foolsfestival.com
2018
Fri 4 – Mon 7 May Belfast
e l b i d e r c In ional Street Theatre
Internat
We all need a laugh. So welcome to the 16th edition of the internationally renowned Festival of Fools, a comedy cornucopia of street theatre of dazzling virtuosity! We’ve scoured the world to bring you the best performers, bringing you incredible acts from Canada, Japan, Finland, Italy, Argentina, France and others, plus of course the very best artists from these islands. Prepare to be AMAZED!
/foolsfestival
@fools_festival
S T R
Support Your Festival! Finally, Festival of Fools is three days of extraordinary fun and entertainment, entirely free to the public. It does, however, cost a lot to put on. Translink and Arts Council Northern Ireland continue to support the Young AmBUSadors and EnterTRAINers performing at Community Circus Corner in Writers’ Square. The Ramada Encore once again has given us a fantastic hotel deal. We’re grateful to all our sponsors, (see opposite) but we also need your support. At each T H performance you can put money in theS hat. N O R Q E G E become a L and C O L Better still, you can go online supporter of Festival of Fools, make a tax efficient donation, and receive notification about all our future events and shows. Just visit www.foolsfestival.com
K I N G
W E S T L I N K
Laugh, I nearly cried... Another stunning year for Norn Iron politics. We’ve had talks about talks, negotiations, agreements, disagreements, deals then no deal. Everyone agrees that “them ‘uns” are to blame and “it’s all their fault.” Yes, comedy capers from the Folks on the Hill. Meanwhile, over the water, politicians give us 101 definitions of Brexit each day.
@foolsfestival
Circus 250 te the founding of P we This year E Tcelebra E S showman and in H1768, modern circus. In RLondon, I L entrepreneur Philip Ashley drew a Lcircle on the ground near Waterloo and invited the public to gather round. They were entertained by a variety of acrobats, strongmen, jesters and performing horses, and circus was born. This year’s Festival of Fools is one of many events across these islands joining Circus 250’s celebrations.
Breaking News During Festival we’re launching a new threeyear project, Mysteries & Drolls, funded by the EU CREATIVE EUROPE programme. This five-country project will culminate in new co-productions and modern interpretations of older street theatre traditions. Work will be showcased in the Mercantia Festival, Certaldo, Italy in 2019 and Festival of Fools, here in Belfast in 2020.
2018
info@foolsfestival.com
M I L L F I E L D
e m o c l e W to the
T: 028 9023 6007
Front cover image: Otto Il Bassotto. Photo by: Jean-Pascal Schorro
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A TRIBUTE TO WILL CHAMBERLAIN OPENING SHOW - QUATUOR STOMP THE BIG FINISH KATE & PASI SNEAKY FREAK HOPALOT / STEIN & GEIST VICTOR RUBILAR GRANT GOLDIE IN YOUR SPACE / THURSDAY CIRCUS BELFAST MET / SUFFOLK DANSKO GIDA MARTIN BIGPIG CIRCO PUNTINO CLOUGHJORDAN / SATURDAY CIRCUS DUO LOOKY MYSTERIES & DROLLS PROJECT ANDREA BRUGNERA
22 SIDEBOARD SIDSHOW CLAUDIO MUTAZZI 23 24 MR H MARGAUX DUB 25 PINAR POLAR 26 OTTO IL BASSOTTO 27 28 TOBIA CIRCUS AFRIKAN WARRIORS 29 30 PETAL PEOPLE / MISGUIDED TOURS COMMUNITY CIRCUS LISBURN / SUNDAY CIRCUS 31 32 ACE-K HAMMER & ARDOYNE / STREETWISE 33 TUMBLE CIRCUS 34 CAPTAIN J E SMITH / THE GREAT ARTDOORS 35 36-44 FESTIVAL OF FOODS OFFERS 43 WET WEATHER PLAN / HELPING HANDS 48 SCHEDULE & MAPS
Our supporters Official Accommodation Partner
n w o l c f e i h c our
A tribute to
11.03.1963 - 19.10.2017
For those of you who have attended the Festival of Fools in the past, you can’t have missed a tall chap in a high-vis, often seen careering from show to show on his bicycle. He didn’t necessarily look like Someone In Charge, but he most definitely was. This 16th edition of the Festival of Fools will be the first without our founder, Festival Director and Fool In Chief, Will Chamberlain. He passed away in October 2017 aged 54. Will was a father, partner, CEO, Creative Director and clown, and we miss him hugely, but there’s fooling about to be done, so we’re getting on with it. In May 2002 Will persuaded the Board of Belfast Circus to take the risk of holding the very first Festival of Fools. He wanted to animate public spaces, showcase the best in international street theatre, and get people laughing at daft stuff on the streets of his adopted hometown of Belfast.
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An invincible combination of charisma, passion and bloody-mindedness (if he were writing this bit he’d be asking you for hard cash!), Will led the way in getting audiences into what was then the cultural wasteland of Cathedral Quarter. Now every Festival over 40,000 people come to be entertained, and spend more than £1.2 million in the area, in local restaurants, cafes and shops. Festival of Fools has become a firm fixture in Northern Ireland’s cultural calendar, and a global brand with recognition from artists and audiences alike. So pop on your red nose, don your clown shoes and join us in raising a toast to our much loved and missed friend and champion of circus, Will Chamberlain!
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Opening Show
Friday m 0p 4 May 6.3rs’ Write Square
ALSO APPEARING: SATURDAY 5 MAY 1.30pm St Anne’s Square
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Quatuor p m o t SWhat’s Next? Canada
Presents
Quatuor Stomp is a four-man creative powerhouse. Internationally renowned for their originality and versatility, their relentless energy has been entertaining audiences worldwide since 2008. Presenting a unique blend of skill, humour and charming lunacy, these artists combine circus, variety and above all comedy into explosive and colourful performances. What’s Next? is a game of chance where you get to decide, by the roll of a dice*, which acts will be part of the show! Will it be acrobatics, juggling, jump rope, fire, Rubik’s Cube or a crazy act in pink that only they could dream up... A one of a kind performance where even the performers don’t know the outcome! * Historically, dice is the plural of die, but in modern standard English dice is both the singular and the plural, so please don’t write in to complain.
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to go out with Here at Festival of Fools we likeSt Anne’s Square in er gath we day a bang, so each ilation tape of for The Big Finish, a kind of comp Festival best bits. presented across Highlights of the acts will be weary laughing your g brin so s, the three show kling. muscles along for yet more chuc
The Big Finish 6
The World
SATURDAY 5 MAY 6pm St Anne’s Square SUNDAY 6 MAY 6pm St Anne’s Square MONDAY 7 MAY 6pm St Anne’s Square
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Kate & Pasi Presents
Suhde
Finland
SATURDAY 5 MAY 12.45pm Cornmarket 3pm Cotton Court SUNDAY 6 MAY 2.45pm Bank Square 4.15pm St Anne’s Square MONDAY 7 MAY 1pm Cornmarket 3.15pm St Anne’s Square
All relationships have their ups and downs. The best ones also have heart-stopping acrobatics and foot juggling. Kate and Pasi tell the story of a relationship in this contemporary circus piece packed with extraordinary physical skills and wry humour. Who will be the winner, the 50kg woman or the 100 kg man? In this unlikely duo who is leading and who is following?
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Sneaky Freak Presents
The Raven Sisters Northern Ireland
Never known to travel light, these dexterous damsels once again bring their non-stop, high-energy cabaret of chaos to the streets of Belfast. Jam-packed with hula-hooping, hat manipulating, contemporary clowning and fancy footwork, there’s just about room for a fabulous soundtrack. Get a wriggle on and shimmy on down.
SATURDAY 5 MAY 2.15pm Bank Square 4.30pm Cotton Court
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Hopalot England
Major Hopalot the world famous Astro-bunny is looking for a suitable launch site to test his new rocket “Big Carrot 3,” assisted by his erstwhile companion Ground Control the Grease Bunny. Their plan is to travel beyond the warren, beyond Belfast, and into Outer Space, but what will happen once the countdown begins? Major Hopalot - Can be seen around the city on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Spring has well and truly sprung and nature is bursting out all over! Not everyone is happy, though. Maverick scientists Professor Peter Geist and Dr. Frank N. Stein are on the look-out for newly sprouted mutant killer plants that have disguised themselves as humans in order to blend in with the people of Belfast! If anyone’s gonna find them, it’s them! Will anyone be safe from their experiments? Stein & Geist - Can be seen around the city on Sunday
Stein & Geist Northern Ireland
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Victor Rubilar Argentina
To say this man loves his football doesn’t do him justice. He’s also very fond of dancing. Funny, interactive and very entertaining, this Argentinian football freestyler’s show culminates in a highly technical juggling routine that only Victor can perform. A holder of five Guinness World Records, his award-winning tricks are truly jaw-dropping.
SATURDAY 5 MAY 1.30pm Bank Square 3.45pm Cornmarket SUNDAY 6 MAY 2.45pm Cotton Court 5pm St Anne’s Square MONDAY 7 MAY 1pm Cotton Court 3.15pm Cornmarket
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Grant Goldie
England / Belfast​
A man and his case in a world of chance and opportunity, creates a happening of interactive participation, acute absurdity and mesmerising manipulation. A wordless performance of charming virtuosity and incredible technical skills. Not merely a juggling show, more a projectile assault on gravity. SUNDAY 6 MAY 1.15pm St Anne’s Square 3.30pm Cornmarket
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s u c r i C e c a p S r In You derry Derry/London
Presents
The Super-Duper Show
Pop your 3-D glasses on, get the popcorn in and brace yourselves, the ‘Derry wans’ are BACK... Performing Circus magic unlike anything the world has seen before, In Your Space Circus School presents another super-duper troupe of loopy-bloopers in an action packed circus extravaganza!!
SATURDAY 5 MAY 4.30pm Writers’ Square
Thursday Circus Presents
Reverse
Belfast
Young AmBUSadors and EnterTRAINers supported by:
#smartmovers
SATURDAY 5 MAY 2.15pm Writers’ Square Welcome to the wonderful world of ‘Reverse’! Take a group of young circus artists, add a dash of juggling, a smidge of acrobatics, a pinch of unicycle and one whole trapeze. Mix with oodles of talent and shake well. The result? A big plate of joyfulness! It’s circus, but not as you know it!
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Belfast Met Belfast
Presents
Whats goin’ on?!
SUNDAY 6 May 1.15pm Writers’ Square
This fantastic ensemble of students from the Towards Work and Independence Programme at Belfast Metropolitan College have been secretly training at a top secret location for six months, and now they’re ready to unleash their plethora of playful performances on the public.
Prepare to be mesmerised by the mind blowing talent of TEAM SUFFOLK at the finals of the 250th Belfast Circus Games #circus250. Come along to cheer on the fantastic ‘circ’letes as they dazzle the crowds in a bid to win the ‘Greatest Show in the Festival’ Award.
This group meets as part of the Belfast Community Circus School outreach programme. In secret, obviously. SATURDAY 5 May 12pm Writers’ Square
Young AmBUSadors and EnterTRAINers supported by:
#smartmovers
Suffolk Presents
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Belfast
CIRC-O-LYMPICS
The only street performer to emerge from Vorsland in the Kaash Republic, the only country in the world with only one street. (Which might explain why he is more off the wall than of the streets.) Since his appearance at Festival of Fools last year, Dansko has been on a quest to find, in his own words, “the tickle muscle of Europe”. What he’ll do with it when he finds it, we’re not brave enough to ask.
MONDAY 7 MAY 1pm Bank Square 4.45pm Cornmarket
Dansko Gida
Belfast / Kaash Republ ik
(aka Mr Barbara aka Paul Currie)
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Martin Bigpig UK
SATURDAY 5 MAY 2.15pm St Anne’s Square 4.30pm Cornmarket SUNDAY 6 MAY 3.30pm Bank Square MONDAY 7 MAY 2.30pm Cotton Court
Martin BigPig is back! We should be giving him a loyalty card. A warm and witty favourite among Festival goers, he and his magnificent beard are returning once again to make us laugh. A trivia fact about Martin: his photograph is featured on the board of the Genus Edition of Trivial Pursuit, where he is seen wearing a leotard. Just in case you were wondering where you’d seen him before. Get a double dose of the tweedy stuff by coming along to the Big Finish at the end of each day, where compere Martin will attempt to wrangle a bunch of circus performers into some sort of order.
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stars of Gregor and Katjusha are famoussecret (the He us. circ ian the old Ital les dream of every housewife) jugg king everyday objects with breathta eskill, and balances on the thre(the wheeled Giraffe Unicycle. She orms enigmatic star of the show) perf an Wheel. spectacular tricks on the Germ ast) are Belf of le peop l tifu You (the beau poetic their admiring audience for thisfinale. and surreal show with a flaming
SATURDAY 5 MAY 1.30pm Writers’ Square 5.15pm Cornmarket SUNDAY 6 MAY 1.15pm Cotton Court 3.30pm St Anne’s Square MONDAY 7 MAY 2.30pm Writers’ Square 4.45pm St Anne’s Square
Circo Puntino Italy
Presents
Circo Puntino’s Great Circus Show 17
Cloughjordan Ireland
Presents
Circus Beats
It’s Circus 250 and our teenage members want to make some noise about it! In a piece exploring circus and percussion, specially created for Festival of Fools, we’ll be tapping our diabolo sticks, bashing our juggling clubs and whistling on our unicycles. Expect a stupendous symphony of circus beats and silly stunts! We are a youth circus project in Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary, where these days in our village it’s not uncommon to see children unicycling to school or out for a stroll on stilts!
SATURDAY 5 May 3pm Writers’ Square
Saturday Circus Presents
Yes!
Young AmBUSadors and EnterTRAINers supported by:
#smartmovers
Belfast
Should you watch this show? YES! Will you regret not watching this show? YES! Are you an amazing human being? YES! Just in case you haven’t got it yet... this show is called YES! SATURDAY 5 MAY 12.45pm Writers’ Square
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Duo Looky Israel
Presents
The Happy Hour Show
A bartender and a waitress are dreaming of finding fame in the circus world. They mix unicycling, ballet, acrobatics and clowning to make a dizzying cocktail of astonishing circus feats. This fast-paced acrobatic comedy will leave you laughing, gasping, and wondering how difficult it is to fit two people on a unicycle. (It’s very difficult.)
SATURDAY 5 MAY 12.45pm Cotton Court 3.45pm St Anne’s Square SUNDAY 6 MAY 2pm Cornmarket 4.15pm Cotton Court MONDAY 7 MAY 1.45pm Cotton Court 4pm Cornmarket
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Mysteries & Drolls
Mysteries & Drolls Within this year’s Festival of Fools we are publicly launching Mysteries & Drolls, a 3 year cooperative project funded by the EU CREATIVE EUROPE programme. The project will explore the origins of street theatre, the mystery plays, the tradition of the jester and buffoon, the sacred and profane. The companies will promote workshops for artists and explore creating contemporary performances with more narrative based street theatre. These will be showcased in the Mercantia Festival, Italy in 2019 and Festival of Fools, Belfast in 2020.
The 5 partner companies are: y of Mercantia Festival (Municipalit er); Festival lead ect proj & y Ital , aldo Cert uction of Fools, (Belfast UK); the prod Spain); companies of Maracaibo (Elche, and Tempus Pola nd) Teatra A (Gliwice, Fugit, (Lorrach, Germany). The activity plan of the project includes training workshops for artists-performers, creative coproduction and performa nces . The coordination of the project is being assisted by Open Street.
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Festival of Fools and Mercanti will be the showcase venues of a Festival & Drolls Europea n Festival forthe Mysteries 3 years. The participation of thethe next indicated with the Mysteries & artists in this program me are includedDrolls logo in the framework of the project. Mercanti a is the oldest Italian street theatre Festival. It was born in 1986 as a Medieval Thea tre Festival and market, reasserting the trad “Theatre of the City”. Festival ition of the established in 2003 and it has of Fools was helped create shared, public spaces in city cent and contributed to the regenera re north of Belfast Cathedral Quarter. tion A warm welcome to all our European partners and we look forward to showcasing Mysteries & Drolls in Certaldo, in 2019 and Belfast, in 2020. More info: www.populartheatre.eu
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Italy
Presents
Storia Universale Dei Santini Universal History Of Holy Pictures (Jester’s Comic Theatre)
SATURDAY 5 MAY 12.45pm St Anne’s Square 3.45pm Cotton Court The Jesters and Storytellers of the Middle Ages formed the origins of street theatre. Andrea Brugnera brings the work from this ancient tradition and the improvised physical comedy of the Commedia Dell’Arte to life on the streets of Belfast as part of the Mysteries & Drolls Project.
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Mysteries & Drolls
Andrea Brugnera
Mysteries & Drolls
Sideboard Sideshow Belfast
Magilligan The bromance between Frankie g strong, and and Timmy Tweirdo is still goinsideboard. Slide surprisingly enough, so is the a pouffe, this is into your slippers and pull up ing your living living on the edge without leav ling and high room. A blend of acrobatics, jugg quality mahogany veneer.
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MONDAY 7 MAY 1.45pm Writers’ Square 4pm Bank Square
Mysteries & Drolls
Claudio Mutazzi Italy
Presents
Street Coffee
A man standing still in the whirling of the passers-by in the street... Cut... Action! From the body language, from the actions, from the behaviours of the ones who are walking or waiting for someone, infinite stories arise. The street is transformed into a theatre without chairs or curtain, and the audience into actors... SATURDAY 5 MAY 2.15pm Cornmarket 4.30pm Bank Square SUNDAY 6 MAY 2.45pm Cornmarket 5pm Writers’ Square MONDAY 7 MAY 2.30pm St Anne’s Square 4.45pm Bank Square
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Mysteries & Drolls
Mr H Presents
Belfast
Cart Galore
MONDAY 7 MAY 1.45pm Bank Square 4pm St Anne’s Square
Mr H arrives without a care in the world, just a broom, a table, and a chair. His playful comedy and breathtaking acrobatics reference the work of the silent film masters such as Chaplin and Keaton as he grapples with everyday objects, attempting to turn the world inside out and upside down. Hopefully he’ll tidy up when he’s finished.
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Margaux Dub Presents
Cyclose
SATURDAY 5 MAY 3pm Cornmarket 5.15pm Cotton Court SUNDAY 6 MAY 2pm Cotton Court 4.15pm Bank Square MONDAY 7 MAY 1.45pm St Anne’s Square 4pm Cotton Court
y. The A poetic puppet show for everybod ther create an puppeteer and her puppets togeof imagination. enchanting dreamlike journey h is not the Birth is not the beginning, deat end, the cycle continues.
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Mysteries & Drolls
France/Italy
Mysteries & Drolls
Pina Polar Poland
Presents
Into The Wild
dancing, Slackrope balancing, hula hooprock ‘n’ roll a and als anim wild terrifying room in this children’s band all jostle for clowning. avalanche of improvisation and ssible is always According to The General the impo attempt to fly. possible, so in the finale she will pected twists won This comedy of errors and unex ’s Jury at the dren Chil the the 1st prize from y. Clown Festival in Milano, Ital
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SATURDAY 5 MAY 3pm Bank Square 5.15pm St Anne’s Square SUNDAY 6 MAY 1.15pm Cornmarket 3.30pm Cotton Court MONDAY 7 MAY 1pm St Anne’s Square 2.30pm Cornmarket
Otto Il Bassotto Italy
Presents
Rubber Head
Born in the Italian city of Sora, home to the Rocca Balloon Factory for over a hundred years, a career in inflatables was written in Otto’s stars. Today this rubber-faced Master of Balloons presents incredible balloon tricks, classic clowning and bonkers magic in this imaginationstretching show. SATURDAY 5 MAY 12.45pm Bank Square 3pm St Anne’s Square SUNDAY 6 MAY 2pm St Anne’s Square 4.15pm Cornmarket MONDAY 7 MAY 3.15pm Bank Square 4.45pm Cotton Court
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Tobia Circus Italy
Presents
Equilibrium Tremens
SATURDAY 5 MAY 1.30pm Cotton Court 4.30pm St Anne’s Square SUNDAY 6 MAY 2pm Bank Square 5pm Cotton Court MONDAY 7 MAY 1.45pm Cornmarket 4pm Writers’ Square Philip Sutil inhabits an absurd off-kilter world. An elegant and agile gentleman who loves to dance, he wants to find his equilibrium, but life full of twists and turns. It’s all a question of balance.
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Afrikan Warriors Tanzania/Belfast
From the street theatres of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, a group of local boys trained tirelessly to refine their art of traditional Tanzanian acrobatics and become the Afrikan Warriors. The name was derived from their great-grandfathers who fought for independence and climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro to plant the Tanzanian Flag in celebration of their freedom. The Afrikan Warriors have performed more than 2000 shows, bringing the spirits of their warrior ancestors to life through pulsating music, explosive energy and some mind-blowing acrobatics.
MONDAY 7 MAY 2.30pm Bank Square 4.45pm Writers’ Square
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Petal e Peopl Northern Ireland
Thorny issues getting you down? Feeling a bit wilted? Created by street performer and artist Paul Currie, this botanical beauty with a bouquet bonce will restore your rosy glow in no time. Petal People Can be seen around the city on Monday.
Knowledge in the age of misinformation is hard to come by. Let these tour guides lead you around the sights of the city and take you on a journey of a lunchtime. These skilfully misinformed tour guides will happily highlight the insignificant and mistakenly miss the magnificent as they guide you through the nooks and grannies of some of Belfast’s less famous Entries. They will entertain you with their opinions on everything but the hard facts. Misguided Tours on Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the following times: 1pm starting outside Little Wing Pizzeria in Ann St 4pm starting outside The Cloth Ear in Skipper St
Fuse Performance England
Presents
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Misguided Tours
s u c r i C y t i n u m Com n r u b s i L One Step Northern Ireland
Presents
Beyond!
With a raft of fresh faces, Community Circus Lisburn are bringing a brand new show to the Festival of Fools. Prepare to be dazzled, prepare to be amazed, prepare to duck! This show is a fun and energetic performance, created by the young members of our group (with a bit of help from the tutors…). Community Circus Lisburn are Northern Ireland’s smallest independent youth circus, and meet on Tuesday nights at the ISLAND Arts Centre in Lisburn. SATURDAY 5 May 5.15pm Writers’ Square
Sunday Circus
Young AmBUSadors and EnterTRAINers supported by:
#smartmovers
Belfast
Join the Sunday Youth Circus for a show about a day, just an ordinary day playing the slot machines... until some unexpected guests arrive, turning the tables on the punters’ good fortunes! SUNDAY 6 MAY 2pm Writers’ Square
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ACE-K Presents
Japan
Ninja-Man
ACE-K is fast. His ninja moves are swift and precise, as he mesmerises audiences with his unique display of agile acrobatics, high energy diablo and some extraordinary balloon manipulation. Don’t blink.
SATURDAY 5 MAY 1.30pm Cornmarket 3.45pm Bank Square SUNDAY 6 MAY 2.45pm St Anne’s Square 5pm Cornmarket MONDAY 7 MAY 1pm Writers’ Square 3.15pm Cotton Court
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e n y o d r A & r e Hamm Northern Ireland
Presents
Playground Pa-Troll
SUNDAY 5 MAY 4.15pm Writers’ Square
Young AmBUSadors and EnterTRAINers supported by:
Patrolling the playground, the Fun Police make sure that no-one is getting up to any hi-jinks or boisterous antics; there’ll be no breaches of Health & Safety - not on their watch. But try as they might to keep things tight, the local crew always seem to find a way to run rings around them, ably abetted by the mysterious magical trolls of the playground…
#smartmovers
Y o u e t h s i C i rcus w t e e r t S SUNDAY 5 May 2.45pm Writers’ Square
Presents
HEIST
Northern Ireland
For one day only the youth circus has been let loose onto the streets of Belfast for your entertainment and their punishment, and only have 40 minutes to steal as much material as possible. Thanks now to social media, everything is up for grabs, but this being a live performance the young burglars are attempting to rob the famous golden clubs of Circus 250. Imagine Dickens’ streeturchins in Oliver but replacing porridge with a diabolo routine… Do you want some more?
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Tumble Circus
t Sweden/Ireland/Belfas
Presents
Death Or Circus
SATURDAY 5 MAY 3.45pm Writers’ Square SUNDAY 5 MAY 3.30pm Writers’ Square MONDAY 7 MAY 3.15pm Writers’ Square
Tumble Circus wants to smash what you think circus can be. Be inspired by their extraordinary physical circus skills in this 45 minutes of hammer-smashing, revolutionary Belfast-inspired circus. This is dysfunctional family entertainment from the dark side of feel good. Tumble Circus is an international, awardwinning company based in east Belfast, run from caravans, hotel rooms and a Ford Transit van. The company has toured extensively throughout Ireland, Europe and the world.
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Captain d r a w d E n Joh Smith Northern Ireland
Captain John Edward Smith’s famous last voyage was at the helm of the Titanic, on what would be her first and last adventure. Renowned for his fortitude of character, he is captured in time in this beautiful and intriguing living statue, gazing forever towards the horizon. Captain John Edward Smith - Can be seen around the city on Saturday.
The Great Artdoors... ure Whether you’re pretty as a pict d or no oil painting, we are on hanart. to immortalise you as a piece of Belfast is home to over 350 visual artists with skills . honed through hours of practice a you gs brin ni ange vech eati @cr the small selection of the talent in ing city to give you the magical feel of having a portrait completed.
This years artists are: Helen Lavery Margaret Woods Moore Jamie Mason Harper Proinsias O Dobhailein
In Writers’ Square Check social media for times.
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EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY WITH THE FESTIVAL OF FOODS Having worked up an appetite with all that festival-going, you’ll need a sit down and some good grub. This is where Festival of Foods comes in. We have more than a dozen restaurants, cafes and bars who are lending us their support, and offering you our audience some of the finest food as part of some cracking deals. The next few pages tell you what’s on offer. Make sure you eat up, you’ll need plenty of energy for more laughing. Bon appétit!
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Fantasteircs! food off
KIDS EAT FREE! ONE FREE CHILDREN’S MEAL FOR KIDS AGED 12 AND UNDER WITH EVERY ADULT MAIN COURSE PURCHASED DURING THE FESTIVAL.
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BULLITT HOTEL, 40A CHURCH LANE, BT1 4QN WWW.BULLITTHOTEL.COM
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One free children’s meal per adult with main course purchased. • 3 HILL STREET, Belfast BT1 2LA • www.thedirtyonion.com/yardbird
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Fantasteircs! food off
1 20 y a - Monday 7 M
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Fantasteircs! food off To celebrate all things foolish Join us for a weekend of fun at The Cloth Ear! For every paying adult a child under 12 eats for free from our children’s menu*.
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1 20 y a - Monday 7 M
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*Adult must order a main course. Only available from Saturday 29th April–Monday 1st May.
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Fantasteircs! food off
1 20 y a - Monday 7 M
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H IGH S T R E E T
W W W.THENATIONALBELFAST.COM
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Fantasteircs! food off
1 20 y a - Monday 7 M
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13 Pizzeria
Fantasteircs! food off
SUNDAY TO WEDNESDAY 2 courses and a beverage*
1 20 y a - Monday 7 M
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Fantasteircs! food off
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1 20 y a - Monday 7 M
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E S TA B L I S H E D
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Wet weather plan Obviously the sun will be splitting the trees and we won’t need to worry about this, but in the vanishingly likely possibility that it rains, we have back up locations organised, thanks to the generosity of Ulster University, Victoria Square and Belfast Circus School.
Follow us on Twitter @foolsfest or look at our Facebook page for more details.
Helping Hands We only have a Festival every year because of a bunch of fantastic volunteers rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in. You’ll see them at the performance venues doing audience surveys, passing round the hats for donations and assisting the performers in getting the audience into the right place. Please be nice to them, and if they ask you to do a survey, go on, treat yourself.
Festival of Fools Management and Staff Management Committee Chair Directors
Alison Anderson Graham Erskine Edward Adams Patrick Anderson Julie Daly Peter Doran
Staff Interim Director Fergus Cooper Festival Co-ordinator Georgia Simpson Festival Finance Keith Hamilton
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Workplace Wellbeing Specialists Through our unique Employee Resilience Programme our multidisciplinary team provide a full suite of workplace wellbeing, mental health and addiction services.
To ďŹ nd out more contact: Katy Skelton, Inspire Professional Services 10-20 Lombard House, Belfast, BT1 1RD M: 075 9561 1539 E: k.skelton@inspirewellbeing.org www.inspirewellbeing.org
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You’d be be a a fool fool to to miss miss out out on on our our great great offers offers You’d
at Ramada Encore Belfast
Book your two night stay with breakfast up to 21st June and SAVE 30% off our best available rates. Kids under 12 stay FREE when sharing a family room with 2 adults. Subject to availability. Based on 2 adults sharing. Pre-payable at the time of booking. Non-transferable. Non-refundable.
Call 02890 261800 or visit
www.encorebelfast.co.uk/offers
SQ BAR & Grill Enjoy food & drinks in the comfort of our outdoor terrace on St. Anne’s Square with a great view of the performers! Now serving new menu. KIDS EAT FREE @ SQ Bar & Grill 1 free kids meal with each adult main course purchased from our menu. Subject to availability. Available 3rd–7th May 2018
Visit www.sqbarandgrill.co.uk or check us out on sqbarandgrill
St. Anne’s Square, 20 Talbot Street, Belfast BT1 2LD
1 Mar - 31 May 2018.Conditions apply.
£2 EVENING RETURN AFTER 6:30PM JOIN THE #SMARTMOVERS
Saturday 5 May BANK SQ.
CORNMARKET
COTTON COURT SAINT ANNE’S SQ.
12pm 12.45pm
WRITERS SQ. Belfast Met
Otto Il Bassotto
1.30pm Victor Rubilar
Kate & Pasi
Duo Looky
Andrea Brugnera
Saturday Youth Circus
ACE-K
Tobia Circus
Quatuor Stomp
Circo Puntino
Martin Bigpig
Thursday Youth Circus
Sneaky Freak
Claudio Mutazzi
3pm
Pina Polar
Margaux Dub
Kate & Pasi
Otto Il Bassotto
Cloughjordan Circus Club
3.45pm
ACE-K
Victor Rubilar
Andrea Brugnera
Duo Looky
Tumble Circus
4.30pm
Claudio Mutazzi
Martin Bigpig
Sneaky Freak
Tobia Circus
In Your Space
Circo Puntino
Margaux Dub
Pina Polar
Community Circus Lisburn
2.15pm
5.15pm 6pm
BIG FINISH
Walkabout...
Misguided Tours
Hopalot
Captain John Edward Smith
*Please refer to contents on page 1 for more details on each Act
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Designed by Nicola Charlton — www.facebook.com/NicCharltonDesign
Sunday 6 May BANK SQ.
CORNMARKET
1.15pm
COTTON COURT SAINT ANNE’S SQ.
WRITERS SQ.
Pina Polar
Circo Puntino
Grant Goldie
Suffolk Community Circus
2pm
Tobia Circus
Duo Looky
Margaux Dub
Otto Il Bassotto
Sunday Youth Circus
2.45pm
Kate & Pasi
Claudio Mutazzi
Victor Rubilar
ACE-K
Streetwise Community Circus
3.30pm
Martin Bigpig
Grant Goldie
Pina Polar
Circo Puntino
Tumble Circus
4.15pm
Margaux Dub
Otto Il Bassotto
Duo Looky
Kate & Pasi
Hammer & Ardoyne Community Circus
ACE-K
Tobia Circus
Victor Rubilar
Claudio Mutazzi
5pm 6pm
BIG FINISH
Walkabout...
Misguided Tours
Hopalot
Stein & Geist
*Please refer to contents on page 1 for more details on each Act
Travel to Festival of Fools with Translink Visit translink.co.uk or call 028 90 66 66 30
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#smartmovers
Monday 7 May BANK SQ.
CORNMARKET
Dansko Gida
Kate & Pasi
Victor Rubilar
Pina Polar
ACE-K
1.45pm
Mr H
Tobia Circus
Duo Looky
Margaux Dub
Sideboard Sideshow
2.30pm
Afrikan Warriors
Pina Polar
Martin Bigpig
Claudio Mutazzi
Circo Puntino
3.15pm
Otto Il Bassotto
Victor Rubilar
Ace K
Kate & Pasi
Tumble Circus
4pm
Sideboard Sideshow
Duo Looky
Margaux Dub
Mr H
Tobia Circus
Claudio Mutazzi
Dansko Gida
Otto Il Bassotto
Circo Puntino
Afrikan Warriors
1pm
4.45pm
COTTON COURT SAINT ANNE’S SQ.
6pm
WRITERS SQ.
BIG FINISH
Walkabout...
Misguided Tours
Hopalot
Petal People
*Please refer to contents on page 1 for more details on each Act
LIKE us on Facebook.com/foolsfestival
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TO: STREET STATION
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TO: BE E SETALTFAST S T R TIO CEN TRA N L
#smartmovers
Join the Smart Movers on Bus and Train to... 8 1 0 2 y a M Fri 4 ay Mon 7 M 4 - 7 May City Belfast Belfast City Centre Centre
For more details, click: k: For more details, clic www.translink.co.uk/foolsfestival/ k/foolsfestival/
www.translink.co.u
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