Your One Stop Ent Guide to a Derry Merry Christmas
Your One Stop Ent Guide to a Derry Merry Christmas
Snoop Dogg to Jazzy Jeff with
TYPE ONE bay city rollers - david lyttle - joseph leighton panto round up - snow play - lost in frost..
Plus
Photo by Drumully Irish Arts
hi!
’Tis the season to check out a few festive related shows, a catch up with mates over a few mulled wines, some live music and maybe a few DJs belting out some Christmas crackers. Ah, it’s that time of year again. As always there’s plenty of events to choose from happening around town this month. Some highlights include the various pantomimes taking place, at the Millennium Forum we have Aladdin while at the Waterside Theatre there is Beauty and the Beast. Alan Carr walks the floorboards for four nights at the Forum this month too, although be warned there are only a handful of tickets left for his Thursday and Sunday night shows. Music wise, as always we have some cracking local gigs. Local up-and-coming jazz guitarist Joseph Leighton brings his Jazz Trio consisting of MOBO Award Nominee David Lyttle and John Leighton to Bennigans Bar Jazz Club on Sunday 13th while he will also play solo shows at the Legenderry Warehouse on the 6th and 20th of this month too. So whatever you’re up to make sure to check out our What’s On Guide on our website where we have all the latest listings across music, theatre, art and comedy. On tablet, on mobile, at home or on the go, we’ll keep you posted so you don’t miss a thing. Ed
LINEUP
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december 2015
Interview
TYPE ONE pages 4,5,6 & 7
Preview
SNOW PLAY pages 26 & 27
>> If you would like to contribute to
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Contents 4,5,6 & 7 Type One Interview 8 & 9 David Lyttle Presents... Preview 10 & 11 Bay City Rollers Preview 12 & 13 Christmas with the Priests Preview 14,15,16 & 17 Joseph Leighton Interview 18-19 This month’s Music Listings 20 This month’s Club Listings 21 This month’s Theatre Listings 22 & 23 Panto Preview 24 & 25 Lost in Frost Preview 26 & 27 Snow Play Preview 28 & 29 Jane Eyre Preview 30 & 31 Alan Carr Preview 32 & 33 ‘J’ACCUSE’ Brian Maguire Preview
Interview
JOSEPH LEIGHTON
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
pages 14,15,16 & 17
Preview
JANE EYRE pages 28 & 29
Preview
ALAN CARR pages 30 & 31
Preview
Preview
pages 22 & 23
pages 32 & 33
PANTOS
‘J’ACCUSE’ BRIAN MAGUIRE
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4 music
#MusicCity #DerryLive
HIP HOP & JAZZ WITH
TYPE ONE F
rom Snoop Dog to DJ Jazzy Jeff, local Hip Hop DJ Type One, AKA Christopher Ferry, has amassed an impressive CV over the years. As the city’s only Hip Hop DJ, Type One’s regular Hip Hop Sessions event has gained a loyal following which he has brought to many of Derry’s most popular venues. Most recently Type One has began to expand
his fan base by bringing his tunes to Belfast where he now has a residency at Skank FM, an online radio station which broadcasts live shows seven nights a week as well as designing artwork for some impressive clientel such as DJ Jazzy Jeff. We caught up with the man behind the beats, Christopher Ferry, to find out how he started out in Hip Hop, what it was like to support Snoop Dog at Ebrington last year.
How did you get into Hip Hop? He taught me the basics which I have always loved music, ever helped get me started. I owe him since I was a child, but there a great deal. are many reasons why I was so I also had a few friends who attracted to Hip Hop. When I was owned turntables, so if I wanted 14, I purchased a DMC Champion- to practice I had to go there, but ship VHS in a local music store I was always on someone else’s and after watching that I was time. hooked. Ever since then I’ve been It made me practice mentally obsessed with the art of Hip Hop and work out routines in my head and I listened to more and more before I had a chance to actuHip Hop as time went on. ally put my creativity I was really interinto play. The most ested to learn how important thing for a it was formed; DJ DJ to have is records, Kool Herc is credited in hindsight, so when for originating hip I decided to go off on hop music in the my own I had a masearly 1970s in New sive record collection. York City but regard- >> Christopher with My first gig was in a less he is not the DJ DJ Jazzy Jeff venue called the Nuthat influenced me cleus in Pump Street. the most. Grandmaster Flash It was known for live bands at and DJ Jazzy Jeff are the two the time so I was very nervous. DJs who really stood out for me The night turned out to be great; and watching those guys, I knew I there was even some break dancwanted to give it a try. ing and guys looking to MC. I just I got my first set of turntables loved the buzz and the reaction when I was about 15 but I started to the music. It was like a drug. DJ’ing when I was around 12. I was addicted to seeing people I sought some help from one nod their heads and dance to Hip of the city’s best known DJs, Hop from then on. It’s a hobby Kwame Daniels, who runs a very I love. I didn’t think 12 years ago popular music event throughout when I played my first gig that I Northern Ireland called Bounce. would still be here doing it.
What artists did you grow up listening to? I started off listening to more of what the DJs were doing rather than the actual artists, but I soon realised for me to do this, I need to use my own creativity and not steal their ideas. I wanted to be different. I love Oldskool Hip Hop but I couldn’t pick a favourite artist, it would be too difficult. Growing up I purchased a lot of Hip Hop records, including Nas, KRS One, Rakim, Biggie, Tupac, Big Daddy Kane, Wu Tang Clan, De La Soul, Run DMC and Jurassic 5. I’m sure I have probably left out a few. Carrying round those crates of great vinyls to gigs was a massive pain, but I still loved every minute of it. Twelve years on I know I am a gadget fanatic, so I have always seen both sides of the coin. I do realise that with technology things have to progress; I just don’t want the progression to hurt the art of Hip Hop. I have 1000s of records of the artists I grew up listening to and there was a point where I was like, ‘Christopher, you have to stop’. It became an obsession. My transfer to digital had more to do with coming home from gigs and
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>> Photo by Bernard Ward Photography
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#MusicCity #DerryLive
walking like a 90-year-old man with a crutch because I had been carrying around three giant boxes of records. It had more to do with realising Sony only pressed one run of vinyl for each record so if you don’t get it, you won’t have it. The only people who were buying vinyl for a time were DJs and that wasn’t enough to keep the format alive as everyone else was buying tapes and CD’s. As long as I can do exactly what I can do on digital with vinyl, I’m happy. The only thing that Serato does to make your life easier is carry your records. You sucked as a DJ before Serato. You still suck on Serato. But I have never stopped buying records too. I still go to the odd car boot sale to see if I can spot a gem. I still haven’t topped Michael Jackson‘s Thriller for 50p. You supported Snoop Dog in Ebrington last year, what was that experience like? As most people know, Snoop Dogg is a
Hip Hop legend and the Golden Era of Hip Hop plays a massive part in my sets so it’s fair to say I was ecstatic. It was always difficult trying to build up a crowd from the outset as Hip Hop wasn’t a very popular genre, but I’ve stuck with it and I’m glad I have. The DJ scene in Derry is very Dance orientated; you have the likes of Jika Jika, La Music, Bekuz, Noise and Queen & Disco packing clubs and bars, bringing guest artists all the time. That is great for the city and I have nothing but respect for these guys. A good example would be Jika Jika’s Stephen Porter bringing massive acts including Sasha to Derry, so I never thought I’d see a Hip Hop act coming here. The best thing about the experience was the support from fellow DJs, friends and family. To be even considered to support an artist like Snoop Dogg was a massive compliment and
I felt really blessed to be given the opportunity as a year before I was very ill in hospital. It felt like my hard work had paid off getting the opportunity. I got up on stage and played 2pac-California Love as my first tune and ended with House of Pain- Jump Around, I remember everything that night. I did my job well and got great feedback which was great. On a negative point, it’s true what they say you should never meet your heroes. How would you rate the Hip Hop scene here locally at the minute? I would rate it just ok. The night I run is called Hip Hop Sessions and that goes well but I’m seeing more MC’s emerging from Northern Ireland rather than Hip Hop DJs. There are obviously Alternative DJs that play Hip Hop in their sets but I
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>> Photo by Bernard Ward Photography don’t think there is anyone else that solely does complete Hip Hop Sets in Derry. Hip Hop will never be where it was compared to the 1990s. In fact, I would go as far as to say that Hip Hop is dead. When music channels and radio stations play what they call Hip Hop today, you listen and it’s 120bpm. That’s not for me. This new Hip Pop culture isn’t for me at all and that’s the reason I think the genre will never be as popular as Dance/Electronic music here in Northern Ireland. With that being said, then, the object of Hip Hop now is to make money off of exploiting it. It’s all about money now. You realise that in comparison to the way Hip-Hop started off, the genre is definitely not where it should be at the minute. The art of Hip Hop has turned into Niki Minaj rapping about how many men she has slept with and how much money she earns.
It’s a shame really, but as long as I don’t lose all my records and playlists I think Derry will be ok if anyone wants to listen to good Hip Hop.
plays urban genres including Grime, Drum N Base, RnB and of course Hip Hop. I contacted the owner and he asked me to send him one of my mixes. I did and he loved it. As time went on You are currently working in Belfast he asked me to pop in to do a live mix. as a Graphic Designer, any Again I was very nervous plans to take Hip Hop Sesas I was being introduced sions there? to new opportunities. I had I enjoy being creative so I never taken part in a radio am very fortunate to have broadcast before. landed a Monday-Friday/9-5 Now I am playing ‘Hip doing what I love. Hop Sessions’ live on air Belfast has quite a good every Monday night on a Hip Hop scene; Hip Hop Djs in Belfast are incredible and >> Christopher with top radio station in Belfast Grand Master Flash and I couldn’t be happier. I love going to a club just I’m only here 6 months and to see the DJ cutting on a I can’t believe my luck. Hopefully I will set of turntables. When I moved to Belbe in the clubs next but it will be hard to fast it was easy to realise it had a great fit in time as I play in Derry every weeknightlife and loads of DJs, so I knew it end. I’m off to a good start in Belfast wasn’t going to be easy to get my foot in the door. I carried out some research and I just hope it keeps going that way. If anyone would like to listen online and found a Belfast radio station called just head over to skankfm.com or catch SkankFM. my mixes on soundcloud/typeone.com. SkankFM is a radio station that only
Photo by Adam Patterson
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#MusicCity #DerryLive
A big year ends in style for David M
OBO Award nominee David Lyttle brings his yearlong appointment as the Nerve Centre’s musician in residence to a close with a showcase concert featuring a fantastic lineup of musicians. We caught up with David back in May at the start of his residency and he was very much looking forward to getting stuck in and working with local musicians, but how does time fly. It’s been a very successful year for David not only as the Nerve Centre’s musician in residence, but on a personal level also. At the time David told me “I’ve been coming here for near enough 10 years now, a lot of festivals in the beginning and I played Sandinos a lot too. I played the Jazz festival every year and I was involved in the University of Ulster. Even then I could see that there was a healthy amount of festivals taking place and that there were a lot of musicians and also people coming to gigs, which may seem like a normal thing for a city the size of Derry, but I think it’s miles ahead of most cities its size. “My impression is that people actually care about the arts here, from bigger events I
>> Neill Crowley went to and even going into a smaller place like Bennigans and seeing the response from people there.” His third studio album ‘Faces’ was released in March of this year to critical acclaim and caught the attention of the great Rolling Stone Magazine which described it as “one of the best, robust listening experiences you’re likely to have all year.” Towards the end of the year he became the first Irish musician in the twenty year history of the MOBO’s to receive an award nomination. He wasn’t finished there however, when
a few weeks later he received a second nomination, this time for an Urban Music Award. It’s safe to say, 2015 has been David’s biggest year yet. His residence has been highly successful with many local artists learning from his vast expertise “I’m working with some local musicians who I’ve known for a few years, so we’re writing together which is very much a collaboration as we’re coming at it from different angles. Everyone from the up-and-coming singer songwriters to the more established songwriters, and a broad range of acts and artists as well” the Jazz drummer, producer and Lyte Records boss told me. Due for release early next year will be a companion album which David created in collaboration with musicians, songwriters, bands and producers from across the city and local area, so keep an eye out for that. Special guests on the night will include the Nerve Centre’s former Musician in Residence, Neil Cowley, who will take to the stage in a one-off collaboration with David. Also featuring will be Rosborough, Joseph Leighton, John Deery, Jessica Doherty and more.
>> You can catch David Lyttle presents at the Nerve Centre on Saturday 5th December at 7.30pm with tickets priced at £10 plus booking fee.
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#MusicCity #DerryLive
11 lmost 40 years on from the height of their fame, the ‘tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh’ are back for a comeback tour and will roll into Derry later this month. Described as the One Direction of their day, the former boy band have sold more than 120 million records since the ‘Rollermania’ hype of the mid 1970’s when they became worldwide teen idols. During their hay day, the Bay City Rollers performed sell-out tours and hosted their own TV show. The group’s line-up has had numerous changes over the years from the classic line-up during its heyday which included guitarists Eric Faulkner and Stuart Wood, singer Les McKeown, bassist Alan Longmuir, and drummer Derek Longmuir. The Bay City Rollers have now reformed with singer Les McKeown at the helm, Stuart “Woody” Wood and Alan Longmuir onboard also. Speaking about the comeback, Les McKeown joked: “You think we’re doing it for money but we’re doing it for the glory of Scotland and the glory of the tartan. “Taking the Scottish name all around the globe. That’s what we’re doing it for - to see our fans again one more time.” Although at the time to be the biggest band since The Beatles, the Rollers finally imploded in the late 70’s when their popularity waned and the coming decades also resulted in bitter battles over the money that they believed they should have been paid. There was also an infamous onstage fight between Wood and McKeown “stuff happened but we’ve put it in the past and will leave it in the past, and we’ve had time to talk to each other as grown-ups. There were important emotional scars but it’s not something that you can’t get over” McKeown said. Wood said: “The curse has been lifted, we’re writing the last chapter.”
>> You can catch the Bay City Rollers at the Millennium Forum on Saturday 19th December at 8pm with tickets priced at £22.50 and £25.00.
12 music
the
Priests
s
13
T
he Priests make a welcome return to the Millennium Forum just in time for Christmas. The three real life priests balance Parish life with worldwide tours and have been highly in demand across the globe from New York to Rome, from Cork to Derry. In the run up to the big day, The Priests will be performing all the much loved classics just in time for Christmas. Incredibly, the three priests first began singing together in 1970 when they boarded as students at St MacNissi’s College in County Antrim where they gained the nickname ‘Holy Holy Holy’. In 2008 they were signed up by
Sony BMG and recorded their debut album. Self titled, The Priests set a Guinness World Record for Fastest Selling Classical Debut Album of All Time beating world renowned stars such as Luciano Pavarotti and Katherine Jenkins. The debut album turned seven times Platinum in Ireland, and Platinum in UK, Sweden, Norway as well as going Gold in New Zealand, Canada and Spain. The following year The Priests released their follow up albums titled Harmony and Noel and went Platinum in Ireland and Sweden. For three consecutive years, in 2009, 2010 and 2011, The Priests were nominated for the internationally-
acclaimed Classical Brit Awards for Classical Album of the Year. With International recognition and sales comes money, however The Priests are different to most other music superstars out there as they have their very own charity - The Priests Charitable Trust - where they donate the vast majority of their royalties which helps build schools in places like Cambodia, Uganda and Thailand while also contributing funds to assist retired priests and the homeless. Sure to be an evening of great classics to help kick off the festive season with a bang, The Priests will be performing at the Millennium Forum on Monday 21st December at 8pm with tickets from £26.
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#MusicCity #DerryLive
joseph
leighton
15 ~interview~
U
p and coming young jazz guitarist Joseph Leighton has been learning his craft from some of the finest local musicians over the years. Determined to perfect this highly technical genre, he has been writing and jamming with artists such as David Lyttle, Neil Crowley and John Leighton to name a few. Joseph first came to our attention as lead guitarist of The Kashmir Krows who in the beginning were a straight up rock band but he quickly fell in love with Jazz having met David Lyttle and John Leighton at Bennigans Jazz Club and hasn’t look back since. We caught up with one of the city’s brightest talents to find out what attracted him to this genre and what his hopes for the future are. Growing up, what would have your musical influences? I started off listening to mainly Rock and Blues. People like Eric Clapton, Metallica, Led Zeppelin... all that stuff, but then I started to get into Jazz Fusion, a Jazz Rock mix. It was the music of Guthrie Govan that really got me into it and I actually meet him when he held a masterclass at the Nerve Centre. Then I naturally just progressed into Jazz. Previously you were guitarist for the Kashmir Krows, did you see a progression in the music of the band? The Kashmir Krows were a three piece Jazz Rock trio but we started out as a straight up rock band. We didn’t actually have a singer but as we started to look for someone to join the band, Marty McGill at the Nerve Centre (Music Programmer Manager and Balkan Alien Sound band member) said ‘you don’t need a singer’ and let me listen to some music from the Neil Cowley Trio who are a jazz rock but with rock attitude. So we decided to go down that route with the Kashmir Krows. So when did you realise that you wanted to focus on jazz? Just over a year ago we played at the jazz night at Bennigans Bar, which we were probably a bit too loud for in all honesty, but that’s where I met John Leighton and David Lyttle. Since then I’ve got into jazz more and more.
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#MusicCity #DerryLive
Over the course of the year they have brought me up at every Sunday night Jazz session to play with them and other fantastic musicians like Meilana Gillard. I learned a lot from all of them. Even at the start when I didn’t know much jazz, they would still be inviting me up. Luckily David became musician in residence at the Nerve Centre this year and we’ve spent a lot of time together and he’s been providing mentoring support to me which has been great. I’ve learnt a lot. Over the year we’ve been playing and writing together and at his final year showcase at the Nerve Centre this month we’ll be playing some of our collaborations. Last month I had my first jazz leader gig with my trio consisting of John and David. We’ll also be performing at Bennigans again this month on Sunday 13th. We’ll be playing a mixture of stuff as well as some jazz Christmas songs thrown in too. Have you been writing any of your own material yet?
Yes, with the help of David I’ve been writing a lot. But also at the moment I’ve been even more focussed on practising and learning the craft. What sort of tips has the Nerve Centre Musician in Residence David Lyttle been giving you? Mainly it has been working on Jazz performance. Playing Jazz music right so I am not clogging up too much, and not getting in way of other musicians. Also on how to improvise too. Everything really, he’s been great. I have kept in contact with Neil Cowley who was previously a Musician in Residence at the Nerve Centre too, so they are great people to have and learn from. So what does the future hold for Joseph Leighton? I hope to keep the Trio going with myself, John on Hammond organ and David on Drums and maybe write as a collective too. I’m also hoping to go on next year and study Jazz at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
>> You can next catch Joseph Leighton perform a solo gig at the Legenderry Warehouse on Sunday 6th and 20th December from 12 - 2pm. He also takes to the stage at Bennigans Bar Jazz Club with his Trio consisting of John Leighton on Hammond organ and David Lyttle on drums on Sunday 13th December.
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#MusicCity #DerryLive
FUNDRAISING AUCTION IN AID OF REFUGEES Sandinos
Thursday, 03 December
DJANGO DJANGO
Time:8.30pm Tickets:£
Nerve Centre
Wednesday, 02 December
Silver Street
Time:8pm Tickets:£16+Booking
Three years after the release of their Mercury Prize-nominated, self-titled debut the band are back with Born Under Saturn.
Friday, 04 December Time:10pm Tickets:£free
Auction in Aid of Refugees. With live music from Stephen McKeever, Fidelma Carolan, Scenery and Susie Blue
DAVID LYTTLE PRESENTS... Nerve Centre
Saturday, 05 December Time:7.30pm Admission:£11
MOBO-nominee David Lyttle brings to a close his hugely successful year as Nerve Centre Musician in Resi-
Sunday, 06 December Time:2pm Tickets:£20
dence with a grand finale showcase concert, featuring some very special guests including Neil Cowley, Rosborough, Verse Chorus Verse, Jessica Doherty and John Deery. New music created in collaboration with musicians, songwriters, bands and producers from across the city and local area will feature heavily on the night, whetting our appetites for the gems in store for the companion album release due early 2016.
NATHAN CARTER & NIAMH MCGLINCHEY
CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISING LUNCH DaVinci’s
MICHAEL BUBLE & ROBBIE WILLIAMS TRIBUTE ACTS
THE LEGENDERRY TINSELTOWN CHRISTMAS BALL
Millennium Forum Wednesday, 16 December Time:8pm Admission:£24.50
The Playhouse
Saturday, 12 December Time:7pm Tickets:£50
Drink reception, 4 course festive lunch, glass of wine, live music & raffle with fabulous prices all in aid of North West Romanian Children’s Codlea Project, Tickets available from the hotel reception.
Featuring Doris Day, Billie Holiday, Josef Locke and Ella Fitzgerald. Let us bring you back to the Golden Age of Hollywood with a magical Christmas ball!
The Millennium Forum is one of Nathan’s favourite venues and it`s always a special night when Nathan is in town. Nathan will perform many tracks from his new DVD and you can also expect to hear the classics such as Caledonia and, of course, Wagon Wheel.
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MICHAEL BUBLE’S CHRISTMAS Corinthian Ballroom, Thursday, 17 December Time:pm Tickets:£34.50
BAY CITY ROLLERS Millennium Forum Saturday, 19 December Time:8pm Tickets:£22.50
James Huish & his band present a festive night to remember! Includes 4 course meal and entertainment.
Les McKeown, the Voice on all the original Bay City Rollers hits including Bye, Bye Baby, Shang-A-Lang, I Only Want To Be With You.. and many more
MEILANA GILLARD QUINTET Bennigans
Sunday, 20 December Time:9pm Tickets:£5
Meilana Gillard is joined by MOBO Award Nominee David Lyttle on drums, Rohan Armstong, John Leighton and Michael Barkley
JACK PACK Silver Street
Sunday, 20 December Time:9pm Tickets:from £20
Swing Kings and BGT Finalists make their Derry debut with support from John Deery and Rosborough. Local lad Martin McCafferty will bring his Jack Pack home when they perform at The Silver Street for what will surely be a night to remember.
SMOKIE
CHRISTMAS WITH THE PRIESTS
Millennium Forum Sunday, 27 December
Millennium Forum
Time: 9pm Tickets:£23.50
Monday, 21 December Time:8pm Admission:£26
THE UNDERTONES St.Columbs Hall Sunday, 27 December
The Priests are delighted to PRESENT CHRISTMAS With The Priests singing much loved classics as well as cherished seasonal songs.
Admission:£ Time:pm The Undertones play their first hometown show in two years when they take to the stage of St Columb’s Hall. It’s a return to the venue where the band celebrated Derry’s year as UK City of Culture with a sold out performance of rock and roll music. With support from The Gatefolds. Tickets are available from Cool Discs, Foyle Street, Derry - Telephone 7126 0770
Soft rock legends, Smokie, return to perform their most famous hit singles including, If You Think You Know How to Love Me, Don’t Play Your Rock ‘n’ Roll to Me, Lay Back in the Arms of Someone and their most popular hit single ever, ‘Living Next Door to Alice’. This is your chance to reminisce; a night most definitely not to be missed.
20 music HIGHLIGHTS: CLUB NITES THIS MONTH #MusicCity #DerryLive
NTWRK PRESENTS MOXIE (RADIO 1/ NTS RADIO)
JIKA JIKA! JAMES ZABIELA
Masons Venue
Saturday, 12 December Time:9pm Tickets:from £6
The Bunker
Saturday, 05 December
Sandinos Back Bar
Time:8pm Tickets:£22
A new single, a new label, a new direction and a new inner-found creative confidence: make no mistake, the most exciting episode yet in James Zabiela’s already incredible career is about to begin.
NYT BLOOMER | SHAMMEN DELLY | RORY MOORE Saturday, 12 December Time:10pm Tickets:£4
With support form Ethan McKinney & Paul McConomy.
CELTRONIC PRESENTS STEFFI & VIRGINIA The Guildhall
Friday, 18 December Time:9.30pm Admission:£14.30
Celtronic returns to one of Derry’s most historic buildings for a very special event featuring two of the leading figures from
GOOD VIBRATIONS: OR:LA
THE JINGLE BALL LOUISE DACOSTA
Masons Venue
Sandinos Main Venue
Tuesday, 22 December Time:10pm Tickets:£3
Monday, 28 December Time:9pm Tickets:£5
BEKUZ PRESENTS: MISTLETOE & GRIME
Sandinos Main Venue Joining or:la b2b will be Good Vibrations founder Joe Campbell and also Gareth McLaughlin and NTWRK’s Ethan McKinney.
Berlin’s electronic music scene. Dutch-born Steffi will perform her acclaimed live show for the first time in Ireland at the event. As a resident at Panorama Bar-Berlin, a respected producer and label owner, her work embraces underground electronic culture in its many forms. Also performing at the event will be the talented DJ, singer, songwriter and producer Virginia. Growing up in Munich, the energetic and dedicated artist quickly found her feet in music.
Wednesday, 23 December
Time:9pm Tickets:£TBC BEKUZ return to Sandinos to host their infamous Mistletoe and Grime Party
Louise DaCosta is Ireland’s NO1 female DJ & Award Winning International Artist and has been entertaining crowds in venues across Ireland & the UK for almost a decade as well as touring various international dates.
#DerryLive #LoveTheArts
SNOW PLAY
theatre,dance & verbal arts
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FOYLE SCHOOL OF SPEECH & DRAMA: CHRISTMAS SHOW
Waterside Theatre
Wednesday 02 December Time:10.30am/5.30pm Tickets:£5.50
Mon, 07 Dec - Tues, 08 Jan Time:7.30pm Tickets:On the door
ALADDIN
Millennium Forum Snow play is a showdown between Winter and Spring over who gets to stay and who has to go away. Help Mr Green against Mr White in this highly interactive smash-hit London production. Age 3+
Fri, 04 Dec - Sun, 03 Jan
Time:Varied Tickets: from £9 Aladdin tells the rags to riches tale of a boy who becomes a man. Through his bewitching adventure, witness the Genie who lives in a lamp and see the magical flying carpet.
The Foyle School of Speech and Drama has worked with children and young people in the City for over 25 years. In that time pupils have secured lead roles on the West End Stage, film and television. The pupils finish up the year with an eclectic mix of the traditional Nativity stories, fairy tales and Panto sketches with not an adult in sight!
ECHO ECHO PRESENT: LOST IN FROST Echo Echo
Mon, 14 Dec - Sun, 20 Jan
Time:varied Tickets: from £5/16 Echo Echo Ensemble invite families and younger audiences to watch this brand new original winter themed dance theatre production during the Festive Season at their studios
NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE PRESENTS: JANE EYRE The Playhouse
Tuesday, 08 December Time:7pm Tickets:£11
Almost 170 years on, Charlotte Brontë’s story of the trailblazing Jane is as inspiring as ever. This bold and dynamic production uncovers one woman’s fight for freedom and fulfilment on her own terms.
ADRIAN KNIGHT HYPNOTIST SHOW Corinthian Ballroom, City Hotel
Monday, 28 December
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Tickets:£29.95
Waterside Theatre
Wed, 09 - Sun, 20 December Time:Varied Tickets:from £5.75
The Grove Theatre Group perform this much loved classic at the Waterside Theatre.
Includes 4 course evening meal, show and disco. To book call (028) 71365800
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is the season to be jolly and also to catch a panto. The old classics always prove to be the most popular and two of our local theatres have just that. Aladdin kicks off at the Millennium Forum on Friday 4th December while across the water the guys at the Waterside Theatre have opted for Beauty and the Beast which starts on Wednesday 9th December. Two classic pantomime tales which are sure to keep the kids entertained, and your ears ringing from shouts and screams, is the only way to kick off the festive season in style. But if you are choosing only one to check out, which to go for? Beauty and the Beast is the cheaper option with adult tickets priced at £8.50, child and concession tickets at £6.50 while there is also a family ticket available for £27.50. Beauty and the Beast is performed by the Grove Theatre Group which is a voluntary cross community
organisation and features a local talented cast of all ages. Founded over 30 years ago by the late Tony O’ Donnell, the Grove Theatre Group has been performing pantomimes, musicals and showcases to a very high standard around the city for many years and have built up a loyal following and a confident cast of seasoned performers. Running until Sunday 19th December, Beauty and the Beast predominantly takes place at 10.30am and 3pm with only a small handful of shows at 7.30pm. In the city’s largest theatre, Aladdin will walk the boards with a few well
known faces taking up the roles in another fantastic seasonal pantomime. Belfast actor Gerard McCabe takes up the role of Wishee Washee and may look familiar to local audiences as he is no stranger to Millennium Forum pantomimes. He has also had stints in popular NI comedy show Give My Head Peace and was the Harp Lager angel in the most recent Back to the Future inspired ad campaign. William Caulfield stars as Widow Twankey and the Northern Irish comedian is sure to deliver a side splitting performance as one of the pantos most loved characters. With tickets priced slightly more expensive and starting at £10, there are a variety of price bands to choose from and also a variety of times across various dates. The show runs until Sunday 3rd January so if you are too busy before the big day, you can always continue that festive cheer into the New Year.
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>> Lost in Frost artwork by Tonya Sheina and Barry Davis
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he Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company welcomes in the festive period this month with their atmospheric and mysterious fairy-tale Lost in Frost. This new and original winter themed dance theatre production will be performed by the fantastic Echo Echo Ensemble. The group of five locally based artists have been captivating audiences for many years with their energetic and entertaining dance productions. Directed by ensemble member Antonina Sheina, Lost in Frost is a family piece suitable for audiences of all ages. Antonina originally trained as an actor at the Moscow conservatoire and became a member of the repertory company of Malaya Bronnaya Theatre in Moscow where she played both leading and supporting roles. Antonina then joined the Ensemble in
2009 having developed a deep interest in movement work through her practice of Contact Improvisation. The 40 minute production promises to surprise and delight and follows on from the fantastic work that the Ensemble have been creating since their conception. They have been responsible for some of the most innovative and captivating dance productions to come from Northern Ireland and I’m sure Lost in Frost will be no different. The Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company have a family ticket available and priced at £16 which gaining admission to the show for a group of four. Individual tickets are also available and priced at £5 with the show itself running from Monday 14th through to Sunday 20th December. Tickets can be purchased directly from the Echo Echo Box Office or online via their website or wegottickets.com.
>> In a place far out of reach that lingers on the edge of imagination Where the Frost lies thick and cold You can find yourself lost and alone but feeling brave and bold. Here, blizzards lie in waiting for a chance to congeal in ice Explorers, dreamers and chancers, the rollers of the dice. It’s when you are lost in frost, That you are in a very interesting place......
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‘Tis the season to have a snowball fight I
t may be getting colder as we start to enter the festive period, we may even see some snow, but one thing's for sure, the Waterside Theatre will be see the Snow Play this December. Presented by the Lyngo Theatre, a UK based children’s theatre company who have been entertaining children and adults alike for the past 10 years, Snow Play is suitable for kids over 3 and is sure to captivate the whole family. Lyngo are renowned for their use of beautiful visual imagery within their performances and also their hand-made props which they refer to as their 'theatre toys' while their shows are interactive and non-stop entertainment keeping the kids glued throughout. Snow Play is the story of Mr
Green who is spring and Mr White who is winter and a showdown between the two over who gets to stay and who has to go away. The show is also fully interactive as you have the opportunity to make a giant snowman, cover a whole house in snow and have a super snowball fight as you help Mr Green battle Mr White. The play itself centres around the story of how Mr Green comes back from holiday to find that Mr. White has moved into his home. Mr White has covered the whole house in snow and Mr Green does everything he can to get him outside into the garden. As the weather starts to get warmer and as Mr White stars to melt, the tables start to turn in Mr Greens favour as spring starts to appear.
>> You can catch Snow Play from the Lyngo Theatre at the Waterside Theatre on Wednesday 2nd December at 10.30am & 5.30pm with tickets priced at £5.50 and £18 for a family ticket.
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National Theatre Live A fantastic concept. Live theatre by renowned actors, some including big Hollywood names, beamed around the world to theatres and venues.
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ational Theatre Live broadcast the best of British theatre live from the London stage to cinemas across the UK and around the world, while some venues broadcast ‘encores’ at a later date. Launched in June 2009, National Theatre Live have broadcast more than twenty theatre productions live from the National Theatre, and various other theatres to over 3.5 million people in more than 1,100 venues around the world. So how do they do it I hear you ask? The simple answer is with satellites. Each production is filmed in front of a live theatre audience with many cameras positioned throughout the auditorium to ensure that cinema audiences get the ‘best seat in the house.’ Satellites then allow the productions to be broadcast live, without delay. Some of the big name actors who have been involved since National Theatre Live debuted in 2009 with their production of Phèdre with Helen Mirren, include Danny Boyle’s
Frankenstein with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller, War Horse, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime, and Sam Mendes’ King Lear with Simon Russell Beale. This month sees National Theatre Live presenting Jane Eyre and broadcast live at The Playhouse. The 170 year old Charlotte Brontë classic is directed by Sally Cookson, having first staged the production at the Bristol Old Vic last year when it was performed over two evenings. The story is set in northern England where Jane is sent to live with her aunt having been orphaned as a baby. She suffers emotional and physical abuse at the hands of her aunt and cousins before being sent off to Lowood Institution, a school for poor or orphaned girls where the abuse continues. This classic masterpiece tells Jane’s story as she faces life’s obstacles head-on, how she survives poverty, injustice and betrayal before makes the decision to follow her heart.
>> National Theatre Live presents Jane Eyre at The Playhouse on Tuesday 8th December at 7pm with tickets priced at £11.
e: Jane Eyre
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Just yap, yap, yap A
lan Carr has been yapping his way throughout the UK and Ireland this year with his Yap,Yap,Yap Live Tour. The chatty man has returned to his stand up roots with a sellout tour continuing his observational comedy on everyday life with a bit of innuendo. Performing for four nights at the Millennium Forum this month, The BAFTA and British Comedy Award winning comedian, author and chat show host will have the place in stiches I’m sure. The tour DVD itself was released last month just in time for Christmas so you will be able to get your hands on it after the show and take it home to re-run the gags over the festive period. Carr’s a busy man, between his successful Channel 4 Friday night show and stand up, this year he became a Hollywood superstar – well kind of – when he voiced one of the seagulls in the UK version of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. His Chatty Man show is how he became a household name in the UK and Ireland though. However, he was on our screens prior to that with The Sunday
Night Project (previously the Friday Night Project) as the side kick of Justin Lee Collins, remember him? Well, he’s gone completely off the radar after some controversy, while Alan Carr has thrived during the subsequent years. Yap Yap Yap is Carr’s first major stand-up tour in three years and is a “very personal” show. “I talk about my partner. The show is about my life so he has to be in it. I didn’t want to start lying and saying I still live on my own in Stretford. My partner doesn’t necessarily like being part of the show but I said to him, ‘Look, it’s paying the bills. See those shoes you’re wearing? Comedy bought them so stop moaning’. “It’s a gamble including so much personal stuff but it pays dividends... There is an honesty in this show that people will appreciate” he said. Tickets are selling fast for this performance, with some nights already sold out and limited tickets left for both Friday and Sunday night.
>> If you’re quick, you can still catch a ticket to Alan Carr’s show at the Millennium Forum between Thursday 10th December and Sunday 13th December with tickets priced at £31.00.
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a voice thr
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C
urrently on display at the Void Gallery is ‘J’ACCUSE’ by Brian Maguire which is a series of large scale paintings of ‘enquiry and activism and a demand for solidarity with those who are forgotten and voiceless.’ Maguire’s past work has ofter been heavily influenced by various social and political situations around the world but since 2010 his work has focused on Juárez, a Mexican city bordering the US just south of El Paso, addressing the killing of women which has become known as feminocidio. Since 1994, over 1400 factory girls working in Juárez have been abducted, violated, mutilated and killed. In 2010 alone there were 438 young women murdered and only 2 percent were actually properly investigated.
The families of the young woman who were murdered have been continually ignored by the police, government, judiciary and even the media. “My purpose is to show respect to the victims of violence, to remove all the easy rationalisations which excuse, cover over, and protects us from this reality. As the man is dead, the painting keeps his death in the present. The absence of justice demands this act” he said of his work. Maguire also collaborated on a documentary feature film, Blood Rising, which was screened during last month’s Foyle Film Festival and details his portraiture and activism within the city. It has been well documented that there is a connection in Mexico between the feminocidio and the drug war within the country. Corruption, money, greed and drugs.
>> ‘J’ACCUSE’ by Brian Maguire consists of paintings of Ciudad Juárez ad is curated by Jonathan Cummins. It will run from Saturday 28th November to Saturday 6th February at the Void Gallery.
rough paint