Featured Events in Belfast in May, 2025 (May Updated)

Join us for the ultimate after-dark adventure at the NI Rave Run! Set for Monday, 5th May 2025, from 8pm to 9pm. This time, NI Rave Run hits.the beautiful coastal town of Bangor for an electrifying 5km run, promising an unforgettable experience for everyone, whether you're a seasoned runner or a complete beginner. Led by our expert running coach, Tracey Atkinson, you'll glide through the vibrant, neon-soaked course guided by high-energy music and dazzling lights. Each participant will receive an iconic NI Rave Runners light-up foam stick to illuminate the night and amplify the atmosphere. As you enjoy the easiest and most exhilarating 5km of your life, immerse yourself in the festival-like energy that will keep your spirits high from start to finish. Plus, there’s an exciting prize giveaway for one lucky finisher that you won't want to miss! Finish off the night by recapping your favorite moments— photos of your Rave Run adventure will be available for you to download and cherish as a memento. Spaces are limited, so grab your tickets now and get ready to light up the night. Whether you're tackling your first 5k or just here for the vibes, the NI Rave Run is where unforgettable memories are made. See you on the course! 10% of all profits are donated to Reach Charity, supporting people and families with upper limb differences in the UK and Ireland. Traceys daughter, India, was born without a left hand and she is using her passion for fitness to support this incredble charity. _____________________________________________ Liability & Disclaimer By taking part in a run with NI Rave Run, you agree to the following: you do so at your own risk and the organiser is not liable for any injury, loss, death or damage resulting from you taking part. By joining an NI Rave Run, you are accepting that you are aware of the obstacles and hazards involved with running. You must be at least 18 years old to run with NI Rave run, or if under 18 years old, accompanied by a parent or guardian. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are medically fit to run. You must acknowledge that any form of running can be hazardous and strenuous, and you shouldn’t take part unless capable of completing the full distance. Please take medical advice before joining if necessary and consider whether you need medical insurance to run. We reserve the right to stop you taking part if deemed unfit to participate before running with us. If medical treatment is necessary during the run, this should be sought from UK emergency services. You are ultimately responsible for any belongings you leave at any venue/place during your run. We will endeavour to keep an eye on these belongings, but please do not leave anything valuable and understand that we are not liable for any losses. Photos & Videos: Photos from the event are shared online and may be used in content creation by NI Rave Run and our partners across, but not limited to, social media platforms, newsletters, and email communications. Refunds: If an event cannot go forward due to exceptional circumstances such as, but not limited to, extreme weather conditions, you can choose to either recieve a full refund or be given tickets for an alternative run date. Information Source: Tracey Atkinson | eventbrite

Front and Centre: Women of the North's Playwriting Symposium At a time of increasing challenges for the arts in Northern Ireland—where funding is shrinking, and a clear arts policy remains absent—female-identifying and non-binary playwrights, particularly those from working-class backgrounds, face even greater barriers. Despite the undeniable talent emerging from this region, including playwrights like Stacey Gregg and Lisa McGee, the lack of main stage productions for their work is striking. This symposium is a call to action. Focusing on playwriting as both craft and career, it will open up vital conversations, explore constructive strategies, and showcase fresh talent. Expect a dynamic mix of staged readings, works in progress, and critical discussions—bringing together emerging playwrights, academics, and industry professionals. Join us for an inspiring day of creative exploration, thought-provoking panels, and open conversation. Whether you're a writer, artist, academic, or theatre enthusiast, your voice is welcome. This event is led by playwright and theatre-maker Karis Kelly in collaboration with the Drama Department at QUB. Register here for the programme of panels and talks. The overview of the schedule is as follows: Friday 23rd May, 1pm-6pm Sarturday 24th May, 11am-2.15pm Sunday 25th May, 11am-5.30pm Refreshments included throughout each day. Please note that tickets for panels and talks are free; you will need to book separately to attend the staged readings and scratch performances for which there is a small charge. 📩 For more information, contact frontandcentreni@gmail.com We are grateful to Belfast City Council and to Queen’s University Belfast for their support for this event. Information Source: School of Arts, English and Languages | eventbrite

Explore Northern Knights v North West Warriors sporting information for 7th May, as well as links for Cricket tickets and more with Fixture Calendar. The Northern Knights cricket team is one of the most competitive and accomplished teams in the world of cricket. Representing the Northern regions of Ireland, the team has participated in various top-level competitions such as the Interprovincial Cup, the T20 Blast, and the Northern Knight's Shield. With a track record of consistently performing well in these competitions, the team has proudly claimed the title of champions in multiple occasions. Comprised of highly skilled and talented players, including the likes of James McCollum, Gary Kidd, and Luke Georgeson, the Northern Knights are known for their exceptional teamwork and strategic game plans. The team calls the iconic Stormont stadium in Belfast their home ground, which adds to their already impressive fan following and formidable home-field advantage. TheNorth West Warriors is a first-class cricket team that represents the North West region of Ireland. Established in 2013, the team competes in the annual Irish inter-provincial cricket tournament, the Inter-Provincial Championship. The Warriors have been consistent performers in the competition, having finished as runners-up in 2015 and 2018. The team boasts a talented roster of players, including international stars such as Stuart Thompson and Craig Young. They are led by experienced and successful coach Ian McGregor. The North West Warriors play their home matches at the Bready Cricket Club, a state-of-the-art facility with a capacity of 3,000 spectators. The team has a strong fan base and is known for their aggressive yet calculated style of play, making them a force to be reckoned with in the Irish cricket scene. Information Source: fixturecalendar.com

Hester Ectomy is local comedy king, when he's not cracking a joke or smothering his face in make-up, Hester is an artist with years of experience facilitating workshops for people from all walks of life! Join us for an evening of drawing and drinking, bring your pencils, your best poses, and get ready for a night of sketching and fun. Dressing up is encouraged, the bar will not be open so BYOB is welcome. Information Source: NIMHAF | eventbrite

The Anchor High Leadership Summit equips manufacturing leaders with the tools and mindset to ‘anchor high’. Attendees will hear from pioneering leaders with experience of industry and beyond, and will be inspired, challenged, and motivated through a series of curated speakers and industry panels to lead ambitious change for their business and the wider sector. The Summit is for senior and aspiring manufacturing leaders who have a passion for innovation and best practice. Themes for 2025 include leading change, sustainable growth, and how new inheritance tax rules may affect NI manufacturers. Join us for a day of inspiration, networking, and development on Thursday, 29th May 2025 at the Hilton Hotel, Belfast. The Summit will be followed in the evening by the prestigious Manufacturing NI Hall of Fame Awards, celebrating titans of the local manufacturing sector who have significantly and sustainably shaped NI’s industrial landscape. Note: If you would prefer to be invoiced directly for tickets for the Anchor High Leadership Summit, Hall of Fame Awards Dinner, or both, please email connor@manufacturingni.org . Tables of 10 for the Awards Dinner can also be purchased via Manufacturing NI directly. Please email connor@manufacturingni.org to arrange. Information Source: Manufacturing NI | eventbrite

​ “Rock’n’Roll’s favourite magician” - a title given to him from being a magician that had toured with bands such as Paul Weller, The Libertines, Reverend and the Makers, Pete Doherty and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. The mod brings his love of music and magic together in one action packed show that is not to be missed. A proud member of the world-famous Magic Circle Ben has also been on a few tv shows including a program made about one of his heroes Tommy Cooper What do you get if you put Tommy Cooper, Liam Gallagher, Paul Daniels and Paul Weller into a mixer? You get the magic mod ! Information Source: The Ulster Society of Magicians | eventbrite

On May 2, actor Patty Gallagher (California Shakespeare, Rogue Theater Tucson, University of California Santa Cruz Performance, Play, and Design) and pianist/composer Ben Leeds Carson (Sideband Records, University of California Santa Cruz Creative Technologies) take the stage at Brian Friel Theatre in Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare’s AN ILIAD—a monologue re-telling of the Trojan War, which is also a telling of the catastrophe of war, and a telling of our telling of war ... ceaseless, comedic, compulsive, and mournful. Gallagher's and Carson's stage presence is guided by practices rooted in Beckett, Shakespeare, clowning, and by the study of Hellenic musics, and their Egyptian and Mesopotamian origins—traditions which this play’s terrifying questions: What words to say, what strings are there to pluck, and what sighs and screams are suitable to sing, for the description of war? Kirsten Brandt’s deep, insightful direction compels Gallagher and Carson to join as a manifestation of Homeric inspiration; Gallagher the celebrated poet grounding her audience in the wars that give shape to their place in the world. The Brian Friel Theatre production team, with lighting designed by Mary Tumelty, taking inspiration from the pioneering lighting designer David Lee Cuthbert (1965-2025), alongside Costa Rican costume and stage designer Pamela Rodríguez Montero, have developed a world that channels Gallagher's words into, and out of, the wordless forces of the muse: the piano reimagined as a lyre, and a sense of harmonia that connected the story to the ethereal. Information Source: School of Arts, English and Languages | eventbrite

At Turnstyle you'll see new and experienced performers try fun, silly ideas that you may never see again! This month, copious amounts of hot sauce plus comedy. This month we are back in Sunflower Public House. Doors open at 7:30pm; Show starts at 8pm. Line-up TBA. Keep an eye on our instgram for more info. @turnstylebelfast Information Source: Turnstyle | eventbrite

Information Source: AMD ROCKHOUSE | eventbrite

Due to popular demand, International Stage Hypnotist Poldark returns to the city of Belfast to perform a show, full of extraordinary wonderment. With scenes to demonstrate hypnotic style phenomena for scientific research, the power of the mind and the sixth sense. Choose how you enter the hypnotic world; as a spectator watching in the audience or as a volunteer on stage to bring the entertainment to life as one of the ‘stars’ of the show, albeit volunteers must be 18+ and can choose to leave the performance at any time. Special guests, musical duo Small Corner, part of Stonewall Music will open the night. Known for their take on well known tracks, as well as performing some original music, guaranteed you’ll be toe tapping and singing along as they hit the first notes, through to the last notes at the end of the night. Due to popular demand, early booking is encouraged. Information Source: Poldark Show | eventbrite

Luke Skywalker wiles away his youth sipping blue milk and farming moisture for his Aunt and Uncle on the desert planet of Tatooine - but a chance encounter with a precocious droid with a hidden message hurls Luke into battle against the evil Galactic Empire. Will he rescue the beautiful princess? What will become of his Uncle and Aunt and their moisture farming business? The cast at Belfast Improv take on a sci-fi classic and add a comedic spin to it. All songs will be improvised in the moment, with musical accompaniment throughout the show. .................................. Doors at 6.30pm Show starts at 7pm and ends at 9pm, with a 15 minute intermission. Information Source: Belfast Improv | eventbrite

Ireland's Strongest Man is the smash hit RTE TV show featuring Ireland's Strongest battling it out for the title. A brilliant Family show which is suitable for all ages. Show starts at 1pm. Children 2 and under go FREE (sitting on a parent/guardians knee) .Children's tickets 3-15 years old. Tickets start from £30 for Adults and £20 for Children. VIP Package available including a welcome drink on arrival ,Q&A with a Strongman Legend and then meet the stars of the show after the event. Information Source: Ultimate Strongman Productions Limited | eventbrite

PxBx - Aphrill - Adrenachrome - Shortest Straw at Voodoo Belfast - Thurs 8th May 2025 - Doors 8pm Venue address: 11A Fountain St, Belfast BT1 5EA Information Source: Live Free Tourbooking | eventbrite

Welcome to No Joke- May ! Get ready for a night of laughs, and good vibes at the Ulster Sports Club . Join us for a hilarious comedy show featuring some of the funniest comedians in town. Headlined by the one and only: Sean Hegarty Ruairi Woods Sarah Firby Ronan Linskey Jack Magee Daniel Houston Ceili Rae Minogue Information Source: eventbrite

Information Source: ComedyHub NI | eventbrite

Dr Adam Flynn presents Psychotic Cinema, a talk and presentation aimed at highlighting how psychosis is represented in cinema, using short film clips. "As a psychiatrist and a film fan, I have often wondered how Psychosis could be represented. The idea that someone's mind is very different. By contrasting footage, I hope to lead a discussion around solipsism and the human aspect of mental health." *Discussions during this event may contain information that some people may find upsetting, please reach out to us if you have any concerns or queries. info@nimhaf.org Information Source: NIMHAF | eventbrite

Smorgasbord by arrangement with DMF Music The Selecter - 'Too Much Pressure' 45th Anniversary Fri 16th May 2025 - Mandela Hall, Belfast Information Source: Smorgasbord Events | eventbrite

Dance, sway, or simply listen to the magical music made by ORTHA and Ruby Valor. ORTHA is a female led experimental folk band, influenced by Irish music, dance and theatre. Using traditional elements like tap dancing, bodhran, whistle and guitar – ORTHA build dynamic layers of sound with contemporary electronics and captivating storytelling. Ruby Valor is a soulful vocalist blending R&B, jazz, and soul with heartfelt passion. With over 10 years’ experience she has performed across Ireland, drawing inspiration from legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Adele. Information Source: NIMHAF | eventbrite

Bryan Adams Belfast is set to be an unforgettable evening at the SSE Arena in Belfast, United Kingdom, on May 21, 2025, starting at 18:30. Known for his iconic hits and electrifying performances, Bryan Adams will captivate the audience with a blend of classic rock anthems and soulful ballads. The SSE Arena, renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities and exceptional acoustics, provides the perfect backdrop for this highly anticipated event. Fans can expect a meticulously curated setlist featuring timeless favorites like "Summer of '69" and "Heaven," alongside newer tracks that showcase Adams' enduring talent. This concert promises to be a highlight of the Belfast music calendar, drawing attendees from near and far to experience the magic of Bryan Adams live in concert.

"A Case Of You" The Songs Of Joni Mitchell Performed by Suzanne Savage , and accompanied by Johnny Taylor Piano, Rod Patterson Double bass Aenghus Hackett Guitar. Thursday 22nd May 2025 Fitzroy Presbyterian Church University Street Belfast BT7 1HL Doors 6.45pm - Show Starts 7.30pm Price - £22.50 +bf www.jonimitchell.com ............................................... An intimate acoustic Retrospective of the music of Joni Mitchell. "The span of Joni Mitchell's music glows with tradition, innovation, and progression, from early Canadian folk ballads to collaborations with jazz greats, her songwriting remains always unique and of the highest literary calibre. Acclaimed singer songwriter Suzanne Savage, and accompanied by Johnny Taylor Piano, Rod Patterson Double bass Aenghus Hackett Guitar, presents 'A Case Of You' an intimate acoustic tribute to the music of Joni Mitchell... featuring songs such as 'A Case Of You, Both Sides Now, Coyote, Circle Song, The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines', and many more... with the voice, piano, acoustic guitar and double bass.. presenting Mitchell's music as it would have been performed in Joni's early performances. Joni Mitchell is one of the most influential artists of the modern age, rising to stardom in the late 1960's, Her music and songwriting is the jewel in the crown of the Woodstock generation. Bursting onto the scene with a sound entirely her own, Joni earned the respect of her musical peers and the love of her audiences Worldwide. Joni would go on to mine the depths of her emotive landscape and push the boundaries of songcraft and artistry for over five decades. Mitchell's albums and songs are widely recognised as masterpieces, standards that would become the soundtrack to the lives of countless fans throughout the world and continue to draw and inspire new generations of fans. Information Source: Music Capital | eventbrite

W e lcome to a morning of technical CPD sessions and lunch. There will also be a separate social event in the afternoon followed by a two course evening meal. PLEASE NOTE: You can choose to attend either the CPD session in the morning and/or the afternoon/evening social event. If you are booking for both events, you will need to book 2 tickets. 1 0am - Arrival - tea/coffee & biscuits Penthouse Suite C PD Papers: James Coton - Orangetek Active Lighting Clare Thomas - Urbis Schreder Dark Skies 12.00pm - ILP AGM Online 1 2.30pm - Lunch - soup and sandwiches, tea and coffee End of morning session 1 .30pm - 12 midnight - Social Event* *Ticket price for the afternoon/evening includes 18 holes of golf at the Holywood Golf Club or a walking tour of Belfast. Please choose which option you would like when booking. In the evening, there is a 2-course evening meal in the Piano Room. Accommodation can be booked directly with the hotel and the rates are: Superior room single occupancy - £125 bed and breakfast Superior room double occupancy - £145 bed and breakfast Please call 02890 271066 and quote booking ID 892639 Event k i ndly sponsored by Urbis Schreder , Mallatite & City Electrical Factors Information Source: Women Lighting Professionals | eventbrite

In 1991, the curator and art historian S.B. Kennedy published his seminal volume Irish Art & Modernism, 1880-1950. This was the first major text to survey the relationship between modern Irish artists and their European counterparts, tracing the impact of a collection of aesthetic preoccupations loosely termed “modernism” within Ireland. Kennedy’s volume examined themes central to the study of Irish art: the relationship between the local and the transnational in Irish artistic movements; the mobility of aesthetic influences across geographies, institutions, and art networks; the existence, or otherwise, of an “Irish school”; and the tensions between modernity, the nation, and the past in formulations of Irish identity. In the thirty years since the publication of Kennedy’s text, the field of modernist studies has undergone rapid transformation. Historians of modernism have conclusively challenged the notion of a single, hegemonic modernist tradition while dismantling many of the implied hierarchies of the field. Most notably, investigations of modernism have been fruitfully expanded by the application of urgent methodological lenses, including the critical perspectives of postcolonial, queer, ecocritical, feminist, and diasporic studies. How have such viewpoints impacted the study of Irish modernism? What work is still to be done? Honoring S.B. Kennedy’s career as both an art historian and a long-time curator at the Ulster Museum, this conference examines modernism in the Irish visual arts from 1880 to the present day. Who were the audiences, protagonists, allies, and antagonists of modern art in Ireland? How did Irish art across the island—north and south, east and west—champion modernism in the arts, broadly construed, across shifting political and economic milieus? And what new narratives of Irish modern art might be written by considering decolonial, gendered, and intersectional perspectives? AGENDA* The schedule is subject to change. Please see the KNI website for most up-to-date information. Day 1 (Thursday, 22 May 2025)Belfast Room, Ulster Museum 10:00 Registration & Coffee Reception 10:30 Welcome 10:40 Panel I: Defining Modernism, Part I Dr. Fintan Cullen (University of Nottingham)—“Modernism, Whistler, and Irishness”Dr. Hannah Baker (Trinity College Dublin)—“Sarah Cecilia Harrison (1863-1941): A Traditionalist in Modern Ireland”Dr. Judith Stapleton (University of Notre Dame)—“‘Among the Radicals’: Staging Irish Modernism at Home and Abroad, William Orpen, 1910-1914”12:00 Break 12:30 Panel II: Defining Modernism, Part II Dr. Gavin Murphy (Atlantic Technological University)—“Unfinished Business: Jack B. Yeats, Modernity and the Avant-Garde”Dr. Niamh NicGhabhann Coleman (University of Limerick)—“Catholic Modernism in Ireland: Perspective and Interpretations”13:30 Lunch 14:30Panel III: Spheres of Influence Katie Buckley (Prints & Drawings, National Gallery of Ireland)—“The Student Surpassing the Master? William Orpen and his Students at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art (1902-1914)”Dr. Michael Waldron (Crawford Art Gallery)—“‘She gave them of her best’: Tracing Mainie Jellett’s Sphere of Influence”Sarah McAuliffe (National Gallery of Ireland)—“An soluble Puzzle: creating and interpreting a vision of Ireland, 1920–1950”16:00 Tour of the Collection Anne Stewart, Senior Curator of Art, Ulster Museum. By registration only17:00 Keynote (Lecture Theatre, Ulster Museum) In Conversation: Dr. Riann Coulter, Curator F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Visiting Professor, Belfast School of ArtDr. Fionna Barber, Reader in Art History, Manchester School of ArtDr. Róisín Kennedy, Associate Professor of the School of Art and Cultural Policy, University College DublinRespondent: Dr. Joseph McBrinn, Reader in Art and Design History at Belfast School of Art of the University of Ulster 18:30 Reception (Belfast Room, Ulster Museum) Book Launch: The Routledge Companion to Irish Art (2025) edited by Fionna Barber and Fintan CullenDay 2 (Friday, 23 May 2025)Canada Room and Council Chamber, Queen's University Belfast 9:30 Registration & Coffee Reception 10:00 Panel IV: Paper Modernisms Marie Lynch (Centre for the Study of Irish Art, National Gallery of Ireland)—“A Pixie in Irish Art: Pamela Colman Smith and the Yeats Family”Chiara Harrison Lambe (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)—“‘My Own Work Made Me Happier': Stella Steyn, James Joyce, and the Boundaries of Irish Modernism”Dr. Angela Griffith (Trinity College Dublin)—“Blurred lines: Irish Artists and Modern Illustration: Tradition and Innovation”11:30 Break 12:00 Panel V: Exhibiting Ireland Dr. Billy Shortall (Trinity College Dublin)—“Irish Visual Art and Artifice in the Early Years of the Irish Free State”Dr. Philip McEvansoneya (Trinity College Dublin)—“‘Cultural Expression in Time of War’: Seeing Modern Continental Art in Emergency Ireland”Dr. Elisabeth Ansel (University of Jena)—“The Story of an Unknown Exhibition: Jack B. Yeats and Irish Modernism in Germany 13:30 Lunch 14:30Panel VI: Queer Visibilities and Geographies of Exchange Seán Kissane (Irish Museum of Modern Art)—“Revisiting The White Stags”Dr. Edwin Coomasaru (Independent Scholar)—“(Anti-)Colonial Ecologies between Northern Ireland and Sri Lanka: Song of Ceylon (1935) at the Ulster Museum”Dr. Cai Lyons (Independent Art Historian)—“Mary Swanzy’s Exhibiting Practice as Transnational Modernist Exchange, c. 1900-1947”16:00 Break 16:30 Panel VII: Irish Modernisms Now?: Contemporary Perspectives Dr. Kate Antosik-Parsons (Trinity College Dublin)—“Disruptive Encounters: Protest, Performance and Politics in Array Collective’s The Druthaib’s Ball (2021)”Dr. Joseph McBrinn (Belfast School of Art of the University of Ulster)—Respondent Remarks: “Thinking through Irish Art and Modernism”17:30 Closing Remarks Information Source: Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies | eventbrite

An Evening with Alzheimer's Society Alzheimer’s Society is thrilled to be hosting an Evening with Alzheimer's Society, taking place on Friday 23rd May 2025 at Belfast City Hall, by kind permission of the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Andrew McCormick. Join us for an evening of food and entertainment to support Alzheimer’s Society and mark Dementia Action Week (19-25 May 2025). Tickets cost £40. For sponsorship enquiries or to book a table, please contact Linzi Stewart, Regional Fundraising Manager, at linzi.stewart@alzheimers.org.uk . Please note that entrance to Belfast City Hall on the evening of the event is Hall is via Donegall Square South. Unfortunately, car parking is not available in the grounds of City Hall. Information Source: Linzi Stewart and Ciara Jemphrey (Alzheimer's Society) | eventbrite

Hello Charlie by Caoimhe FarrenDirected by Rhiann Jeffrey Victoria Wood Playwriting Prize for Comedy - Finalist The Women’s Prize for Playwriting - Shortlist Sisters Maeve and Kate have fled their past trauma in Derry and now live in London. Hedonistic Maeve binge-drinks to oblivion; brittle Kate sees history repeating itself. But Maeve dodges culpability for her drunken antics; how can she be at fault? The blame clearly lies with her beloved, inebriated alter-ego: Charlie. Hello Charlie is a black comedy about trauma, sisterhood and breaking the cycle of familial addiction. Front & Centre are proud to present a series of staged readings featuring plays that have been finalists, shortlisted, or longlisted for major UK and Ireland playwriting awards, but have yet to be programmed in Northern Ireland. Despite their accolades, these works, penned by talented women from the North, have remained under the radar. Plays are living, breathing documents that are written to be performed. For many women of the North, their brilliant, commended plays are sitting in drawers, languishing. Front & Centre is determined to change that! We’ve paired these remarkable writers with accomplished Northern Irish directors, offering audiences a first look at the next generation of female theatre makers from the North. This event has kindly been supported by Queen’s University and Belfast City Council. For other readings in the series: Stuff & Things & Junk & Belonging by Carley Magee The Wake by Anna Teresa McGrath Caoimhe Farren is an actress from Derry. She trained at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London. Most recently, she played the title character in Tinderbox’s Yerma at The Lyric. She can currently be seen as DS Sorcha Conlon in Crá (TG4/BBC). Previous theatre work includes: This Sh*t Happens All The Time (Lyric, Belfast); Scenes from an Inquiry (The Playhouse, Derry); Chemistry (The Finborough, London). Previous television work includes: The Woman in the Wall; Hope Street; Willow; This Way Up; Derry Girls. Hello Charlie (Caoimhe’s debut play) was developed as part of The Lyric’s New Playwrights Programme. It was shortlisted for The Women’s Prize for Playwriting, a finalist for the inaugural Victoria Wood Playwriting Prize for Comedy and in the top 1% (from 4643 entries) of the BBC Writers Open Call. Information Source: Front & Centre Women's Playwriting Symposium | eventbrite

TRIFLED - A raw remount by Caitlin Magnall-Kearns After a highly successful, sell-out production at Dublin Theatre Festival last year we are delighted to present this script in hand, semi-staged performance of TRIFLED - directed by the writer. Jen is a bolshy young Northern Irish woman who is housebound with agoraphobia and trying to make the best of a sticky situation. Her days revolve around watching daytime TV and filming niche pornographic content for her profile on OnlyFans, until one day when a heartbroken English university lecturer lands on her doorstep. Based, in part, off the writers experience living with agoraphobia TRIFLED charts their blossoming friendship, in this brutally honest, darkly comedic two-hander about sex work, mental illness and custard. Bawdy, line-crossing, occasionally moving and always fun. - The Irish Times Audience Advisory/Trigger Warnings Contains strong language and references to sex and mental illness. Front & Centre are delighted to be able to showcase these studio shows by women and non-binary writers from Northern Ireland. Both pieces have enjoyed major successes at festivals in the UK and Ireland and as far afield as Australia. They’re examples of the excellence of craft emerging from the region. In presenting these works, we hope that arts institutes and buildings will engage and give the work much deserved, longer runs here in the North. However - a note on the trap of studio shows! Keeping women on small studio stages, not allowing them to graduate to main stages, seriously damages their career and earning power. It pushes them out of the industry as they can’t earn a living viably. This is particularly pronounced for working class writers. Longterm, we’d like to use our platform to propel these artists from studio shows to mainstages. Please note: Presale will end on the event day at 3pm. From that point onwards, tickets will only be available on the door, paying by card. This event has kindly been supported by Queen’s University and Belfast City Council. For other studio shows at the Symposium: The Daughters of Róisín by Aoibh Johnson Photo by Al Craig from original production at The New Theatre. Audience react to the original production at The New Theatre. Caitlin Magnall-Kearns is an award-winning writer from Belfast with a passion for telling unheard and underrepresented stories about fatness, queerness and disability with warmth, humour and wit. Following on from making it to the top 1% of applicants in 2023, she was selected last year from over 1300 people to be a part of the BBC’s Comedy Collective 2024 and was also a member of BBC Belfast Voices 2024. Her radio drama Safe Space produced by FABEL for Radio 4 aired in January 2025, and was a pick of the week in The Observer, The Sunday Times, The Mail on Sunday and the Radio Times. She is currently developing a sitcom with Hat Trick Productions, along with several other projects across stage, screen and radio. She is represented by Kate Haldane Management. Information Source: Front & Centre Women's Playwriting Symposium | eventbrite

Be there at the beginning... Join us for an evening of bold storytelling and fresh takes! This is your chance to witness the seeds of new ideas from some of Northern Ireland's most exciting and innovative female and non-binary playwrights. Playwrights learn and advance their craft in communion with audiences - so your support and feedback is a vital part of this exchange. Line-up includes: Wee Poke by Íde Simpson It's the first day of summer in East Belfast, so, Andy's digging a hole. Tom's watching him dig. They might get a wee poke to cool them down. Might not. Andy might keep digging. Tom might keep watching him dig. Maybe, maybe not. Íde Simpson most recently co-wrote and produced, Cailíní, which premiered at the Samuel Beckett Theatre, and thereafter moved to the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. In 2023, she developed her play, Listen! The Adults are Talking with the support of the British Council, and the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, as part of the ‘Words Without Borders’ scheme, which was subsequently performed in Mumbai. She was one of the '21 artists for the 21st century' in 2021, with her play 'The Lands. She a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, and is currently an MFA Playwriting student at The Lir. Fungi Fuck/Focáil na bhfungas by Aoife de Bhál An exploration of queer joy, the Irish language and climate grief through the entangled world of fungi. A bilingual solo performance in Irish and English. Aoife de Bhál is a forager, folklorist and Gaeilgeoir from Béal Feirste. This is their first solo theatre piece. Anna and the Prick… I Think by Denise McCready. Anna had a comfortable life until she turned 50. Two sons have come out within weeks of each other, the menopause has hit badly, and don’t get her started on that man…what a prick. Denise McCready is a Poet and Playwright from Belfast. She was part of The Lyric Theatre Belfast First stage over 50’s playwrights group in 2022, while there she developed a 10 minute play called Anna and the Prick, which is now being developed into her debut play, “Anna and the Prick..I Think. Wretch by Clare Duffy and Grace Kully Wretch is a play about stalking and harassment and the aftershocks that so often come with seeking freedom, but are rarely talked about. Wretch is our call-to-action, our wake up call, and our supportive hug to other victims. This play exposes what harassment can look like in all its subtle forms, how the justice system so often fails survivors, and why support is a necessity for years after. When we say that this is important, we aren’t asking you to believe us. We are telling you. Clare Duffy is an Irish writer and performer across stage and screen. She has most recently been commissioned by BBC Radio 4. She holds an MA from the Seamus Heaney Centre and Queens University Belfast. Grace Kully) is a rare disease advocate. She moved to Belfast from rural New Jersey to study Creative Writing at the Seamus Heaney Centre. Her work centers around human connection, the mind and body, and family intricacies. She has been published in Kaleidoscope Magazine, Sans PRESS, and The Blackbird Anthology. The Wee Wake by Aoife Kane A lively Irish Comedy. Kathy and Ruth navigate the emotional and frantic experience of hosting a wake for Kathy’s recently deceased husband, Martin. Grief and humour intertwine. Written, directed, produced by Aoife Kane. This piece follows the sold out run of Aoife’s first play at the age of nineteen. ‘Uppa Duff’ was a smash hit at Feile 2024. The Wee Wake will feature in Feile 2025 1st, 2nd and 3rd August 2025. Friend of Dorothy by Gillian Pencavel Telling the story of the short life of Hollywood costumer Kent Warner, the man who found Dorothy's ruby slippers in a dusty warehouse in 1970, but whose legacy is so much more. From almost single-handedly creating a black market for movie memorabilia - stuff the studios threw away - to his extravagant parties, his great talent, and his tragic death of AIDS, Friend Of Dorothy celebrates the man, not just his shoes. With a Masters in Musical Theatre Writing from Goldsmiths University London, Gillian moved to Belfast in 2017 and has since written By A Thread, a one man show which received a rehearsed reading in 2023; an original musical, Golden Bricks And Ruby Shoes (music by Patrick Moore) which had a WiP performance in 2019 and received ACNI funding in 2020; and taken part in the BBC’s Hothouse programme in 2021. Natural by Alice Malseed Alice is pregnant. Very pregnant. And like any artist would, she's exploiting this personally life-changing epoch for her research project - Natural. Natural explores the context, mood and ethics of having children within our current climate.Through research, she is looking back at one hundred years of child rearing by zooming in on three generations of women and their supposed 'choice' in this area.At this scratch she is presenting a very raw and rough extract - her, on stage, reading some text. She is using the biography as a starting point to look at the government's obsession with 'hard working families', the rise of pronatalism, trad-wives, and ultimately questioning whether or not women really do have a choice at all.... Alice is a theatre maker, writer and producer based in Belfast. She is currently part of Six In The Attic with I.T.I. As well as theatre, Alice is working on her debut novel Double Sunrise. SIÚCRA by Soso Ní Cheallaigh A sensuous toast to hypercapitalism. In the secret world of sugar dating, Nina is spending the night surrounded by her newfound wealth, late-night game shows, and 58 missed calls. Performed by Holly Hannaway. Soso Ní Cheallaigh is a Derry/Belfast writer, performer, and maker. They create provocative disability-led work in English and Irish through theatre, film, poetry, essays, and visual art.A former Theatre & Dance NI Invest Artist and Tinderbox Incubate Artist, Soso is currently developing ‘SIÚCRA’ with Holly Hannaway, ‘A Duet for Two Disabled Bodies’ (Project Arts Centre) with dancer Bobbi Byrne for Dublin Fringe Festival 2025, and directing the arts and memory documentary ‘i gCuimhne Mo Mháthar’ (Little Ease Films). Get in touch: ohbysoso@gmail.com or on Instagram @ohbysoso @siucrababy This event has kindly been supported by Queen’s University and Belfast City Council. Love first looks at new-writing? Check out our staged readings: Hello Charlie by Caoimhe Farren Stuff & Things & Junk & Belonging by Carley Magee The Wake by Anna Teresa McGrath Information Source: Front & Centre Women's Playwriting Symposium | eventbrite

Public Consultation Event - Findings from the Regional Neurology Review Join us for our first Public Consultation event, where we will be sharing the findings from the Regional Neurology Review . At the event we will present the analysis, findings and proposed recommendations of the Review; and highlight the potential improvements to services which could be achieved through the implementation of those recommendations. This in-person event will take place on Thursday, May 29 , 2025 at 7:00 PM at the Claton Hotel, Belfast . Come along to hear more about Review and share your feedback to help shape future services by participating in the public consultation . If you have any accessibility requiremnts please email us at: Neurology.Review@health-ni.gov.uk To find out more abou the consultation or respond online please go to: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-regional-review-neurology-services-final-report Information Source: Department of Health in Northern Ireland (DoH) | eventbrite

We’re delighted to be holding another Encounter event for women in Down and Dromore, this time in the evening . Please join us on Friday 30 May at 7.30pm in Belvoir Parish Church. We'll spend a couple of hours together enjoying worship and refreshments, as well as hearing encouraging testimony and teaching. We look forward to seeing you and your friends! Hosted by: Hilary McClay Worship leader: Lydia Harvey Speakers: Ruth Thompson and Ali Calvin RUTH THOMPSON Ruth lives in East Belfast with her two sons, Joel (8) and Freddie (5). She works as a singing teacher as well as freelance singer and radio presenter. Ruth will be telling some of her story about becoming a widow aged 30 when her husband, Andrew, died from brain cancer. She’ll be sharing some of the highs and lows of her continuing walk with God. ALI CALVIN Ali leads Christ Church Kilkeel. She has a heart for seeing people come alive in their faith and relationship with Jesus through the power of the word and the Spirit. She is passionate about teaching people to hear God for themselves. Ali also loves time with friends, a good laugh, good food, and walking by the sea. PROGRAMME Welcome & worship Ruth Thompson (story) Break for refreshments Ali Calvin (teaching) Prayer ministry The event will end at approximately 9.30pm, although prayer ministry may continue. BOOKS As on previous occasions, our friends at The Book Well will have a selection of books and gifts to buy. Tickets are £12 per person and include refreshments. Please book early as space is limited. Information Source: Diocese of Down & Dromore | eventbrite

Boulderworld Fun Comp - Thursday 1st May 6pm - Friday 2nd May 10pm Making the most of our new comp wall set! Come down for a fun, friendly and motivating day. Test yourself in a competition setting :) 45 climbs of all difficulties. Unlimited attemtps with a 1 point reduction per attempt. Full range of age categories : 14+/21+/30+/40+/50+/60+ Small entry fee to fund some spot prizes spread throughout all categories. Get your ranking in your age group and get motivated :) Lets get together and make it great ! Spot prizes picked out of a hat from score card entries. You must be registered here to gain a score card. *Please note the climbs will be up on the comp wall before the compeittion starts. If you are taking part, please do not climb them until the Thrusday* Just get excited !! Information Source: Lucy Mitchell (BoulderWorld Belfast) | eventbrite