Best of BelFest

Best of BelFest | 2018’s Theatre & Dance Programme Set To Live Up To Festival’s Historic Theatrical Legacy

Belfast International Arts Festival has a long history of unforgettable theatrical moments over its 56 year existence, from the National Theatre bringing its stellar cast, featuring Albert Finney, Lynn Redgrave, Billie Whitelaw and Bangor’s own Colin Blakely in the 1960s to memorable productions such as Disco Pigs starring a young Cillian Murphy in the 1990s.

It’s then fitting the organisers have decided to open their 2018 edition with the world premiere of Belfast born playwright Marie Jones’ new work Dear Arabella which runs from 16 October – 10 November in the Lyric Theatre, also celebrating its landmark 50th anniversary, 30 years on from the Festival debut of her seminal play, Somewhere over the Balcony. Directed by Lindsay Porter, Dear Arabella is told over three tales of love, regret and loss, all subtly intertwine to show the significance of a simple act of kindness.

Alongside Jones, the Festival celebrates the future of Belfast’s booming theatre sector partnering with the Lyric on their New Playwrights Programme. The Festival will also feature new work from Big Telly Theatre in guise of Freak Show and the haunting historical piece Gibraltar Strait from Brassneck Theatre Company, both taking place in the MAC.

Not to be outdone by its peers in an ever growing festival scene, BIAF is set to welcome Hollywood and fashion icon Isabella Rossellini to Belfast for the Irish Premiere of her brand new one woman (and one dog) show, Link Link.

Following Rossellini’s widely acclaimed theatrical lecture Green Porno (adapted from the celebrated Sundance Channel series of the same name), which explored the sexual behaviour of animals; Link Link addresses the latest scientific discoveries about animal minds, intelligence, and emotions. It’s a production not to be missed in the Grand Opera House on Wednesday 31st October.

The Festival’s magic is often found when two genres blend together for one exceptional experience.

This year that undoubtedly lies in Nina – A Story about Me and Nina Simone, the searing and soulful theatre piece, inspired by the life and music of the legendary singer of the same name debuting in The MAC on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th October.This is online cialis why not find out more an important part of panic disorder treatment and the way to healing.

Backed by a brilliant band, Olivier Award nominee Josette Bushell-Mingo (Rafiki, The Lion King) mixes story and song as she draws together tales from the life of Nina Simone and her own extraordinary career.

Taking in the singer’s political acts as part of the Civil Rights Movement in 1960s America as well as the struggles in her personal life, Josette finds a parallel with the persisting inequality in today’s society, and questions how far we’ve really come.

Pushing the limits of theatre and dance Stroke Odysseys, taking place in the MAC on Thursday 18 October, is a cathartic, colourful and original show uncovering what it means to live your life after suffering a stroke. Choreographed by Ben Duke with music by Orlando Gough the collaborators seek to invite the audience into the lives and experiences of stroke survivors who are performing with a professional cast.

Closing the Festival this year’s comes a heavy dose of tutus and testosterone with the world renowned Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (nicknamed The Trocks) in the Grand Opera House on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd November. Established in New York, The Trocks are now loved world-wide for their sassy spoofs and hilarious homage to classical ballet, where 18 dancers each transform into two personas, both male and female! What makes this company extraordinarily special is their immaculate technique, daring physicality, surpassed only by their impeccable comic timing.

To find out more about these shows and others visit belfastinternationalartsfestival.com now.