THE 8TH ANNUAL CASTLEREAGH VERBAL ARTS FESTIVAL
14TH-26TH FEBUARY 2007
Welcome again to Castlereagh Borough Council’s Annual Verbal Arts Festival.
We have a wealth of drama, literary, & storytelling events for all ages, from contemporary Opera to Ulster Scots tradition.
Once again we are joining forces with the Belfast Nashville Songwriter’s Festival to bring you a unique insight into the world of professional songwriting and a performance by hit songwriters.
Events will take place at various venues throughout the Borough, some events may have an administration fee, please check listings.
Thanks to: Richard Mills of Belvoir Players Studio, Mairead Ferguson and the SEELB Library Service, Colin Magee and Anne Coulter of Panarts, Forestside Shopping Centre and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Contact: Christabel Williamson, Arts Officer
Castlereagh Arts
T: 028 90494566
Logos: Castlereagh Arts, SEELB, Arts Council, Forestside, CBC crest, and Belvoir Players
Festival Launch (image to follow)
Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutti
Performed by Castle Ward Opera
Wednesday 14th February, 7.30pm. £5/£3
Refreshments Provided
The Belvoir Players Studio
Booking Advisable. Tel. 90494566
Mozart’s comic masterpiece Cosi Fan Tutti has been edited, adapted and updated to present day society by Peter Morgan-Barnes. Castle Ward Opera present a riotous tale of love and cynicism among workmen, their girlfriends, and civil servants….
18 Miles to Freedom (image)
Presented by Valhalla Street Theatre
Thursday 15th February, 7.30pm, free
Refreshments provided
The Belvoir Players Studio
Booking Advisable. Tel. 90494566
Tom Croft’s play, ’18 Miles to Freedom’ tells the story of the Plantation of Greater Ards in 1606 by the Border Reivers who fled Scotland, and the Army of King James, to settle in Ireland. Audiences can look forward to an energetic and entertaining evening of drama, music and dance with the renowned Valhalla Street Theatre Company.
Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me (image)
Presented by Belvoir Players
Friday 16th February, 7.30pm. Free
Refreshments provided
The Belvoir Players Studio
Booking Advisable. Tel. 90494566
Castlereagh Verbal Arts Festival is delighted to include Belvoir Players’ multi- award winning production of Frank McGuiness’ play, ‘Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me’ in the festival programme. In 2006 the production scooped the top awards in the Bangor Festival, the Ulster Drama Festival Finals and the British All-Winners Finals in Surrey.
An Englishman, an Irishman and an American are locked up together in a cell in the Middle East. As victims of political action, powerless to initiate change, what can they do? How do they live and survive? Frank McGuinness explores the daily crises endured by hostages whose strength comes from communication, both subtle and mundane, from humour, wit and faith.
The Importance of Being Micheál
Written and performed by John Keyes
Saturday 17th February, 7.30pm. Free
Refreshments provided
The Belvoir Players Studio
Booking Advisable. Tel. 90494566
Micheál Mac Liammoir, born Alfred Willmore, was one of Ireland’s most flamboyant theatrical figures, actor, writer, painter, joint founder of the Gate Theatre, Dublin and friend of the famous and infamous. In John Keyes widely acclaimed play, he becomes the 70 year old Mac Liammoir waiting in the green room for the call to join Gay Byrne in the studio for his live Friday night television programme. As Mac Laimmoir, Keyes humorously recounts the trials and setbacks in trying to run a theatre on a shoestring and reminisces about boyhood friends such as Noel Coward and Anton Dolan.
The Importance of Being Micheál has received rave reviews in Ireland and London and is regarded as one of the best One-Man shows ever performed in the West End.
Moyra Donaldson and Maria McManus
Poetry Reading
Monday 19th February, 8pm. Free
Tullycarnet Library
To book a place, please telephone Tullycarnet Library on 90485079
Born In Newtownards and educated at Queen’s University, Moyra Donaldson has matured into one of the country’s most distinctive and accomplished writers. Moyra will be reading from her third collection of poetry, ‘The Horse’s Nest’ which was published by Lagan Press in December.
Strangford poet, Maria McManus’ debut collection, ‘Reading the Dog’ has recently been published by Lagan Press. Prior to that her work appeared in Lagan’s ‘Poetry Introductions’ (Vol 1) series wherin her writing was described as ‘Off beat, wry and sardonic…shot thorough with clear social and political insight’.
Glenn Patterson (image)
Reading from ‘Lapsed Protestant’
Tuesday 20th February, 7.30pm. Free
Cregagh Library
Refreshments provided.
Booking essential, please telephone Cregagh Library on 90401365
Glen Patterson, an award-winning writer and broadcaster, was born in Belfast in 1961 and is the author of six novels. Castlereagh Verbal Arts Festival is delighted to welcome Glenn back to Cregagh Library where he will be reading from his book ‘Lapsed Protestant’, which features a wide selection of Patterson’s journalistic offerings over the past 20 years. At once witty, insightful, thought provoking and powerful, Patterson’s commentary on society – especially Northern Irish society- is fuelled by love, rage and the sharpest of memories.
Alex Pascall (image)
Tullycarnet Yarnspinners
Thursday 22nd February, 8:15pm. £3
Tullycarnet Library
Refreshments provided.
Booking essential, please telephone Tullycarnet Library on 90485079
Alex Pascall was born on the Caribbean Island of Grenada and has been resident in Britain since the late fifties. He has enjoyed an interesting and engaging career in music, entertainment, education, media and trade unionism but his passion is rooted in the tradition of the ancestral Griots, professional oral historians who keep alive the art of storytelling. Alex developed Britain’s first Black daily radio programme, Black Londoners, he was chairman of the Notting Hill Carnival and pioneered The Voice, Britain’s largest selling Black newspaper. His stories present a Caribbean cocktail of rhythmic vibrations, poetry and song.
Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival (images to follow)
The 3rd year of this exciting Festival celebrates the art of song writing in different languages and brings together more than twenty top artists performing Country Chart hits and top blues, Folk and bluegrass hits.
Castlereagh Arts are thrilled to be hosting a number of events as part of the festival. The main aim of the Belfast Nashville songwriters Festival is to encourage creative songwriting in two sister cities with a shared cultural heritage
‘Direct From Nashville’
#1 Country Hit Writers’ Concert
Richard Leigh, James Dean Hicks, Tony Arata & Ralph Murphy
Castlereagh Civic Centre
Friday 23rd February, 7.30pm. £9 from Belfast Welcome Centre
Telephone 02890 246609
Refreshments provided
Join us for a fantastic evening of musical entertainment with four top Country singer/ songwriter’s all the way from Nashville.
World class touring artist Richard Leigh has written 8 #1 hit songs, including ‘Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue’, recorded by Crystal Gale. A ‘Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame’ member, his songs have been recorded by Guy Clark, Ricky Scaggs, Martina McBride, George Jones, Tammy Wynette and the great Ray Charles.
Ralph Murphy has written hit songs for Shania Twain, Ronnie Milsap, Crystal Gale, Kathy Mattea, Randy Travis and Cliff Richard.
James Dean Hicks is one of America’s premier songwriters with five of his songs reaching #1 in the Billboard charts for Randy Travis, Oak Ridge Boys, Confederate Railroad and Kenny Chesney.
A regular performer at the world famous Bluebird Café in Nashville Tony Arata’s
songs are recognised the world over. Garth Brooks has recorded 7 of his songs including the award winning, ‘The Dance’. He has had a string of cuts and number ones for Patty Loveless, Lee Roy Parnell, Clay Walker and Trisha Yearwood.
Outreach Programme
Lyric writing Session in association with Panarts
As part of the 3rd Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festivals, Panarts and Castlereagh Arts have again joined forces to provide Workshops for aspiring songwriters in Castlereagh with professionals from the song writing Industry
Writing Memorable Lyrics with James Dean Hicks
Cregagh Community Centre
Wednesday 21st February, 6.30 to 7.30pm. Free
To book your place, please call 90494566
Nashville singer-songwriter James Dean Hicks has had over 150 songs recorded by artists including Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Aaron Carter, Reba McEntire, Wyonna, Vince Gill and Aaron Neville. He recently has a huge hit as an artist himself with a Number 1 video in Australia on a duet with Natalie Howard. This is a unique opportunity to learn the secret of writing hit song lyrics with a true country music master.
A songwriting workshop featuring Lee Roy Parnell and Paul Overstreet will also take place for an invited secondary school in the Borough on Wednesday 21st February. A successful songwriter and performer, Lee Roy Parnell is a 3-time Country Music Association award winner, with over 145 songs published including 4 #1s and 11 top 10 hits. One of the most successful songwriters in contemporary country music, Paul Overstreet is also a great entertainer in his own right. Paul has 27 top – ten songs to his credit, including the #1 hits ‘Love Can Build a Bridge’ (Cher and Chrissie Hynde), and ‘When You Say Nothing At all’, (Ronan Keating).
Story Time with Aideen McBride
For invited primary schools at Dundonald Library.
Aideen grew up in Bagnelstown, Co. Carlow and we welcome her from Dublin where she is now living. She has gained valuable experience storytelling in a variety of venues around the city and has performed at many festivals including the Cape Clear International Festival. Aideen captivates young and old alike with a repertoire that includes folk tales, Irish legends, poetry and song.
Alex Pascall
As part of the Castlereagh Arts Outreach Programme Alex will be visiting groups of older people in the Borough and sharing his unique Caribbean oral history traditions.
‘Fortress Europe’ Drama Workshop (logo)
Replay Productions ‘Theatre Squad’ will be working with a youth group in Ballybeen, exploring human rights, refugees and the European Union. Using an interactive giant board game, war zones must be crossed, chances taken and moral dilemmas faced.
Drama in the Mall – The Monday Players
Saturday 24th February, 2 – 4pm. Free
Forestside Shopping Centre
The Monday Players is a group of people who love acting. The fact that all of the members have a disability only makes them even more determined to improve their performances. They meet on a Monday afternoon at the Crescent Arts Centre and enjoy honing their skills in the weekly 2 hour workshop. These workshops are run by Open Arts the organisation that enables disabled people to participate in arts activities. The Players specialise in street theatre and will be providing an eye-catching performance in Forestside shopping centre.