PRESS RELEASE/ON BEHALF OF ULSTER BANK BELFAST FESTIVAL AT QUEEN’S
EMBARGOED 12:00 Tuesday 4th September
City Celebration for 50th Belfast Festival at Queen’s
Van Morrison, Buena Vista Social Club, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Ray Davies are just some of the
internationally acclaimed artists set toappear during the 50th Belfast Festival at Queen’s.The full line-up for this
year’s Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s was revealed at a Festival 50 launch event today in Belfast City Hall.
Starting as a small campus based event in 1961, Festival has featured names such as Jimi Hendrix, MichaelPalin,
Billy Connolly, Dizzy Gillespie, Kylie Minogue and Rowan Atkinson. Today, Belfast Festival at Queen’s is the largest
and most diverse arts Festival in Ireland.
Running between 19 October and 4 November, the 50th Festival has been billed as a celebration for the entire city,
featuring both home-grown and international artists, authors and performers taking part in 185 events across the
city. Encouraging everyone to get involved with the 50th celebrations, this year’s Festival will include 60 free events,
whilst two thirds of shows will cost less than £15.
Speaking at the launch, Festival Director, Shan McAnena, said: “There is music in shopping centres, churches and
museums, comedy at the heart of Queen’s University, theatre in offices, public baths and bars, and art in the open
air. From hip-hop to opera, hunting for fairies to ghosts in the dark, from international super-stars to local heroes,
we are proud to present to the city of Belfast the largest and most eclectic arts festival in Ireland.”
Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s, Professor Sir Peter Gregson added “This year at Queen’s we are delighted to be
celebrating Festival’s 50th year of acting as a vital magnet for both talent and tourism in Northern Ireland. Bringing
international acts to our shores and allowing local talent to shine on a global stage, has, and will continue to bring,
immense cultural and economic benefits to the City of Belfast. I would encourage as many people as possible to
enjoy and make the most of the opportunities presented by the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, particularly
in this, its wonderful 50th year.”
Commenting on the 50th Festival celebrations, Chief Executive of title sponsor Ulster Bank, Jim Brown said: “Marking
the Festival’s golden Jubilee is a tribute not only to the city’s love of the arts, but a salute to those who over the last
five decades have grown this festival to its international status. We believe the Festival is one of the most prolific
and ambitious acts of inclusive cultural development in Northern Ireland and are proud to support it.”
Theatrically, the 50th Festival plays host to a number of firsts: The acclaimed National Theatre Company of
Scotland’s production Enquirer - in association with The London Book Review - based on interviews with leading
figures in the newspaper industry, comes to Belfast for its Irish premier, and the controversial production Minsk,
from the Belarus Free Theatre, will also be making its Irish debut as part of the 2012programme. Another Irish
debut will be the long-awaited new work from Michael Clark, featuring music by a leading and as yet unnamed
figure from the UK music industry, whilst the Tron Theatre Company’s brilliant re-imagining of Joyce’s Ulysses will
also make an Ireland debut at Festival.
This year’s Festival will also boast performances by leading soprano Lesley Garrett; Stephen Hough - described as
one of the most important pianists of his generation; the unique and powerful partnership of pianist Imogen Cooper
and baritone Wolfgang Holzmier and the lyrical magic of Swedish soprano Camilla Tilling. Alongside a strong
programme of talks including appearances by Peter Hain, Jonathan Miller, Bjorn Lomborg, Michael Higgins, Bill
Janeway, John Gordon Sinclair and Ian Rankin.
Showcasing the very best of local theatre talent, on stage in Belfast’s word-class theatre spaces will be a number of
UK and world premieres including Paisley & Me by Belfast-born, Emmy Award-winning writer Ron Hutchinson at The
Grand Opera House;Macbeth directed by Lynne Parker at The Lyric, and The Huzzies at The Mac - a collaboration
between Tinderbox Theatre Company and award winning playwright Stacey Gregg.
Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council Northern Ireland said she recognised the vital role Festival
played for the local arts sector: “As a platform for our local artists and performers The Belfast Festival at Queen’s has
helped nurture the development of our rich emerging arts scene over the last five decades. We are delighted to have
been a patron of this important Festival throughout its rich and colourful history.”
The 2012 Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s also contains theatre from Europe, art from South Africa and music
from South America and is set to boost visitor numbers to Belfast.Alan Clarke, Chief Executive Northern Ireland
Tourist Board said: “2012 is proving to be very special year for tourism in Northern Ireland. Belfast Festival at
Queen’s is a great example of how this region is confidently moving on; the Festival has been a constant for the last
five decades and is evolving and expanding to create an ever-changing experience for our visitors and locals to enjoy.
This is another chance to showcase arts and culture in Northern Ireland, and how ‘our place’ can punch above its
weight in delivering world-class events.”
The 2012 Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s runs from Friday 19th October to Sunday 4th November. To see the
entire programme of events and book online visit the website, www.belfastfestival.com or call the Festival Box
Office on 02890 971197
Ends.
Further information from: Cathy Law/07876 358842.
Note to Editors:
Full programme is available at www.belfastfestival.com or by contacting cathy.law@qub.ac.uk
A host of performance images are available on the media page of our website: www.belfastfestival.com
Other highlights:
 The Festival will be opened by a Fanfare of Fifty trumpets and trombones at Victoria Square playing a new
piece by local composer Michael Alcorn – who also turns 50 this year!

The 2012 Festival programme of talks will again provoke and inspire with names such as Peter Hain,
Jonathan Miller, Bjorn Lomborg, Michael Higgins, Bill Janeway, John Gordon Sinclair and Ian Rankin

International visual art pieces such as Nele Azevedos’ remarkable public art installation featuring 1517
individual ice people – one for each person lost on the Titanic - and an exclusive exhibition by the world
famous Tom Binns - bespoke jewellery designer to Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Michelle Obama.

Free events include public arts installations, Gigs in The Whig and The Kitchen Sessions, “Festival on the
Move” concerts in Victoria Square, Connswater and Forestside shopping centres and El Dia De Los Meurtos a Mexican birthday parade in the city centre on closing day - Sunday 4th November – and many more.

The 2012 programme boasts a bigger family programme than ever before and marks the return of comedy
to the programme. The popular Enchanted Garden is back but with a twist and the award winning
Comedy4Kids will make its Irish debut at Festival. The Comedy programme has been put together in
conjunction with Queen’s Students Union and has returned following a vote last year by audiences. Dara
O’Briain, Scott Capurro, and Jon Richardson are just some of the names appearing.

As part of the 50th celebrations in partnership with Heritage Lottery Fund, Festival is coordinating a project
called Belfast Festival Anthology which will capture the key moments from Festival over the last five
decades and present these via a website, an exhibition and a red plaque tour of key locations throughout the
city. Visit www.belfastfestivalanthology.com for more information or to add your own personal festival
anecdote.

A week of Irish Film in conjunction with Arts&Business and Jameson’s Irish Whiskey will be presented at QFT
celebrating the last five decades of film-making.

A new Festival Club will be housed at QFT throughout the Festival where audiences and artists can mingle
after shows.

For the first time the front lawn at Queen’s University will be used as a spectacular tented venue called The
White Room.

A programme of events to mark the bicentenary of the birth of Dickens.
Performing at the Launch Event:
Fifty Fanfares: (onlya sample of trumpets not all 50!)
A warm up to the Fifty Fanfares event that will open the 2012 Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s. The
exhilarating sounds of 50 Trumpets will ring out in Victoria Square as they perform a newly composed piece by
Michael Alcorn (who also turns 50 this year). Trumpets will appear from all levels and will be conducted in the piece
by means of modern technology!
Frank and Jane Cassidy: The Folk Club Reunion - Brother and sister act re-unite after 30 years to play as part of
the Folk Club Reunion.(Friday 19th October in The White Room (Tented venue on the Lawn at Queen’s)
The Huzzies: By Stacey Gregg. Fast paced and direct and full of Gregg’s trade mark with this play follows a girl band
as they struggle to find their voice. Kate Richardson’s collection of specially composed songs is performed live by a
stellar cast of actors and musicians. The Mac, Friday 19th October to Saturday 3rd November.
Nathaniel McAuley - A specially commissioned poem for the 50th Belfast Festival at Queen’s.
The Beat Initiative – El Dia De Los Muertos – Mexican “Day of the Dead” is a celebration that happens all over
Mexico where families gather to remember those that are no longer here. It is a parade of skeletons and this will be
part of the final day of Festival in the city centre. (Sun 4th November 2012, 4pm -8pm, starting at Writers Square and
culminating at City Hall. FREE)
Two video compilations: by Stuart Sloan
o 50 Years of Festival, in association with Heritage Lottery Fund
o
2012 Programme Highlights.
Sonic Art: The futurist art form as performed by Queen’s University Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC).