NEWS RELEASE
Embargoed: Midnight Thursday 9th August
DANCE DEBUT, MUSICAL MEASTROS AND DRAMATIC DIVERSITY
50th Festival at Queen’s Reveals Further Acts
The 2012 Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s has released more shows as part of theline-up of
130 names that will perform at the 50th Festival celebrations from 19th October – 4th November. A
first for Ireland, Festival will welcome the new work by iconic British dancer and choreographer
Michael Clark who along with the founder of The Kinks, Ray Daviesand classical thoroughbred
Maxim Rysanovreflect the huge diversity that will be on offer. Mary Epworth, Gabby Young, Krystle
Warren and French artist Francois and the Atlas Mountains complete the musical announcements
to date and from a theatre perspective the latest announcements present award winning theatre
from Scotland, London and Belfast spanning every topic from Ulyssesand Paisleyto Football.
This year Festival will play host to the Irish debut of iconic British dancer Michael Clark’s new work
which will play at The Mac for two nights on 3rd and 4th November. This piece will continue
Clark’s history of close collaboration with contemporary artists, designers and musicians, and include
lighting design by artist and filmmaker Charles Atlas, and costumes by Stevie Stewart formerly
costume designer for Lady Gaga and Madonna.
The 2012 Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s is supported by a number of key stakeholders
without whom the delivery of such a diverse array of shows and performances would not be
possible. Arts Council Northern Ireland has been a committed patron of the Belfast Festival at
Queen’s throughout its 50 year history and more recently title sponsor Ulster Bank has been a
principal sponsor for the last 5 years. In addition, this year the Festival is supported by Northern
Ireland Tourist Board as part of the ni2012: our time our place programme which recognises its
ranking on the international festival market and its role as an attraction for visitors to the region.
Key support is also provided by Belfast City Council, Arts & Business NI and Heritage Lottery Fund.
Musically, the latest shows to be released cover all genres. From the world of rock, Ray Davies one
of the most successful and influential songwriters to emerge from the British Invasion of the 1960’s
and a major influence on names such as Paul Weller, Morrissey and Pete Townsend will play the
Whitla Hall. Whilst on the jazz and blues front the Black Box will enjoy Krystle Warren’s breathy
tones which have received plaudits from key names such as kdlang,Jools Holland and Rufus
Wainwright. The vocal gymnastics of Gabby Youngwill fill the surrounds as her flamboyant show
takes to the stage in the spectacular tented venue on the lawn at Queen’s University whilst
McHugh’s will play host to what has been described as a “tour de force of French pop eccentricity”
in the shape of Francois and the Atlas Mountains.Finally, described as spellbinding, mesmerising
and beautiful Mary Epworth will bring her haunting melodies to the surrounds of the Black Box.
Maxim Rysanovis one of a number of stellar classical artists appearing at this year’s Festival and has
established himself as one of the world’s best and most charismatic viola players. He performs in
major concert halls worldwide and will be joined by one of the leading performers of his generation,
AshleyWass in St George’s Church.
The first wave theatre content for this year’s Festival has been released and includes a “brilliant reimagining” of Joyce’s Ulysses from the Tron TheatreCompany to be performedat The Macas adapted
for stage by Dublin chronicler Dermot Bolger. Fresh from ecstatic reviews and a huge following in
2011, human chameleon Paul Duckworth arrives at Festival with an hilarious, lump in your throat
football related comedy called Beating Berlusconi - the story of one man’s attempt to rediscover his
belief in himself, his club, his city and his class.
Local talent is always a key part of Belfast Festival and this year is no exception as Green Shoot
Productions performs at The Grand Opera Housethe second play in its groundbreaking Ulster
Trilogy, Paisley and Me by Belfast-born, Emmy Award-winning writer Ron Hutchinson. Courting
controversy is always part of Festival and participatory theatre piece The Oh F***k Moment is sure
to raise a few eyebrows in the Old Science Library at Queen’s. In thisFringe First winning show, poet
Hannah Jane Walker and Chris Thorpe examine the poetic guts of mistakes in a bundle of words and
strip lighting – audience participation is guaranteed!
For further information on all shows and bookings please visit www.belfastfestival.com
Ends
Further information from:
Cathy Law
07876358842
Cathy.law@qub.ac.uk
Notes to Editors:
Ray Davies
Date: Saturday 20 October 2012
Time: 8.00 pm (doors 7.30 pm)
Venue: Whitla Hall
Tickets: £27.50, £25.00 concession
18+
Krystle Warren
Date: Saturday 3 November 2012
Time: 7.30 pm
Venue: Black Box
Tickets:£14.00
18+
Frànçois and the Atlas Mountains
Date: Monday 29 October 2012
Time: 8.00 pm (doors 7.30 pm)
Venue: McHugh’s Bar
Tickets: £12.00
18+
Maxim Rysanov and Ashley Wass
Date: Saturday 20 October 2012
Time: 7.00 pm
Venue: St George’s Church.
Tickets: £12.00, £10.00 concession
Tron Theatre Company
in association with PROJECT ARTS CENTRE, DUBLIN and THE EVERYMAN, CORK present
JAMES JOYCE’S
Ulysses
By Dermot Bolger
Directed by Andy Arnold
Date: Tuesday 30 October to Thursday 1 November 2012
Time: 7.45 pm
Venue: The MAC
Tickets: £15.00, £12.50 concession
14+
Beating Berlusconi!
by John Graham Davies
“A punchy piece of good, old-fashioned popular theatre that wears its passions on its sleeve - a show
with balls, in more ways than one” The Guardian
Date: Wednesday 24 October and Thursday 25 October 2012
Time: 7.30 pm
Venue: Lyric Studio
Tickets: £12.50
14+
This performance contains strong language.
Paisley & Me
Green Shoot Productions
Directed by Matt Torney
Produced by Martin Lynch
Designed by Ciaran Bagnall
Date: Tuesday 30 October to Saturday 3 November 2012
Performances: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday 8.00 pm, Friday 8.30 pm
Matinees: Friday 5.00 pm and Saturday 2.30 pm
Venue: Grand Opera House
Tickets: £11.75 - £28.00
Gabby Young and Other Animals
Date: Wednesday 31 October 2012
Time: 8.00 pm (doors 7.30 pm)
Venue: The White Room
Tickets: £15.00, £13.00 concession
18+
Mary Epworth
Date: Thursday 1 November 2012
Time: 8.00 pm
Venue: Black Box
Tickets: £12.50
18+
Michael Clark
NEW WORK 2012
Commissioned by Barbican, London.
Co-produced by Barbican, London, Michael Clark Company, Maison des Arts de Créteil, Théâtres de
la Ville de Luxembourg and Tramway, Glasgow.
Date: Saturday 3 November and Sunday 4 November 2012
Time: 7.45 pm
Venue: The MAC
Tickets: £15.00
Michael Clark Company is supported by Arts Council England.