Introducing MAC Youth Theatre, a new theatrical programme that aims to give young performers and stage managers from across Greater Belfast first-hand experience in producing and managing stage productions.

Building upon the MAC’s already extensive learning and participation programme, the MAC Youth Theatre will feature an ensemble of twenty young performers and stage managers as they take a collective approach to creative theatre-making.

The programme will be directed by the MAC’s Youth & Community Officer, Ciaran McQuillan and supported by MAC artists including Leonie McDonagh, founder of pony dance & known for previous appearances in the MAC pony panto Christmas show. They will support the MAC Youth Theatre in creating an innovative, contemporary production that demonstrates the MAC’s artistic excellence and exposes participants to all aspects of creating and managing a major production at an award-winning venue.

Simon Magill, Creative Director at the MAC, said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of the first MAC Youth Theatre programme. We are continuously seeking opportunities to reach out to young people and communities to engage and involve them in the arts.

 “In keeping with our artistic vision at the MAC, we not only pursue the best in touring and homegrown theatre, but actively promote collaboration and support the development of MAC original programming. We’re really excited to launch MAC Youth Theatre and support the efforts of the ensemble throughout the year leading to their final major production which will be exclusive to the MAC from 5-7 April 2018 in our Downstairs Theatre.”

Leonie McDonagh adds: “I’m thrilled to be working with the team on the new MAC Youth Theatre programme where I’ll be teaching dance technique and movement vocabulary for the stage. This is such a great opportunity for young people with any interest in theatre to get involved and learn in a creative environment like the MAC – I’m looking forward to working with the next generation of artists over the next few months.”

The MAC Youth Theatre is open to young people aged 16-18 years of all abilities and no previous drama experience is required. Participation costs £50 per term. While participating in the programme, members will also partake in arts award qualifications which will formally recognise their participation and development.

Championing inclusivity, a bursary scheme has also been created by the MAC to support young people from low income families who wish to take part in the new youth theatre programme.

Opening auditions for the 2017-18 term will take place this summer from 22-24 August through a series of fun group workshops. Rehearsals for successful applicants will launch in September, taking place every Tuesday night in the LAB rehearsal studio at the MAC.

For more information on MAC Youth Theatre and to register for auditions now, visit themaclive.com.

Now an annual summer favourite, The 7 Hills Blues Festival returns in August, with two events at The Market Place Theatre in Armagh.

Dana Masters takes to the stage on Thursday 10 August. Originally from America’s Deep South, Dana grew up with the sound of soul, rhythm and blues and gospel music all around her. Her love for music developed as she grew up and lead her to study music, majoring in vocal performance at university. Music took Dana from South Carolina to Minneapolis and then on to Los Angeles where she lived for four years and where she met an Irish boy who would later become her husband.

From live work with BBC Radio 4 and ‘Proms In The Park’ to singing regularly with Van Morrison, Dana’s reputation as one of Ireland’s top vocalists continues to gain momentum. Calling Northern Ireland home, Dana is passionate about music as a vehicle to make people and communities vibrant.

The Henry Girls are an Irish folk and roots music group consisting of three sisters, Karen, Lorna and Joleen McLaughlin. You’ll often see The Henry Girls on stage with a fiddle, ukulele, banjo, guitar, harp, mandolin, piano and accordion. Their new album ‘Far Beyond the Stars’ was named are RTE Radio’s Album of the Week in March 2017, and they will perform for one night only on Friday 11 August.

The Henry Girls combine something of our Irish heritage with a more contemporary backdrop; imbuing it with compassion, insight and warmth. See them live and you will drift away with Celtic harmonies, folkish melodies, and a dollop of that world-famous organic Donegal style.

Tickets for both performances are priced £12, and can be booked by contacting the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.marketplacearmagh.com

Visit the website at www.marketplacearmagh.com for full details and bookings, or contact 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.

You are invited to join us for Party in the Park as it returns to Antrim Castle Gardens on Sunday 30 July.

 

Now in its sixth year this free family fun event has something for the whole family to enjoy. This year’s line-up features live music, crazy golf, water zorbs, bungee trampolines, swing boats, arts & crafts, balloon modelling, face painting and a range of culinary delights from the food fayre.

Kick back and relax to Ireland’s No 1 Tribute Act Ciaran Houlihan, his TCB band and The Sweet Sensations as he reinacts one of Elvis’ most iconic performances ‘An Afternoon in the Garden’. Derry based Indie Band Ports will also be there to entertain you.

Antrim Castle Gardens and Clotworthy House will be awash with activity for both young and old alike. Join us for a Festival of Fun at Party in the Park, Antrim Castle Gardens Sunday 30 July from 1-5pm. Free Admission.

Don’t miss Theatre at The Mill’s big summer musical production Carousel, from Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 August. Last year’s big hit, Phantom of the Opera, received rapturous reviews and a glance at this year’s rehearsals promises another great show.

A personal favourite of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Carousel is set in a Maine costal village where carnival barker and petty criminal Billy Bigelow is granted a wish to return from the afterlife for just one day.  Bigelow encounters the daughter he never knew, now a lonely, friendless teenager, her father’s reputation as a thief and a bully having haunted her all her young life. How Bigelow instils in both the child and her mother a sense of hope and dignity is a dramatic testimony to the power of love.

The hit creative team that gave us Phantom of the Opera last year, Director Anna McNamara and Musical Director Conor Mitchell, are joined by Movement Director Anna Tringham, Designer Stuart Marshall and Lighting Designer Alan Clarke.  Under the baton of Conor Mitchell, Theatre at The Mill’s ensemble of professional musicians complemented by some of Northern Ireland’s most talented young musicians, bring life and lustre to this beautiful score.

The ballet sequence will be performed by guest artists Ruaidhri Maguire from Opera Baltycka W Gdansku and Kanako Nagayoshi from Ballet Jorgen Canada, supported by young dancers from Laura Walker’s Ballet School.

Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s masterpiece includes hits like: If I Loved You, June is Bustin Out All Over and You’ll Never Walk Alone.

With nightly performances at 7pm from 1- 5 August and a matinee performance on Saturday 5 August at 2.30pm, this is a production not to be missed.  Tickets £15 & £13 (Concession) available at Box Office T: 028 9034 0202 or online  www.theatreatthemill.com.

 

Armoy Line Up Announced

MICHAEL Dunlop MD Racing has confirmed his entry for the Roadside Kia Race of Legends 2017 for the Armoy Road Races on the 28^th and 29^th July 2017.

28-year-old Michael Dunlop, who has raced at the Armoy Road Races every year, will be entering the two, First4Printing and Bayview Hotel, Supersport races, the Torquetronix Open Race and the biggest race of the day, the Roadside Kia ‘Race of the Legends’.

Honda Racing has also entered Guy Martin this year. Both riders have a great affinity with Armoy and love riding one of the greatest events in Ireland’s road racing calendar.

Michael Dunlop, having won the Race of Legends for six years in a row, will be set on retaining the Roadside Kia Race of Legends title but with many in the mix including Honda Racing Guy Martin, McAdoo Racing Kawasaki James Cowton, Mullingar man Derek McGee, and Michael’s brother William Dunlop on a Temple Golf Yamaha, Bill Kennedy believes that Michael will be hard to beat.

“I’m absolutely delighted that Michael [Dunlop] will by racing this year and vying for the sought after title of Roadside Kia Race of Legends Winner. Michael has done exceptionally well this year particularly at the TT and the Southern 100, where in addition to setting a new race record pace and a new lap record, he secured his third Southern 100 Solo Championship. I’ve no doubt Michael will be on fine form at Armoy.

“This year’s event is shaping up to be a really good event. We’ve riders from all over the UK and the South and I am confident that we are going to see some exceptional road racing again this year.

“We’ve 41 newcomers and nine Moto3 riders. There are some exceptional riders this year particularly the up and coming and I’ve no doubt that they will be out there to win,” added Bill.

International riders include many from the Republic as well as newcomers, Mathias Winkenjohann from Germany in the Senior Support race, Chris Meyer from Germany in the 125cc race, Patricia Fernandez from USA in the Supersport and Open races and Roger Chen from Taiwan fulfilling an ambition to race at Armoy in the Classics.

This year there are two races on the Friday night with the Park Electrical Service and Armoy Construction Senior Support Race 1 and First4Printing Supersport 600cc (Race 1).

Bill continues; “Bike week will commence with the Armoy Ride Out on Sunday 23^rd July and later that evening the Church Service will also take place at 6.00 pm in St Patrick’s Church Hall led by Reverend Easton where everyone is very welcome. Channel 4, will be there as part of a documentary screening on Sunday 7^th August at 7.30pm, followed by race highlights.

“If our VIP corporate hospitality is anything to go by we’ve folk from as far away from Norway, Italy, Aberdeen in Scotland and Wexford in Ireland.

“Our Facebook and Twitter social pages are also extremely busy with lots of engagement, so all we need now is the weather.

Bike Week runs from Sunday 23rd July until Saturday 29th July with the races taking place on Friday 28th July and Saturday 29th July 2017 culminating in the Roadside Kia ‘Race of Legends’. The Armoy Road Races are part funded by Tourism Northern Ireland and the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

For more information on Armoy Road Races, visit www.amrrc.com or search for ‘AMRRC’ on Facebook or follow on twitter @ArmoyRoadRaces.

Please support the Armoy Road Races by buying a programme. They are available from the AMRRC office, the Mace Shop in Armoy, the Petrol Station in Armoy, Biesty’s Centra, Ballymoney and theTown Hall in Ballymoney, from the Tuesday 18^th July  and cost £15.00 or €17.

 

A charity set up by people with dementia is taking their message out into the Carrickfergus community to explain what life is like to live with dementia and to challenge the associated negative assumptions, in the hope that others will be more accepting and tolerant of the symptoms, and helpful towards people living with the condition.

Dementia NI is an organisation that was set up by five people living with dementia, their message, that life still goes on following a diagnosis. Their aim was to set up groups throughout Northern Ireland solely for people living with dementia. To meet on a regular basis, offer each other peer support through social gatherings, and to raise awareness about dementia.

‘Many who first hear that they have dementia feel isolated, deskilled and afraid’, said Ashleigh Davis, the charity’s empowerment officer. ‘Dementia NI assist these people to remain valued citizens who can still play a beneficial part within their communities.’

Dementia NI members wish to highlight the benefits gained from meeting others in similar positions.

“When people try to stop you from doing things after a dementia diagnosis, it makes you feel worthless and leaves you feeling like a child. It takes away your dignity and self-respect
and leads to feelings of frustration and eventually anger. You lose your sense of independence and can even make you feel like a prisoner in your own home. The relief that there was someone out there to help and understand me was so overwhelming. When I joined Dementia NI, I wasn’t alone anymore and that was such a fantastic feeling.” – Dementia NI Member, Anne.

Dementia NI is currently establishing a group in Carrickfergus specifically for people living with dementia and is reaching out to others to support people with the diagnosis within the local community.

Dementia NI highlight how keeping active and connected within the local community has retained skills and assisted in reducing isolation, alleviating boredom, and possible depression. Members felt this important, to prove to the public that they can still live well after a diagnosis of dementia and are very capable of partaking in everyday activities the same as everyone else.

Members regularly give talks during Dementia NI awareness sessions, they challenge the stigma of having a diagnosis, dispelling preconceptions surrounding the condition and educate about what it is like to live with dementia, in the hope that others will become more understanding.

“We have a very important job to do in challenging the stigma. While I have dementia, I can still do things for myself and make decisions; I just need society to allow me the time to do it in my way.” – Dementia NI Member, John.

Get involved…

If you are interested in learning more about dementia, come along to listen to people living with dementia share their experiences and explain more about living with their symptoms on

Wednesday 2^nd August in Carrickfergus Community Forum from 10.30am

Please RSVP to Ashleigh at ashleigh@dementiani.org. For more information on Dementia NI empowerment groups within your area, please contact Dementia NI on Tel: 02890 686768 or Email: info@dementiani.org

Passion, manipulation and jealousy come to the Millennium Forum when Foyle Opera, in association with North West Opera, present Bizet’s Carmen on the 4^th and 5^th August.

 

Carmen is one of the most beloved and staged operas of all time. Bizet’s powerful score, inspired by Spanish folk songs and rhythms, features many celebrated arias such as the March of the Toreadors, the Habanera and the Seguidilla, often used in TV, films and adverts for their instant appeal and dramatic impact.

Foyle Opera aims to make a live opera experience accessible and affordable to the people of Derry/Londonderry, so if you have ever considered going to an opera, but never quite got there, this production is a great way to start. Performed in English, the show features an orchestra under the baton of acclaimed conductor John Page. Now based in Boston, John returns to the city of his birth, to lead an international cast of professional principals including Irish soprano Ann Jennings, in the title role. The project also offers a rare opportunity for singers and musicians to be able to perform in their locality, showcasing the fabulous talent that has emanated from Derry/Londonderry.

 

The flair from the city is also in evidence behind the scenes, with award-winning director Deigh Reid embracing the challenge of bringing his own interpretation to the action between strong characters and dramatic storyline, all set to some of opera’s most stirring music.

 

The tale is set against the sultry skies of Seville in the 1800s. When fiery gypsy Carmen is arrested for stabbing a fellow factory worker, she unscrupulously seduces army corporal Don José to secure her escape from prison. Hopelessly infatuated with her, and believing that she returns his love, Don José sacrifices everything he has, following Carmen into her band of smugglers. But Carmen will not give up her freedom so easily. When she abandons Don José for the charismatic bullfighter Escamillo, the forces of fate take over, culminating in one final battle between Don José’s desperate love and Carmen’s unbreakable spirit.

 

For tickets, contact the Millennium Forum box office on 028 7126 4455 or book online at millenniumforum.co.uk.

 

Follow Foyle Opera as the production comes to life on Facebook FoyleOpera.

 

Northern Ireland’s home-grown pizzeria chain, Little Wing, will open its seventh – and highly anticipated – restaurant in Lisburn on Tuesday 1^st August.

 

Little Wing prides itself in offering authentic, made to order Naples-style pizzas including Northern Ireland’s biggest pizza, which is a whopping 24 inches in diameter.

Offering a true taste of Italy and cooked in distinctive 6ft traditional woodstone pizza ovens, sourcing the freshest and finest ingredients is at the heart of the Little Wing ethos, with 100% mozzarella cheese used on its pizzas; sauce made from San Marzano tomatoes and pizza dough made to the restaurant’s own secret recipe right here in Northern Ireland (with no nasty additives, either). Combined with affordable prices and friendly service, it’s clear why this popular pizzeria has developed a cult following.

To mark the opening Little Wing in Lisburn, the new restaurant will run special events on Tuesday 1^st and Saturday 5^th August from 12pm – 3pm, with a variety of family activities, including a ‘clay pizza making’ workshop by Jumping Clay, face painting, plus free balloons and other prizes.

The new Little Wing Pizzeria will be located in Lisburn Square and will be open every day from 11am – 10pm.

For further information visit littlewingpizzeria.com, or follow Little Wing on Twitter and Facebook @LittleWingPizza.

Stendhal Festival is Northern Ireland’s biggest and best grass-roots music and arts festival.

With over 100 performances from the likes of Ash, The Magic Numbers, Sharon Shannon and Lisa McHugh taking place over August 11 and 12 at Ballymully Cottage Farm, Limavady, there is certainly plenty of musical variety but did you know that the festival also has a dedicated family programme that caters to children and families of all ages?

Such is the focus on the family aspect of the festival, Stendhal has won awards naming it Ireland’s Best Family Festival over the years and organisers of the event are keen to improve the family and children’s entertainment offerings each and every year.

This year families can enjoy; Drumming Workshops, Storytelling,  puppet shows, dance workshops, mini boat making workshops, clay modelling, bush craft workshops, arts and craft workshops, laughing yoga, a sensory tent,  Circus skills performances, big bubble making and loads more.

Organiser Ross Parkhill explained: “The family element to the festival is hugely important for us. We want to provide an incredibly safe space for youngsters to not only enjoy the specific entertainment put on for them, but to also discover a wider world of music and the arts.

“We believe that introducing children to the arts at a young age can help sow the seeds of innovation in future generations and it’s always great to see families enjoying the event, that’s why our family ticket is priced in such a way as to make Stendhal a really affordable option for families.”

The family programme this year will include two dedicated family tents, one for creative workshops and one for performances, while there will also be family themed acts taking to the other stages around the festival site as well.

One of the family tents, the Discovery play tent, is brought to you by The Dry Arch Children’s Centre, a Limavady based day care facility which this year is celebrating its 20^th anniversary.

Stephen Lowry of the centre spoke of how proud they were to be coming back to Stendhal.

“The Dry Arch Children’s Centre is really excited to be part of the Stendhal Festival this year for the second time to add our very own spin to the family experience,” he said.

“Our ‘Discovery Play Tent’ will be bigger and better this year and will have loads of fun play activities for young children; encouraging them to learn through play; creating, investigating, exploring and most importantly have fun.”

He added:  “The Dry Arch Children’s Centre is proudly celebrating its 20th anniversary supporting families. Some of our day-to-day activities include day care, SureStart programmes, youth and family support services and community events. We have a lot more information on what we do and what’s on at the Dry Arch on our website www.dryarchcentre.org”

For more information and tickets visit www.stendhalfestival.com  or the festivals social media platforms.

 

Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Music in the Park continues in Ward Park this Sunday 23^rd July with a performance from The Sabrejets.

The Sabrejets are known as Northern Ireland’s wildest rockin’ band who draw on influences from primal 50’s rock ‘n’ roll through to the likes of T. Rex and Thew New York Dolls. Their unique stripped down, revved up, two fisted brand of rockabilly has seen them tear apart venues throughout Ireland, Britain and Europe, sharing stages with the likes of Chuck Berry, Imelda May and Bo Diddley.

Grab your friends, family and a picnic blanket and head down to Ward Park to listen to great tunes on a Sunday afternoon between 3-5pm.

This is a FREE event.  Please note that Ward Park is an alcohol-free zone. All events are weather dependent and therefore subject to change. This year’s music programme is in association with Open House Festival.

 

Lookout in local press each week for details on each artist or for more information phone Bangor Visitor Information Centre on 028 9127 0069 or visit visitardsandnorthdown.com

 

Photo caption: Rock ‘n’ Roll in The Park this Sunday 3-5pm