THE programme for this year's EastSide Arts Festival has just been unveiled as the festival prepares to bring a wealth of cultural events to east Belfast between August 3 and August 13.
The Big Top Weekend will feature family friendly circus antics from Tumble Circus, a cabaret evening and performances from local music stars Gareth Dunlop and Ciaran Lavery in the Tumble Circus Big Top at CS Lewis Square, with other musical highlights including Ken Haddock and The Arco String Quartet, Anthony Toner, Kaz Hawkins, The Illegals with Niamh Kavanagh and Belfast Community Gospel Choir.
This year's EastSide Festival will also offer a diverse range of cinema screenings including a special pop-up screening of A Patch of Fog from Oscar-nominated director Michael Lennox (Booglaoo & Graham) at Wyse Byse, a key location in the film starring Stephen Graham and Conleth Hill.
Theatre productions include Sam McCready’s adaptation of Robert Harbinson’s No Surrender and Terra Nova’s new anti-racism play, Me You Us Them, there will be poetry from Jan Carson, Poetry NI and Glenn Patterson, plus comedy and magic from Midweek Magic Club to the return of Murder She Got Wrote Off.
There are also various tours on offer during the festival, including the chance to see east and west Belfast connecting/colliding as never before with a special Translink East West Bus Tour featuring comedian Paddy McDonnell and actor Stephen Beggs.
:: Full festival programme and tickets available online at Eastsidearts.net, on 028 9024 6609 and in person from Visit Belfast Welcome Centre, Donegall Sq North.