker and some stellar performances from the likes of Clare Barrett and Jolene O’Hara, we’re really excited to revive this classic story for a modern family audience.”

Paul Bosco McEneaney adds: “We are very excited to be back at the MAC this Christmas after the huge success of Under the Hawthorn Tree in September. The Elves and the Shoemaker is packed with Cahoots NI’s signature magical touch and we cannot wait to welcome audiences into the Elfin world we have created!”

The show will run from Tuesday 27^th November until Saturday 6^th January, but with tickets selling out fast, book now to avoid disappointment! Avail of discount prices when you purchase a Family Saver ticket, valid Monday to Friday, which will save you 10% when you purchase 4 tickets or more.

This has been the busiest year for school bookings, with schools making a visit to the MAC an annual Christmas tradition. MACtile Tours, the MAC’s award-winning initiative to make the theatre a more relaxing experience for children with Autism Sensory Disorders, continues to bring the magic of theatre to more and more audiences. School Bookings
MAC school tickets are very good value, at only £8 per pupil. Plus, for every 10 tickets booked, we’ll give you an 11th free – making it more affordable to bring a whole class. To make an enquiry, simply email Melissa McMinn at the MAC  Under The Hawthorn Tree is perfect for families and children age 7+Treat the whole family by picking up the most flexible Family Saver ticket in town, valid Monday – Friday, save 10% when you purchase 4 or more tickets.School Bookings
MAC school tickets are very good value, at only £8 per pupil. Plus, for every 10 tickets booked, we’ll give you an 11th free – making it more affordable to bring a whole class. To make an enquiry, simply email Melissa McMinn at the MAC  Under The Hawthorn Tree is perfect for families and children age 7+Treat the whole family by picking up the most flexible Family Saver ticket in town, valid Monday – Friday, save 10% when you purchase 4 or more tickets.School Bookings
MAC school tickets are very good value, at only £8 per pupil. Plus, for every 10 tickets booked, we’ll give you an 11th free – making it more affordable to bring a whole class. To make an enquiry, simply email Melissa McMinn at the MAC  Under The Hawthorn Tree is perfect for families and children age 7+Treat the whole family by picking up the most flexible Family Saver ticket in town, valid Monday – Friday, save 10% when you purchase 4 or more tickets.

School Bookings
MAC school tickets are very good value, at only £8 per pupil. Plus, for every 10 tickets booked, we’ll give you an 11th free – making it more affordable to bring a whole class. To make an enquiry, simply email Melissa McMinn at the MAC For more information about the show or to book tickets for your festive family trip to the MAC, visit themaclive.com.

As part of the NI Science Festival, Titanic Belfast and The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA), are calling all whizz kids to get involved with its annual STEM Quest (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths challenge).

To date, over 170 teams from across Northern Ireland have competed, with Lumen Christi triumphing last year.

Titanic Belfast and CCEA are now on the lookout for this year’s best science, technology, engineering and maths Key Stage 3 (1st – 3rd year) quiz teams of four to compete and test their knowledge against their peers from across the region, in a bid to become Northern Ireland’s top team.

The teams will compete in a ‘University Challenge style’ Grand Final, hosted again by well-known personality, Joe Lindsay, at Titanic Belfast on 12^th February 2019. The closing date for entries for the STEM Quiz is 19^th January 2019, spaces are limited and will be given on a first come first serve basis. To enter, visit www.titanicbelfast.com.

Siobhan McCartney, Titanic Belfast’s Learning and Outreach Manager, commented, “We are absolutely thrilled to host our fourth STEM Quest Challenge supported by CCEA. To date, we have seen over 170 schools compete, and it is brilliant to see so many schools, teachers and pupils get involved and compete at such a high standard every year, especially as the need for Northern Irish STEM graduates grows. We are looking forward to this year’s competition so if you are science mad, geek chic or a mathematical whiz kid get your teacher to sign up and get involved!”

Justin Edwards, CCEA’s Chief Executive commented: “CCEA are delighted to be working together with Titanic Belfast on this year’s STEM Quest challenge, as part of the NI Science Festival.  NI’s young people continue to display an interest and enthusiasm in STEM, with our latest figures showing that over 40% of all GCSE entries are STEM subjects. The competitive, learning, fun environment that the STEM Quest challenge offers learners is wonderful and something which CCEA are delighted to encourage”.

The event is just one of the Titanic Belfast’s learning and outreach activities. It now a total of eight workshops and three guided tours and was recently awarded the prestigious Sandford Award for Heritage Education, joining leading historic houses, museums, galleries, such as Hampton Court Palace, Brunel’s SS Great Britain in Bristol and Edinburgh Castle.  For more information, visit www.titanicbelfast.com/learning.

This November Birmingham Royal Ballet brings the sunniest and funniest of ballets to the Grand Opera House with the ever-summery La Fille mal gardée (The Wayward Daughter).

Lise has a choice to make. Loaded country bumpkin or penniless, hunky farmhand? Of course, there’s no contest, but her mum has other ideas. Heels are dug in and sparks fly, as a mother-daughter battle ensues.

Mixing spectacular classical ballet with slick comedy, a clog-dancing dame and a super-cute pony, as well as live music by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, this is sure to be fantastic entertainment for you, your friends, and all your family!

★★★★ ‘Enchantingly and hilariously silly’ The Daily Telegraph
★★★★ ‘Unmissable’ The Daily Express
★★★★★ ‘If there is a happier ballet than Fille, then I do not know of it’ The Birmingham Post

 

Free Pre-Performance Talk
Friday 9 November 6.30pm. Call box office on 028 9024 1919 to reserve your place

A unique opportunity to hear about what it takes to be performance ready. Hear how Birmingham Royal Ballet stages its magnificent shows and what life is really like on the road. Talks are given by dancers of the Company as well as various members of staff .

Company class on stage
Saturday 11.45am | £10

Ever wondered what a ballet dancer does to prepare for a day of rehearsal and performance? This is your chance to watch an open Company class on stage and find out.

BOOK NOW

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Mid-Ulster!

From the switch on of a mile of Christmas lights in Cookstown, to the Christmas Market in Magherafelt, and a Magical Kingdom in Dungannon, you’ll be spoilt for Yuletide cheer this year in Mid Ulster.

The feast of festive events, organised by Mid Ulster District Council, kicks off on Friday 23^rd November at 6.30pm in Cookstown, with the switch on of the Christmas lights in the town.

Magherafelt Christmas Market is back bigger and better than ever this year, on Saturday 24^th and Sunday 25^th November, bringing more than 25 artisan food and craft stalls with tempting treats and wares for you to buy.

The switch on of Magherafelt’s Christmas lights, and accompanying street party and fireworks display will take place on Saturday 24^th from 6.30pm – 8.30pm in the town centre.

Meanwhile in Dungannon, over the weekend 24^th and 25^th November, Ranfurly House, and Hill of The O’Neill, will once again lead you into a Magical Christmas Kingdom, with a host of festive themed family entertainment including the lights switch on on the 24^th from 5.30pm.

The following weekend sees the turn of Maghera and Coalisland to launch their festive celebrations, with Christmas in Maghera celebrations happening in The Lurach Centre, Maghera Walled Garden and the town centre from 3pm on Saturday 1^st December. Mid Ulster’s Christmas celebration finale happens in Coalisland town centre from 3.30pm on Sunday 2^nd December.

For full details of these and other festive fun happening across the Mid Ulster District visit www.midulstercouncil.org/christmas.

 

Also, I noticed when I clicked the link on your website it took me through to our general what’s on page so can you make sure the link is taking you to just the Christmas events- the link is www.midulstercouncil.org/christmas.

One of Belfast’s biggest and most prestigious music events will take centre stage at the historic Ulster Hall on Thursday 15 November.

The NI Music Prize will mark its 6^th year by taking over Belfast’s famous music venue. The event celebrates the most exciting up and coming musical talent across the North and crowns the Northern Ireland album of the year.

Belfast City Council is supporting the event through its Amplifier project, which aims to enhance the city’s musical offering in line with the aspirations of its Belfast Agenda.

As the NI Music Prize continues to grow in stature year on year, organisers have introduced a number of new categories. Nominees have now been shortlisted for best single; best live and the Oh Yeah Contender Award, with winners being announced on the evening by a number of special guests.

In addition, one of the highlights of the evening will see Snow Patrol front man, Gary Lightbody awarded with the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Music’ award.

BBC Radio Ulster’s Rigsy will compare the event, which promises to shine a light on local talent with many of the nominees across all four categories taking to the stage to perform.

Looking ahead to a packed night of entertainment Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Deirdre Hargey, said; “The NI Music Prize shines a light on the amazing musical talent across Belfast and the wider region. The awards are growing from strength to strength, and it is fitting that they will now take place in the historic and unique surrounds of the Ulster Hall.

“Some of the world’s best known musicians have performed on that stage, and I have no doubt that the NI Music Prize will act as a springboard for our local talent to experience bigger things in their musical careers.

“It promises to be a fantastic night and I would encourage as many people as possible to come along and enjoy the show.”

The Ulster Hall has welcomed world famous acts through its doors, with artists and bands such as U2, Coldplay, Thin Lizzy, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, Jim Reeves, The Who, AC/DC gracing the stage to perform.

Charlotte Dryden, Chief Executive of the Oh Yeah Music Centre is excited about hosting the event in Ulster Hall. She said; “The Oh Yeah Music Centre is delighted to be able to bring the NI Music Prize back to the Ulster Hall. There is a tremendous amount of high quality music being produced in this part of the world, so much so that we felt confident enough to extend the number of categories to four this year.

“We are very proud of our music community and to be able to showcase just a small fraction of our best talent on one of the most iconic stages in Belfast is fantastic.

“Thanks to Belfast City Council and the Amplifier Fund for getting behind our plans to celebrate our very own home-grown and world class talent right here in Belfast.”

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, British Council, PRS, PPL, Invest Northern Ireland, Help Musicians NI and Tourism Ireland also support the NI Music Prize.

The NI Music Prize is part of a wider programme of events as part of the Sound of Belfast 2018. Organised by Oh Yeah Music Centre and supported by Belfast City Council, it aims to highlight and promote a great musical city. To find out more visit www.soundofbelfast.com.

Belfast City Council is giving away five pairs of tickets via an online competition. Applications can be made via the council website at https://dof.belfastcity.gov.uk/NIMusicPrize2018/

 

The event is open to the public and tickets for the evening cost £10. They are available via Ulster Hall website at tinyurl.com/NIMPrize.

 

Murlough Beach in County Down, Portstewart Strand and Downhill Beach in County Derry~Londonderry and Port Ban Beach, Dunree, County Donegal will join over 30 beaches across the UK and Ireland on Sunday 11 November for Pages of the Sea, Danny Boyle’s commission for 14-18 NOW to mark the centenary of Armistice Day.

The event is an informal, gesture of remembrance for the millions of men and women who left their home shores during the First World War, many never to return.

It will be delivered in Northern Ireland and County Donegal by the Nerve Centre and National Trust, in partnership with Big Telly Theatre Company, Stendhal Festival, UV Arts, Artlink and Live Music Now.

Murlough Beach

On Murlough Beach, County Down from 8.30am the portrait of John McCance from Dundrum, a casualty from the First World War will emerge from the sand. And then, as the tide rises at 10.30am, be washed away as the public take a moment to say a collective goodbye.

Rifleman John McCance was born in Dundrum, enlisted in Downpatrick and died at Passchendaele. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, along with 35,000 others.

Music will be provided by Mourne Community Choir and the public will be asked to join in by creating silhouettes of people in the sand, remembering the millions of lives lost or changed forever by the conflict.

The National Trust is offering free parking will be available at the main visitor car park at Murlough National Nature Reserve, adjacent to the start of the boardwalk which leads to the beach. The cafe will also be open for hot drinks and refreshments.

Portstewart Strand

Between 12pm and 3.30pm, Big Telly Theatre Company are inviting people onto Portstewart Strand to help them create an artwork in the sand using stencils of portraits.  Actors dressed as First World War soldiers can be spotted around the town and a free shuttle bus service will run every 20 minutes from the Promenade in Portstewart town centre to the Strand. The National Trust is offering free car parking on the beach with hot drinks and refreshments available from Harry’s Shack.

Port Bán, Dunree

Port Bán, Dunree beach will also unveil a stunning large scale portrait of Seaman John Buckley from County Cork who lost his life, along with 353 others, on the SS Laurentic after it sank at the mouth of Lough Swilly in 1917.  Built in Belfast, the liner was used by the government to transport gold during the War and sank after she struck mines laid by a German U-Boat. John is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon

Attendees can get involved in stencilling and have the opportunity to hear some of the poems written by the community and view the artwork created by local school children. A free shuttle bus will run every 20 minutes, from Dunree Fort to the beach.

Downhill Beach

The day will finish on Downhill Beach with a large 30m square portrait of First World War Nurse, Rachel Ferguson being completed at 2pm. Rachel was the daughter of John Stewart Ferguson and Annie Ferguson, of Lanebrooke House, Moneymore, County Derry. She died on 26th June 1918 at Bordighera, Italy whilst working for Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service. She is buried in Bordighera British Cemetery, Italy.

Members of the public will have a spectacular view of the portrait from Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne with Stendhal Festival and Live Music Now providing music from 2.00 to 4.00pm in the Temple.

Free car parking is available on Downhill Beach with free admission to Downhill Demesne and Mussenden Temple. A shuttle bus service will run every 15 minutes, from Downhill Beach to the Lion’s Gate at Downhill Demesne, just a ten minute walk from Mussenden Temple.

Poet Carol Ann Duffy has been invited by Boyle to write a new poem, which will be read by individuals, families and communities as they gather on the beaches on 11 November. Copies of the poem are available online and will be available at the beaches for those who wish to come together or to offer their own personal contribution.

At the launch of Pages of the Sea, Danny Boyle said: “Beaches are truly public spaces, where nobody rules other than the tide. They seem the perfect place to gather and say a final goodbye and thank you to those whose lives were taken or forever changed by the First World War. I’m inviting people to watch as the faces of the fallen are etched in the sand, and for communities to come together to remember the sacrifices that were made.”

David Lewis, Director of Communications and Digital Content at Nerve Centre said:

“Nerve Centre is delighted to be working in partnership with 14-18 NOW, Danny Boyle and our local partners on this new commission. Pages of the Sea will encourage people to reflect on the profound significance of the First World War and its legacy. Around 200,000 men and women from Ireland served over the course of the war, with many thousands leaving these shores never to return.”

Heather McLachlan, Regional Director, National Trust Northern Ireland said: “We are delighted that two of our beaches in Northern Ireland have been selected to play host to this incredible event. Providing access to special places is at the core of everything we do. We think that it is important that everyone should be able to join these moving events so we will offering free access to and car parking at Portstewart Strand and Murlough beach (via the National Nature Reserve). We will also be throwing open the gates of Downhill Demesne, including the iconic Mussenden Temple, from which people have an incredible view of the large portrait on Downhill beach.”

The public is invited to explore an online gallery of portraits of some of the men and women who served in the First World War, and select someone to thank and say a personal goodbye to either via social media or as they gather in person on beaches on 11 November at www.pagesofthesea.org.uk. The images are drawn from the Imperial War Museum’s ‘Lives of the First World War’ which aims to tell 8 million stories of those who served from Britain and the Commonwealth. Visitors to the website can also add their own portraits of members of their family or community who contributed to the First World War. www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org

The work is commissioned and produced by 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, and delivered with partner organisations across the UK: National Trust; Activate Performing Arts; Creative Foundation; Eden Project; National Theatre Scotland; Nerve Centre; Sunderland Culture; Taliesin. The wok is in association with Aberystwth Arts Centre; The Grand Theatre of Lemmings; Magna Vitae; MOSTYN; SeaChange Arts; Swansea Council; Swansea University; Theatre Orchard; and VisitBlackpool.

Supported by The National Lottery and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

With additional support from Backstage Trust, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch) and National Rail.

The public can see which beaches are taking part by visiting www.pagesofthesea.org.uk #PagesoftheSea

 

Come join Hugh Tinney as he celebrates his 60^th birthday with an evening of classical music at the Market Place Theatre in Armagh.

Part of a tour to twelve venues around Ireland, the pianist and audiences will come together to celebrate the astonishing piano repertoire developed by the very greatest composers from Bach to the present.

The recital programme will feature works by Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Ian Wilson and Thomas Adés.

Since winning major piano competitions in Italy and Spain in 1983 and ’84, Hugh Tinney has performed in more than thirty-five countries throughout Europe, the USA, Latin America and the Far East.

He continues to be a major contributor to Irish concert life in recital, chamber music and teaching.

Tickets for all performances can be booked through the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre

Be one of the first to see the F1 Redbull Racing Car when it comes to Portrush, ahead of their event in Belfast.

The Red Bull Racing Team are bringing their F1 Car to the Kelly’s Complex Portrush on Thursday 1^st November 2018 between 8pm-10pm in advance of its trip to Belfast on November 3^rd.

Fans will have the opportunity to get a close-up inspection of the feat of modern technology. Come along, grab a photo and be one of the 1^st to check it out.

The Red Bull Wings team will also be there with their dodge truck and samples, making it a night that you’ll remember.

It’s FREE to come along, children are welcome so bring along your Formula 1 loving little ones.

The Kelly’s complex offers fantastic week night deals in their Pizza Library & Deerstalker Bar & Bistro if you wish to make a night of it and enjoy a meal with Family and Friends.

For further information visit The Deerstalker & Stubborn Stag Facebook Page Events section (@TheDeerstalker).