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FESTIVAL 2014 review
www.belfast festival.com
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10.5 million
15, 975 weekly E-Newsletter subscribers, increased by 11% from 2013 with an average 28% open rate 180,000 pieces of Festival Northern Ireland programme literature distributed
398
17 36
88
%
41 705
and of these, 14 had capacities of 80% or more
(the national average of arts occupancy is 59% and this is set by the Theatrical Management Association (TMA) – the employers body of the UK Theatre Industry).
Of Ticket Prices were £15 or under with the average event ticket costing £12
Free Community Tickets were issued through the Ulster Bank sponsored initiative and Festival’s Hitchhikers scheme
in 119 different media outlets with 97% positive content, France
Switzerland
75
audiences with 50% % New coming from Belfast
17 Brazil
Free or Embrace education & outreach events attended by 38,013 (65% of Festival attendance).
United Kingdom Netherlands Germany Pieces of Press & Media coverage Ireland
296 UK & Ireland 102 International 40 Broadcast 180 Offline & 178 Online Editorial Portugal Spain
Out Events United Sell States of America Festival Events played at 70% occupancy or above
clicks, comments , shares, retweets, follows, mentions, website, subscribers and video views)
76,324 visits to the Festival website during the Festival period (an increase of 3.4%) with 13.5 % conversion to the online booking pages Norway Sweden
Audience Attendance
Festival 2014 (28% increase from 2013) *Additional estimated audience reach of 416,000 from the ‘Art In The Eastside’ Billboard Campaign across East Belfast.
2.1 Million online & social media reach with 181,076 actively engaged on Festival channels (likes,
60% increase in followers on both of Festival’s Twitter & Facebook channels
17 Days of World Class Arts 18 Countries 26 Premieres 110 Events
58,611
Reach of Festival Brand (Advertising, Online & Digital, Press, Outdoor, TV & Radio)
2 28
5% Out of State and 12% coming from 30 min drive time catchment of Belfast (Bangor, Lisburn, Holywood and Carrickfergus).
Mali
Collaborative Marketing Initiatives with Ulster Bank, Arts Council NI, NITB, Visit Belfast, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast City Council, British Council, O2 International Sim, Belfast Harbour, Hastings Hotels, Translink, Belfast Telegraph, BBC, Irish News, U105, Arts & Business and Tourism Ireland.
Key Media Partnerships with Belfast Telegraph and BBC NI
Staff employed directly by festival (full time, part time, casual, freelance)
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520 366
Artists
Supporting staff, event & artists crew
95 Russia 7 463 £2 million
Volunteers and 1100 volunteer hours
Student Arts Management & Marketing internship opportunities
Ukraine
Hotel rooms booked through Festival
Generated in the local economy * £577,180 in tourism revenue including £112,637 on tourism accommodation and £464,543 on food and drink, transport and shopping
48k
Trips to Belfast from the Island of Ireland generated through the Joint Festival Campaign with Visit Belfast promoting the cultural tourism on offer in Belfast**
35,000 commercial bed nights and a related spend of £7.8m
*Independent Economic Assessment by Cogent Management Consulting of 2012 Edition of Festival ** Millward Brown 2013 Study counting visitors who said the joint Visit Belfast Festival Campaign had a major influence on their decision to visit.
China
Korea
“Reflecting on 17 days which truly delivered….not every festival gives us shows to remember in the months and years ahead but this one delivered…In total there were 110 events of every kind for every sort of audience: from acrobats, elephants, dancers, singers, actors, poets, authors, photographers, painters, politicians and our own orchestra… something to watch, listen to, talk about and learn Australia from. It’s been a good ‘un’.” Grania McFadden, Belfast Telegraph
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Bringing the Best of International & Contemporary Arts To Belfast The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s is Ireland’s leading contemporary international multidisciplinary arts festival, featuring a range of art forms from classical and contemporary music, to film, dance, theatre, talks & literature and digital, sonic and visual arts. Promoting artistic collaboration, audience engagement and participation, the Festival each October presents the best of emerging and established international and local professional arts, many of which are UK and Ireland premieres. It is a key cultural event for Belfast as well as in Northern Ireland, giving local people and visitors a reason to experience the city and the cultural offering with an array of high quality never seen before shows and must see events– a genuinely civic event of international stature and scale.
A Festival of Connections The Festival has been at the heart of Belfast’s social, economic and creative life every Autumn for the last 52 years, connecting audiences, communities, policymakers, businesses, artists, investors and the wider society through contemporary arts practice. The following principles guide the Festival ensuring inclusivity as well as offering value and distinctiveness: Global Connections
Programming a dynamic, world class arts festival that consistently delivers exceptional quality, bringing the best of international arts to Belfast as well as global attention and profile to the wealth of creative talent in Northern Ireland. This extends to opportunities for local artists to develop creative skills by connecting with visiting international artists through the Festival such as workshops with Bessie Award winner Camille A. Brown and critically acclaimed pianist, Roland Pontinen and a mentoring programme for both disabled and non- disabled artists led by our Artist in Residence, Claire Cunningham during Festival 2014.
Contributing to the Vitality of Belfast Diversity, Access & Community
Festival does not curate or produce events that appeal only to a cultural elite or bring in the biggest audiences. Contemporary and inter-disciplinary arts practice is programmed which provokes the mind, challenges and inspires, touches lives, makes sense of the world we live in whilst contributing to respect for other world cultures, including our own. The 2014 programme witnessed compelling stories of our time and our communities seen through artistic events that tackle contemporary topics beyond the arts. Claire Cunningham’s Guide Gods (a new work looking at how different world faiths and religions view disability); the Schaubuhne Theatre’s An Enemy of the People (examining the current state of political discourse); Syria, the world’s most dangerous place for journalists and Jonathan Powell’s Talking To Terrorists (global conflict resolution) and Camille A. Brown’s Mr Tolerance (race relations). Events take place across the city from traditional city centre arts venues to site specific or new locations. This offers audiences opportunities to experience arts and cultural events in their own neighbourhoods whilst opening up new pathways across the city for residents and visitors alike to discover locations less familiar to them. They are open to all with Festival using public funding to subsidise the ticket price or make them free. In 2014 the average ticket price was £12 and 37% of the programmed events were free. Events took place in Clonard Monastery in West Belfast to the Skainos Centre in East Belfast and the new Duncairn Arts Centre in North Belfast. A number of community ticketing initiatives also operated in conjunction with partners. Overall the Festival aims to bring people together from across the city, irrespective of differences of class, wealth, geography or identity.
Collaboration and Partnership
Collaboration with many partners across Belfast and the artistic world to extend reach, generate business and add vitality to the Festival Programme campaign is at the core of the Festival business model. Together, our expertise, credibility and facilities can lead to better and more accessible programming with greater impact on audiences. Festival works with a wide range of partners from venues and funders to community organisations that share our values and principles so that together we can place the arts at the heart of our social, economic and creative life. For example to widen the audience, part of our 2014 programme involved partnering with organisations such as the Belfast Music Society, Open House Festival and Moving On Music. Partnering with Happenstance Theatre Company enabled the innovative new production ‘More Than A Flag’ come to the stage whilst Kabosh produced the challenging ‘20’ as part of Festival 2014. The collaboration with our city and tourism partners through the 2013 WISH installation at Titanic Belfast was extended into 2014 when one of the Festival’s key funding partners, NITB, refreshed and extended the land art through to May 2014 to help promote the city during the Giro d’Italia, attracting a further estimated 200,000 viewings from flights departing into and arriving at the adjacent Belfast City Airport (based on 2012 data from the Civil Aviation Authority).
Whilst recognising Festival’s heritage and the leading role it played during Belfast’s darkest days, it continues to evolve to ensure it remains a vital and credible creative force in the city, adding to the rich cultural offering. This is not made any easier by the tough economic climate that sees diminishing public funding for the arts and reduced consumer spending. However, never has the need for a quality, accessible and affordable annual international Festival programme been more valid. The arts make Belfast a better place to live, work and visit whilst those growing up in the city need to know that the arts has a value as well as more material things. Experiencing culture is part of the city’s development as a society and a vibrant arts scene is vital for the health of the economy. The Festival contributes £2m to the local economy each year, generating business for local hotels, restaurants and retail outlets throughout the city (including £577,180 Tourism Revenue*), adding to the vitality of Belfast making it a place people want to visit, live and work in and promoting all that is good about NI on the international stage. * Figures from the 2012 Festival Economic Impact Report commissioned by NITB
l arts a n io t a n r e ressive int gaging both g o r p , t n e reemin actively en d diversity , d n a l To be the p e Ir Northern ichness an ers in r h e it h t w t in n s e ev communitie tice. With our partn l a c o l d n prac tinctive s is t d global a r a a e y t r a a e r po seek to cr rticipate in e of contem w , y it c e t the entir nces to enjoy and pa eriences u o h g u o r h t t for audie mative aesthetic exp s. n e m n o ir v en transfor nd leader d a n s a r e l k a n in h io inspirat artists, t s s a l c d l r from wo
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Festival 2014: 16 Oct - 1 Nov
In association with
CLASSICAL
Four Moods in Music with the Ulster Orchestra Featuring Valeriy Sokolov The Emotional Vibrosity of Orchestral Music
Northern Ireland/ Netherlands/ Ukraine
Swiss Ambassador’s Award Concert with Trio Rafale A Classical Gust of Wind
Switzerland
Agnew McAllister Duo, Flute and Guitar Part of the Northern Lights Mini Fest with Belfast Music Society
Northern Ireland
Schubert Ensemble A Chamber Of Classical Colour
UK
Emerging Conductors Programme with the Ulster Orchestra Emerging Musical Maestros
Northern Ireland/ Netherlands/ Ireland
Quercus Ensemble: Songs, Games and Dances Part of the Northern Lights Mini Fest with Belfast Music Society
UK
Classics Through the Ages with the Ulster Orchestra Classical Traditions Over 200 Years
Northern Ireland/ Netherlands/ Ireland
Emma Morwood and Jonathan Fisher, Soprano and Piano Part of the Northern Lights Mini Fest with Belfast Music Society
Northern Ireland/UK
Roland Pöntinen (and Masterclass) World-Renowned Classical Pianist
Sweden
A Fanfare to Fate with the Ulster Orchestra Featuring Barry Douglas Local Pianists and Composers
Northern Ireland
IRISH PREMIERE
DANCE Israel Galván La Edad de Oro (and post-show talk) The World’s Most Celebrated Flamenco Dancer
Spain
IRISH PREMIERE
Claire Cunningham Guide Gods (and post-show talk) Exploring The Major Faiths’ Perspectives Towards Disability
UK
IRISH PREMIERE
Camille A. Brown and Dancers Mr. TOL. E.RA ncE by (and post-show talk/workshop) Theatrically Gutsy Performance About African American Performers
USA
EUROPEAN PREMIERE
Maiden Voyage Dance and Liz Roche Company Neither Either (and post-show talk/workshop) The Predicament Of Living Out Two Conflicting States Of Mind At Once
Northern Ireland/ Ireland
WORLD PREMIERE
Grupo Corpo Sem Mim and Parabelo Classical Ballet Vs Latin Rhythms Brazilian Style
Brazil
IRISH PREMIERE
& Festival Co-Comission with Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme and South Bank Centre London
In association with
Music club
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ABSORBING MODERNITY NORTHERN IRISH PREMIERE
Bettye LaVette The Legendary American Soulstress
USA
Harry Manx and Gareth Davies-Jones Blues And Roots Style Storytelling
Canada/UK
Lulo Reinhardt Latin Swing Project Gypsy Swinging At The Music Club
Germany
IRISH PREMIERE
Dianne Reeves (and post-show talk) Four Time Grammy Award-Winning Jazz Vocalist
USA
Hey Harley featuring Lizanne Knott and Bill Reveles/Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo (and Masterclass) An Evening Of Folk, Country And Popular Music From Across The World
USA/Australia
Tamikrest Intoxicating Saharan Desert Blues
Mali
The Gloaming Highly Acclaimed Irish American Contemporary Folk Super Group
Ireland/USA
Building for the Silver Screens of Belfast A Flavour Of The Days When Over 40 Cinemas Were Operating In Belfast
Northern Ireland
The Ulster Museum 1914-2014: Evolution Amidst Revolution Featuring Rarely Seen Archival Drawings, Photographs And Models
Northern Ireland
NORTHERN IRISH PREMIERE
Modern Schools in Belfast Talk: The Work of RS Wilshere Focusing On 26 Belfast Schools Constructed In The 1920s & 1930s
Northern Ireland
NORTHERN IRISH PREMIERE
Craigavon New Town: 50 Years of Modernity Created by PLACE, featuring new and archival photography by Victor Sloan
Northern Ireland
Heritage Tour of the Strand Arts Centre Explore Its Unique Art Deco Architecture And Go Behind The Scenes Of A Traditional Movie Theatre
Northern Ireland
Modernity on Film (6 Films) Exploring How Modernity Has Influenced Some Of Cinema’s Leading Lights
Northern Ireland
Modernist Churches of Belfast Bus Tour Exploring Modernism between Protestant and Catholic Churches in Belfast
Northern Ireland
IRISH PREMIERE
MUSIC Big Big Sing Singing Commonwealth Style In A Fun-Filled Afternoon
UK
Absorbing Modernity Ulster Museum Day Talks And Film Screenings
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland
Elvis Costello Solo in Concert A Festival Favourite Returns
UK
Floodlit Tour of Belfast Heritage and Modernist Buildings The Architectural Story of Belfast
Muriel Anderson (and Workshop) One Of The World’s Most Versatile Female Guitarists
USA
A Musical Gathering with A Stór Mo Chroí Loving the Tradition
Ireland
Old Crow Medicine Show Old-Time Music With A Punk Swagger In association with Open House Festival
USA
Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings Bona Fide Funk Soul Time In association with Red Roof & Strange Victory
USA
Neil Cowley Trio Jazz For Radiohead Fans In association with Moving On Music
UK
The Horslips Legendary Celtic Rockers Recreate The Magic Of 1974
Ireland
THEATRE NORTHERN IRISH PREMIERE
FAMILY TiNY by Replay Theatre Company A Teeny Weeny Show For Our Very Youngest Audiences
Northern Ireland
Hannavas The African Savannah Comes To Belfast
Spain
NORTHERN IRISH PREMIERE
Mike Night Cabaret A Tribute to Mike Moloney in club style Cabaret.
Northern Ireland
WORLD PREMIERE
The Holy Holy Bus by Brassneck Theatre Company Bittersweet Belfast Comedy
Northern Ireland
WORLD PREMIERE
An Enemy of the People by Schaubühne Berlin (and post-show talk) Radical New Production Of WorldClass European Theatre
Germany
IRISH PREMIERE
More Than A Flag by Happenstance Theatre Company 3 Bands, 2 Sides, 1 World War
Northern Ireland
WORLD PREMIERE
Makaronik by Aisling Ghéar (and post-show talk) Multi-Lingual Sci-Fi Drama
Northern Ireland
WORLD PREMIERE
The Suit by Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord (and post-show talk) A Classic Story Superbly Tailored
France
NORTHERN IRISH PREMIERE
(PRODUCTION)
FILM A Century of Chinese Cinema (8 Films) Including Martial Arts Movies, Golden Age Classics And Cutting Edge Modern Masterpieces
China
TALKS & LITERATURE Talking to Terrorists with Jonathan Powell Should Governments Talk To Terrorists?
UK
Belfast Open Studios by Visual Artists Ireland Glimpse Art In The Making
Northern Ireland
The 2014 Stewart Parker Memorial Lecture with Adrian Dunbar Reflecting The Work Of The Playwright
Northern Ireland
20 by Kabosh Unique Multi-Sensory Experience Of Belfast
Northern Ireland
WORLD PREMIERE
Harkaitz Cano with Deirdre Cartmill and Maria McManus Writing of Ireland and the Basque Country
Spain/Ireland/ Northern Ireland
Syria – The World’s Most Dangerous Place for Journalists With War Photographer Paul Conroy,
UK
Global Groove by Nam June Paik A Radical Manifesto On Communications
Korea
NORTHERN IRISH PREMIERE
Gay Byrne Live on Stage Ireland’s Legendary Broadcaster
Ireland
Play with Diogo Alvim and Matilde Meireles Sounds Of Squash
Portugal/UK
WORLD PREMIERE
The Falls: The People, The Community, The Memories by Vincent Dargan The Social History Of The Falls Caught On Camera
Ireland
Bob Harris The Legendary Radio Broadcaster And Presenter Of BBC’s The Old Grey Whistle Test
UK
Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill by Poetry Ireland (and workshop) Celebrating Poetry in Irish
Ireland
Brian McGilloway and Sinead Crowley Irish Crime Writing At Its Finest
Ireland
Poetry Reading with Pat Boran, Theo Dorgan and Anne-Marie Fyfe Hewitt Birthday Poetry Reading
Northern Ireland/ Ireland
Samarkand, Samarkand by Matthias Politycki Acclaimed German Novelist
Germany
Oils and Rivers Wanted with Stephen Sexton and Rachel Piercey The Launch Of Two Poetry Pamphlets
UK/ Northern Ireland
The Night Dances with Charlotte Rampling and Sonia Wieder-Atherton (and pre-show talk) Reciting The Poems Of Sylvia Plath With The Music Of Benjamin Britten
France/UK
EMBRACE
UK & IRISH PREMIERE
DIGITAL, SONIC & VISUAL ARTS Sanity Assassin by Amanda Beech Ambitious, Visceral Video Installation
UK
NORTHERN IRISH PREMIERE UK & IRISH PREMIERE
Muriel Anderson Making the Most of your Time with the Guitar Workshop
USA
Roland Pöntinen Public Masterclass with the Classical Pianist
Sweden
Lizanne Knott Songwriting Masterclass with an Award Winner
USA
Camille A. Brown and Dancers Comtemporary Dance Workshop For Professional And Aspiring Dancers
USA
Israel Galván Reinvention And Tradition Post-Show Talk Hosted By Dr Aoife Mcgrath
Spain
In Conversation with Claire Cunningham Festival Artist In Residence Talk Hosted by Chris Ledger
Scotland
Has Austerity been Good for Europe? Post-show Talk with ‘An Enemy of the People’ Cast
Germany
Camille A. Brown and Dancers Post-show Audience Talkbacks On Tolerance
USA
In Conversation with Dianne Reeves Post-Show Discussion Hosted By Richard Wakely
USA
In Conversation with Jim McKeever ‘Significant Objects’ Event Related Discussion
Northern Ireland
Contradiction and Creativity Post-show talk Following ‘Neither Either’, chaired by Dr Aoife McGrath
Ireland/Northern Ireland
Makaronik Post-Show Talk With Dave Duggan And Members Of The Cast
Northern Ireland/ Ireland
From Bolshoi to Belfast: The Theatre of Costume A Collection Of Ballet And Opera Costumes From Bolshoi Theatre
Russia
Royal Ulster Academy 133rd Annual Exhibition Over 250 Artworks Exhibited
Northern Ireland
In Conversation with The Suit Featuring Members Of The Cast
France
Collective Histories of Northern Irish Art by Golden Thread Gallery Explaining Northern Ireland Through Art
Northern Ireland
France/UK/Ireland
Book Launch: We, Too, Sing Belfast by Donal McCann Connecting With Belfast’s First Citizen
Northern Ireland
Sylvia in Belfast Pre-Show talk of The Night Dances with Gerald Dawe, renowned poet and Professor in English at Trinity College, Dublin
Ireland
Art in the Eastside by Creative Exchange 50 Artist Billboards And Installations Across Belfast
Northern Ireland/ Various
Poetry Ireland Writers-In-Schools Programme Comes To East Belfast
Northern Ireland
Resistance presented by Liz Crow Award-Winning Film Installation
UK
Belfast Open Studios Artist Show And Tell For Schools, Community Groups And Members Of The Public
Northern Ireland
Creative Exchange Art in the Eastside Community Projects Workshops For Schools And Community Projects
Northern Ireland
Significant Objects by Jim McKeever (and related talk) Intense Personal Photographic Story
Neither Either Dance Workshops for Schools
Ireland/Northern Ireland
IRISH PREMIERE
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FESTIVAL ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2014
Claire Cunningham Internationally Acclaimed Disabled Dance Artist
Guide Gods Festival Commission with Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme & South Bank Centre London Irish Premiere Festival welcomed internationally sought after multi-disciplinary disabled performer and choreographer from Scotland, Claire Cunningham as the 2014 Artist in Residence. Claire’s appointment is representative of Festival’s aim to continually push boundaries, deliver diversity and encourage debate. In her role, she researched a new work in Belfast, Guide Gods, a performance piece which explores the relationship between the major religions and disability. Claire also worked alongside creative arts students and local artists, discussing her research and its development of the show. Performed only in Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme, The South Bank Centre London and in Belfast at the Festival, the show Guide Gods combined music,
Loved #GuideGods - Claire Cunningham’s honest, intimate and beautiful meditation on faith, culture and attitudes to disability. Audience Tweet
movement, interviews and speech as Claire asked tough questions about the meaning some religions attach to disability. Christian songs like Handel’s Messiah and Lord Of The Dance were incorporated, referring to disability as something which needs to be cured. It was highlighted that Muslims keep the disabled out of public sight, while evangelicals see it as a punishment. According to Claire it’s either black or white: demonisation or sanctification and whilst she recreates those views in Guide Gods, Claire is also reflecting her thoughts on religion’s role here, and what questions it raises for her. A witty, well illuminating production, it gripped audiences attracting 91% occupancy levels across 4 performances, proving to be just their ‘Cup Of Tea’ which was an integral part of the show and the research.
“I took my two boys (11 & 10) to Guide Gods last night….they were rapt. It was such a very warm and safe and comfortable environment to explore such profound things. Really, really affirming.” Audience Review
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ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC
In association with
Festival Music Club at the Elmwood Hall Featuring a world class mix of Soul, Folk, Roots, Jazz and Blues, for a 2nd successful year, the world’s best and emerging live musicians from home and abroad were welcomed to the Belfast Stage at the relaxed and intimate Elmwood Hall. Not only did audiences listen to music greats from around the world, there were also opportunities to get up close and personal with masterclasses from award winning songwriters (Lizanne Knott) and postshow talks with Grammy Award winners (Dianne Reeves). This is proving to be a popular initiative for music audiences with 2 sold out events (Tamikrest & The Gloaming) and overall occupancy standing at 85%, an increase of 17% from 2013. The 2014 Festival survey demonstrated high awareness of the Music Club (50%) and those who attended were largely positive about their experience. The overall venue experience received a rating of 4.28 out of 5, the intimate setting 4.3, atmosphere 4.24 and interaction with artists 4.28. It is also bringing new audiences with 75% of the Music Club attending their first Festival in 2014 and accounting for 35% of the total new Festival audience.
“Saw the Gloaming at #BelFest at last... what an utterly incredible show, words not enough! So worth the 942km round trip” Audience Review
The absolute highlight for me was Bettye LaVette...she is up there with Aretha Franklin. It was a real coup for the Festival to get her.” Ralph Mclean, BBC Radio Ulster
“The ease with which Reeves hits astounding notes is absolute not a hint of strain touches her voice... the crowd is astounded again and again by her vocal prowess. Tara McEvoy, Irish News
“Excellent, Emily Barker and band were excellent and took time after concert to talk and sign. Lovely and very talented people!” Audience Review
“It’s one of the best venues in Belfast for the acoustics. Lighting was also excellent and the atmosphere is good too.”Audience Review
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Festival 2014: Highlights
“THIS MEANS WAR” AN
“URGENT VOLATILE POLITICAL. RADICAL CONTROVERSIAL RELEVANT” belfastfe stival.com 028 9097 1197
SCHAUBÜHNE BERLIN’S IRISH PREMIERE OF
ENEMY PEOPLE OF THE
THE GUAR
DIAN
BY HENRIK IBSEN DIRECTED BY ER THOMAS OSTERMEI
THEATRE
THU 23 – SAT 25 OCT
“YOU'VE BEEN WARNED”
Two of Europe’s leading theatres and associated top directors got audiences and critics talking in the 2014 Festival, providing debate, inspiration and entertainment. 1. Schaubühne Berlin under the directorship of Thomas Ostermeier, made their Northern Ireland debut with a radical new production of An Enemy of the People, an Irish Premiere which was urgent, volatile, relevant, political and radical. It’s only other UK staging was in London before travelling to Moscow and then onto Belfast, receiving 5 stars in The Guardian, as well as excellent reviews in the Belfast press.
“Compelling production of a classic…An Enemy of the People is a riveting spectacle - both enjoyable and important.” Tara McEvoy, Irish News
“Impressive, witty and memorable production, the most exhilarating piece of theatre you’ll see all year” Joe Nawaz 4 Stars, Belfast Telegraph
1. Théâtre Des Bouffes Du Nord Paris a l o n g s i d e r e n o w n e d European theatre and former RSC director, Peter Brook brought the beautifully sad, moving short story The Suit, another Northern Irish Premiere. Centred around infidelity and betrayal set against apartheid South African with a Swahili themed musical score, audiences and critics again were overwhelmed by the power and emotion of this simple story told.
“Both William Nadylam’s performance as Philemon, and Nonhlanhla Kheswa’s as Matilda, are beautifully modulated pieces of acting, sensitively delineating the moral ambiguities of the situation, and apportioning sympathies equally between the two characters.” Terry Blain, 5 stars Belfast Telegraph
Local theatre companies also produced worked which engaged and entertained audiences with average occupancies of 89%. Tickets were in hot demand for More Than a Flag by Happenstance under the direction of Dan Gordon, and The Holy Holy Bus by Brassneck Theatre and Director Tony Devlin, who also picked up the Belfast Telegraph Audience Award this year. Local Irish language theatre company Aisling Ghear premiered Makaronik at the Festival whilst cabaret and circus style fun was had in Mike Night (a tribute to Mike Moloney who ran Festival Club, by the NI Arts community in a sell-out show stopping spectacular whilst raising money for aspiring young artists). Overall the theatre programme received occupancy levels of 75% highlighting public demand for unique international, professional and community theatre in Belfast.
The Suit - Fragile, slight, odd, beautiful and very sad. Like the best short story, with music. Audience Tweet
“I thought Enemy of the People at the Opera House was the most outstanding theatre I have seen in years. Entertaining, informative, challenging, visually stunning. The acting was intelligent, direction amazing. All in all a theatrical experience I will always remember.” Audience Review
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“Incredible performanace from Theatre des Bouffes du Nord. People were actually sobbing in the audience. I haven’t been as affected by a piece of live theatre in a very long time”. Tweet from Marie Louise Muir, BBC Arts Show
DANCE The 2014 Dance programme brought Festival audiences something a little bit different, diverse and entertaining. From European to Irish Premieres it featured the world’s most celebrated Flamenco Dancer, Israel Galvan, theatrically gutsy performances about the history of African American artists by Camille A. Brown & Dancers, as well as a performance piece which explores the relationship between the major religions and disability by Claire Cunningham. It also tested identities, beliefs, emotions and aspirations in Neither Either by Maiden Voyage Dance and Liz Roche Company and finished up with Grupo Corpo staging mesmerising, tribal and celtic Latin rhythms at the Grand Opera House. Audiences welcomed this dance mix, illustrated by an impressive 77% attendance across the Festival’s own dance programme (55% is the average dance occupancy, source: Audiences NI, Knowing Your Dance Audience). Nicola Curry, Artistic Director of Maiden Voyage was also awarded the Belfast Telegraph Spirit of Festival Award this year as an individual who has made a significant contribution to the arts in Northern Ireland.
Mr Tol.E.RancE Review “This is an anarchic, incisive and witty production full of gymnastic moves and wry humour that uncovers the politics of black artistry in a world still ruled by a predominantly white elite.” Joanne Savage, 4 Stars Belfast Telegraph
Sem Mim & Parabelo Review
Israel Galvan Review “Maverick matador Israel Galvan is just so spellbinding... unexpected and flamboyant, poised and then spinning dervish-like, all sexy energy and sinuous fluidity of movement... This show is a passionate display of dynamic choreography that makes flamenco contemporary and cool.” Joanne Savage, 4 Stars Belfast Telegraph
“The Brazilian company Grupo Corpo had an energy, a dynamic all its own, its dance style a heady combination of superb classical technique and sensuous Latin brio. The double bill for this Irish premiere will leave an indelible mark on the hearts and memories of all who experience it.” Jane Coyle, 4 stars Belfast Telegraph
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TALKS & LITERATURE
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Local audiences are always up for hearing a good story and 2014 was no different with the speakers enthralling audiences about their experiences in music, theatre, politics and the field of war. Audience occupancy for Talks & Literature events averaged 75% including 6 sell outs (Jonathan Powell, Adrian Dunbar, Gay Byrne, Vincent Dargan, Bob Harris, Paul Conroy) as well as a 2nd late night last minute talk on Syria The World’s Most Dangerous Place for Journalists having to be scheduled due to demand. There was also a touch of glamour in the programme this year with celebrated actress Charlotte Rampling alongside Sonia Wieder-Atherton reciting the poems of Sylvia Plath with the music of Benjamin Britten in the UK & Irish Premiere of The Night Dances.
Northern Ireland’s very own symphony orchestra opened this year’s Festival to an appreciative and large audience (91% occupancy) featuring the Northern Ireland debut of Ukrainian violinist Valeriy Sokolov. Going on a classical journey, a full house enjoyed the Trio Rafale, part of the Swiss Ambassador’s Award programme in the Great Hall, a venue which seen various classical concerts by the Belfast Music Society, a chamber of classical colour was staged with the Schubert Ensemble in St. Gerard’s Church Antrim Road and world-renowned classical pianist Roland Pontinen performed in Clonard Monastery on the Falls Road.
The Night Dances Review Plath’s moving word pictures and Britten’s richly layered compositions are brought to conjoined life in this bewitching performance, with Rampling’s beautifully articulated delivery dramatically counterpointed by Wieder-Atherton Jane Coyle, 4 stars Belfast Telegraph
The Ulster Orchestra – Four Moods in Music Review “…the work that really caught fire and grabbed the opening night audience by the throat was the Bartok Violin concerto No 2 with soloist Valeriy Sokolov. His playing was undeniably virtuosic, with the added attraction of complete understanding of the interface between soloist and ensemble. This was music-making of the highest order and a wonderful way to begin a festival.” Andrea Rea, The Newsletter
Roland Pontinen at Clonard Monastery Review “Pontinen has a formidable technique, probably capable of playing anything from Bach to Ligeti”. Belfast Telegraph
Family Fun Belfast was transformed into an African Savannah for a weekend during Festival. Approximately 5000 people took part in the fun free family event, Hannavas in Botanic Gardens and at City Hall, a Northern Irish Premiere of large scale mechanical giraffes and elephants with opportunities to interact with animals, take part in workshops and generally have safari-themed fun! This year Festival also welcomed its youngest ever audience member with Tiny, a teeny weeny show for babies 0-12 months by Replay.
Enjoyed Savannah in Botanic Gardens as part of #BelFest earlier. Great atmosphere for the kids. Audience Tweet
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DIGITAL/SONIC/ VISUAL ARTS A series of mostly Free events, including 6 premieres, formed this part of the 2014 programme attracting audiences of 28,831 From video installations such as the Amanda Beech’s Sanity Assassin, Liz Crow’s Resistance and Nam June Paik’s Global Groove to more traditional showcases such as the annual Royal Ulster Academy exhibition at the Ulster Museum and the exhibition of theatre costumes From Bolshoi to Belfast, featuring costumes never seen before outside of Russia. Local theatre company Kabosh also held a unique multi-sensory experience of Belfast to mark the 1994 ceasefire anniversary with ‘20’ in Victoria Square whilst the Sonic Arts Research Centre of Queen’s University brought a concert into a squash court with Play.
Stunning #bolshoitobelfast today @belfastFestival. All about the costumes this weekend Audience Tweet
ABSORBING MODERNITY 1914-2014 The British Council brought together a series of events created by local arts organisations, looking at the impact of modernism in Northern Ireland, inspired by this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale under the curation of Rem Koolhass and the British Pavilion’s exhibition A Clockwork Jerusalem. Absorbing Modernity looked at what we can gain from the period and investigated if being modern can keep inspiring Belfast and architecture. A series of discussions and debates, tours, screenings and exhibitions was programmed such as Building for the Silver Screens, Modern Schools in Belfast, Evolution Amidst Revolution, Craigavon New Town, Heritage Tour of The Strand Arts Centre and Modernity on Film attended by 3630 people. In partnership with the British Council, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Queen’s University, PLACE, Belfast Exposed, The Ulster Museum and the Forum for Alternative Belfast.
A CENTURY OF CHINESE CINEMA In conjunction with Queen’s Film Theatre and the BFI a series of 8 rarely seen films covering 100 years of filmmaking in China was programmed. It included martial arts movies, golden age classics and cutting edge modern masterpieces (Spring In A Small Town, Red Detachment of Women, The Banquet, Red Sorghum, The Story of Qui Ju, The Missing Gun, Aftershock and In The Mood For Love) providing Belfast audiences a chance to experience the artistry and inventiveness.
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Audience Review: 2014 Festival Survey
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Festival Social Media Posts
Post Festival, a survey was conducted amongst attenders, previous festival goers and subscribers to the festival mailing list to ascertain the attitudes and perceptions amongst audiences and lapsed or potential attenders.
“Peter Brook is coming to Belfast. Yeoooooo! It doesn’t matter that have seen this show twice already, I’m going again... Book Belfast people, book!”
The overwhelming majority of respondents were positive about Festival 2014 and used words such as ‘fun’, ‘exciting’, ‘entertaining’ ‘informative’, ‘varied’, ‘eclectic’; and ‘inspirational’.
“What the hell, the one year I’m not regularly attending Queens, and they land Charlotte Rampling for the Belfast Festival”
86% who answered the survey found their overall Festival experience as very good/ good with the same rating being used to measure quality of events (86%), venues used (89%), customer service (83%) and variety of events (77%). The majority of the respondents (81%) strongly agreed/agreed Festival 2014 was ‘international’ with more than 70% also agreeing with other festival principals e.g. ‘entertaining’ (76%), ‘accessible’ (76%), ‘innovative’ (70%) and ‘represented contemporary artistic provision’. 76% also agreed that it was inclusive. Festival was a topic of conversation with 64% of respondents speaking about it to friends, 46% with family and a further 32% having festival chats with work colleagues or students. 31.2% of respondents indicated they would definitely be attending Festival in 2015 whilst 22% stated they might attend. 40% suggested their future attendance would be programming dependent whilst 84% said they would be willing to recommend attending a Festival event to their family and friends.
“It is a great festival with events I would not usually have the opportunity to experience...”
“A strong arts festival is very important for Northern Ireland for the recovery and also to show what a strong and inclusive society we have. There should be more to culture than a flute or ceilidh bands and a six can of harp in a plastic bag.”
“It is important for Northern Ireland that there are festivals which push cultural boundaries and introduce innovative events, like the Ulster Bank Festival at Queen’s.”
“Any of the events outside of festival time would likely have cost 10-15% more. I think the festival is fairly priced.”
“The suit tonight in @lyricbelfast is probably one of the best productions I have ever seen. Wonderful gem of a play. Delightful and sad ‘Belfast men can’t dance’ but watching the sublime @ Grupocorpo, this one wishes he could!
“I have attended for 50 years and will go on attending for as long as I can!”
“This Festival is extremely significant for cultural and artistic interchange.”
“It’s a great festival and broadens our horizons!”
“Volunteers were uniformly excellent!”
Oh, I do love Festival volunteering - when else would I get the chance to help push a mechanical giraffe round the grounds of Belfast City Hall? Thanks for a fun afternoon Can’t recommend Enemy of The People enough @ GrandOperaHouse part of #BelFest - Daring Provocative Challenging - GO!! Genius. INCREDIBLE gig and perfect end to #BelFest as the Gloaming moved feet to tap and souls to dance with delight
What the Critics Said “This Festival is for all of us. If you have kids you have a duty - take them - show them - widen their horizons, educate them in the extraordinary. If you have never been to a dance show, there’s never been a better time. If you want to help save an orchestra...buy a ticket. If you want to be bedazzled - see a play - hear a singer -watch a musician... what you’re buying is life experience memories, sensations and dreams. Even in the darkest times we need to lift our spirits and show we’re human and feel alive.” Dan Gordon, Sunday Life
“The Belfast Festival at Queen’s may be nearing its halfway point but is yet to show any signs of programming fatigue...poet Nuala Ni Dhomhnall comes as another highlight in a week full of them.” Tara McEvoy, Irish News
“This year’s Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s attracted record numbers... generated stellar reviews and led to thousands of people, local and tourists engaging with our vibrant arts scene.” Amanda Ferguson, Belfast Telegraph
“The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s Ireland’s leading contemporary arts festival, presents a feast of theatre this year including two very prestigious offerings brought to Belfast stages by Europe’s leading theatre companies”. Andersonstown News
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Artists and Art Organisation’s Feedback:
Stakeholder Thoughts on the Festival The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s is a key event in the City’s cultural calendar, bringing internationally acclaimed talent to Belfast and encouraging people right across Northern Ireland to come and be part of the Festival celebrations. Seeing Belfast buzzing is great and the Festival team are to be congratulated on a whirlwind 17 days of fabulous Festival performances. Ellvena Graham Head of Ulster Bank Northern Ireland
The reputation of the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s extends far beyond Northern Ireland, bringing together the very best local and international acts. The Arts Council was particularly pleased this year to work with Festival to introduce Embrace, a programme of participatory and creative learning activities - a great addition for 2014, helping to bring audiences closer to artists and great art within the reach of everyone. Roisín McDonough Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland
It was an absolute honour to perform at Belfast Fest. The hospitality of the team, accommodations and transport were top rate. My only complaint is that I wished I could have stayed longer. I would love to return again sometime. Lizanne Knott
In the festival programme notes I said a great city needs a great festival. Well, I think we got one! I have a lot of highlights but I’ll pick out three – Schaubuhne Berlin at the Grand Opera House, Claire Cunningham at the Duncairn Centre, and More than a Flag at Ballymacarrett Orange Hall. I think these three are great examples of real excellence with a dash of risk and a whiff of danger thrown in. They also point to an exciting new direction as the festival continues to develop as an inclusive all Belfast entity for everyone. Uplifting! David Alderdice
Hastings Hotels enjoyed the collaboration with the Festival team, and I know how hard they all worked to put on a great event. I attended the final event, The Gloaming, in the Elmwood Hall. It was a magnificent performance, and to be in the Elmwood Hall again after many years of being at Queen’s and attending Festivals in the early 80s, I was delighted to return. Good luck with festival 2015 - Hastings Hotels will be by your side again!
British Council
Julie Hastings Hastings Hotels
The festival worked with us to promote the work of professional artists who are disabled – without compromising the work or the access. We reached new audiences I wish to congratulate the organisers for – it worked both ways. another brilliant Festival. I really enjoyed the closing event featuring the fabulous Chris Ledger Irish Folk group, the Gloaming, which got the audience totally captured by their Arts Disability Forum beautiful repertoire of traditional folk music dating back hundreds of years. Anna Lo, MLA
On 19th October 2014 452 individuals from across Ireland came to the Whitla Hall to celebrate the life of Mike Moloney, an invaluable member of the local arts scene whose life was cut short. Many performers from a range of art-forms entertained and inspired the capacity crowd with the aim of raising money for an arts bursary fund in his name. Being part of the Belfast Festival maximised impact, the volunteer team made the impressive scale of the event possible, and the sense of pride generated was palpable. Paula McFetridge
What the Ulster Bank Arts Ambassadors Said : Replay were delighted to be part of this year’s celebrations, taking the festival’s youngest audiences on a fantastical journey full of wonder and surprises and introducing children to theatre and arts experiences from the earliest age. Ruth Cooper, Replay Theatre It was a great honour for Brassneck Theatre Company to be part of The Belfast Festival At Queens in 2014. Richard Wakely is a dynamo within the festival and with his team enabling local companies the opportunity to participate in this world renowned festival, it has not only been important and essential but also very beneficial to homegrown arts organisations. Winning the audience award at the festival has been the pinnacle for us as well as acting as a great indicator of exactly what indigenous arts organisations can bring to the festival. Tony Devlin, Brassneck Theatre Company It was really such a joy for me to be in Ireland. I’m married to an Irishman, and I was made to feel as if I was being welcomed home. Bettye LaVette
It’s really great to be involved with something that has a positive impact on the community and Northern Ireland in general. The wide range of Arts supported means there really is something for everyone and as an Ambassador you go to events you wouldn’t maybe choose to go to normally. Aiden O’Reilly A privilege as ever to act as Arts Ambassador to the Festival. The passion of the Festival Director, Richard, is infectious and is well founded when you consider the opportunities the festival affords to access world class acts in some of Belfast’s premium venues. Paul Fox I loved being an Arts Ambassador this year to help promote this unique Festival. I witnessed some unbelievable talent on stage and also had the opportunity to blog an event which is something I never thought I could do. Sherene McAvoy I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Mr Galvan perform to an exceptionally high level in dance taking Flamenco dancing to another level completely. I found the whole evening very entertaining with the Q & A session afterwards completing the night very well. Denise Shannon Arts Ambassadors get special access to events. I enjoyed taking part in the Free Festival Friday judging panel and meeting the Schaubuhne Berlin cast backstage at the Grand Opera House. Tracy Tsang I really enjoy being an Arts Ambassador, with each year bringing new ways to get involved. I’m amazed at the talent that comes here to Belfast, there’s always one event which surprises and has me talking about for weeks. I love being part of the Festival and look forward to it every year. Joanne Fitzpatrick,
Audience Development & Community Engagement at Festival WHO IS THE FESTIVAL AUDIENCE? 40% of Festival audiences are from Belfast with the majority of NI audiences coming from a 35 minute drive time of Belfast including Newtownabbey, Lisburn, Bangor & North Down, Carryduff and Whitehead. Contrary to opinion it isn’t a festival just for BT9 and whilst 7% of bookers come from the Stranmillis and Malone Road areas, Festival also sees 33% of audiences from other areas of South Belfast, East, & West Belfast and along both shores of Belfast Lough. Audiences vary from 18-44 year olds, students, singles and families as well as those more well off 45+ year olds. Whilst the majority of Festival audiences in the last 4 years have primarily been from Northern Ireland, approx. 5% are out of state audiences and Festival is committed to working with partners to grow the cultural tourism opportunities further. AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT The Festival is for everyone and through the annual programme a number of initiatives are developed to proactively engage with communities beyond their traditional catchment as well as try to reach new audiences and break down barriers with those who have not experienced or attended the Festival or the arts in NI. Embrace Embrace is the Festival’s new programme of free participatory and creative learning activities, which includes workshops, performance opportunities, artist talks and hosted visits to selected festival events. It’s aimed at engaging communities and groups throughout the city at a wide range of venues and events across the festival programme. The events in Embrace are designed to both enhance audience’s enjoyment and understanding of the productions and events presented and toencourage active participation in the arts. In 2014 over 1474 participants actively engaged with the Festival’s Embrace programme.
Free Festival Friday The Free Festival Friday Art Campaign, #BelFest FFF, was an innovative fun project for 2014, developed around a quirky Festival treasure hunt in partnership with Ulster Bank and Arts & Business, with the aim to engage with the public, both new and existing Festival audiences, in a direct and participatory way. Giving away a total of 200 free pieces of art connected to the Festival programme, left in open spaces each Friday on the run up to Festival, the campaign targeted 11 Festival customer hotspot areas and Ulster Bank branches, both in Belfast and across catchment towns and villages (including Newtownabbey, Lisburn, Holywood and Bangor). Prize seekers and finders were encouraged to engage with Festival through the online channels, with the added incentive of being entered into a competition to find an even bigger prize. A supporting commissioned artwork for the campaign was also developed onto flyers, providing more information on how the general public could take part. These were distributed in the local area, through the Ulster Bank Branches with Arts ambassadors and Festival staff also spreading the news on how to access free art on social media and in the local press. In addition a branded piano with ‘Tinkle my keys’ was placed in 6 areas each week including Culture Night and the City Hall encouraging the public to actively engage with the arts. The project witnessed huge active engagement with #BelFestFFF achieving a social reach of 435,300 and 10,495 direct engagements.
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Community Tickets & Increasing Access Whilst there were 41 Free events as part of Festival in 2014, 705 free tickets were also given to community groups and individuals, sponsored by The Ulster Bank as well as through the Festival Hitchhikers scheme. These initiatives are aimed at increasing access not only to those who can’t afford to purchase event tickets but also reaching out to individuals and groups across all communities to give a Festival/arts event a go, especially if they haven’t been before, taking away some of the risk in the hope they will become more regular future Festival attenders from their experience. Partnership with the Now Project volunteers For the 2nd consecutive year, Festival has formed a successful close working partnership with NOW Project Volunteers. NOW is a social enterprise that works to help people who have a learning disability, learning difficulty or Autistic Spectrum disorder to gain valuable experience, new skills and qualifications. 13 NOW volunteers joined the festival team in 2014 and helped with front of house management duties including welcoming guests to events and distributing promotional items, and in return they gained training and experience in event health and safety, customer care and front of house duties. They volunteered at Bettye Lavette and Emily Barker & The Red Clay Hero at the Music Club, The Big Big Sing in the Whitla Hall, Roland Pontinen at Clonard and Hannavas in Botanic Gardens and were an essential part of the festival team with both artists and audiences delighted by their enthusiastic and professional approach to the role.
Student Initiatives Providing unique artistic led learning opportunities and experiences for students, aiding skill development through Festival is a key priority. In 2014 Festival engaged with many different students; from the 100 freshers at the Student’s Union fair who signed up for the Festival Ezine and won tickets to see Harry Manx at The Music Club to the 7 internships and 2 bloggers who assisted in in the key planning and delivery period of Festival. 33 students from the School of Creative Arts Queen’s University Belfast also took part in the Festival Embrace programme including a special student performance and post of talk of Guide Gods with Claire Cunningham, a dance workshop with Bessie Award Winning dancer Camille A. Brown and a piano MasterClass wit h world renowned pianist Roland Pontinen. 387 students went on to book tickets for Festival performances, with particular interest for Play, Big Big Sing, An Enemy of the People, Roland Póntinen and the Schubert Ensemble, accessing Visual Arts, Theatre, Classical and Participatory Music.
What I experienced during my time with the Belfast Festival this year was a beautiful mix of memorable moments. Complete strangers gather in a hall - able bodied and disabled and sing together without barriers through sign language. Families came together and allowed themselves some time to unwind under the immense mechanical giants of the Savannah. For the people who attended talks, they did not just sit in silence. They questioned and learned from the speaker. Musicians young and old were afforded the opportunity to take a seat by the side of artists they admire to learn and create music together. We volunteered because this is something we believe in and of the few things in this dismal place that we can hold dear and say ‘That’s our’s and we want it to continue’. the arts is one. Because in the midst of a government that thrives on separation and implements adverse policy despite our desperate pleas, culture and art brings people together to mobilise beneath a blank flag. Welcoming of everyone. Orry Robinson, Student Intern at Festival 2014.
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