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JANUARY 2007
'OUT TO LUNCH' ARTS FESTIVAL BACK ON THE MENU
'Out to Lunch', the mini-festival organised by the Cathedral Quarter
Arts Festival, will return in January with a packed programme of music,
theatre, comedy and literature, it was announced today.
The festival, which also has a new lead sponsor in St Anne's Square,
will run from January 5-28, and returns after a highly successful
first year during which every event sold out.
Festival Director Sean Kelly said; 'Although intended as a once-off
event, the response to last year's Festival meant we simply had
to bring 'Out to Lunch' back again. We initially wondered if people
would attend events in January but in fact many people seem to really
want to do something different and creative after the Christmas
break. Undoubtedly part of the appeal is its great value - £5
for a show and a lunch is irresistible. More importantly, it places
Belfast alongside other European cities where arts events are on
offer all throughout the year and at different times of the day.'
Sizzling Argentinean Tango, comedian Owen O'Neill, best-selling
Teen author Jacqueline Wilson, soaring singer-songwriter Foy Vance
and an African choir will all be featured in this year's expanded
programme which will be based in the Cathedral Quarter's newest
performance space, the Black Box.
Theatre & Comedy
The Festival has secured a number of the strongest acts from this
year's Edinburgh Festival including Jesus: The Guantanamo Years
an irreverent take on the US, Guantanamo Bay and the war on terror.
Audiences packed to see this show which was the talk of the Festival.
In Rebus McTaggart, character actor Richard Thomson plays
the no nonsense Inspector McTaggart tasked with keeping the streets
of Ecclefechan crime free with his trademark blend of brutality
for the thugs and silver tongued charm for the ladies.
Circus Bone Idle will astound and amaze with a death defying
show of 33 circus acts in 33 minutes while Cookstown's finest, comedian
Owen O'Neill will combine storytelling, poetry and comedy
in a magnificent new hour long show specially tailored for 'Out
to Lunch.'
In 'My Polish Roots' Karola Gajda explores the lives of
her immigrant parents with great humour and poignancy all the while
cooking a great barszcz (beetroot soup) for the audience on stage.
Comedy musings interspersed with surreal songs on his keyboard;
Dublin- based David O'Doherty brings his unique humour and
music to Belfast on January 28 following his sell out success at
this year's Edinburgh Festival.
Literature
Acclaimed author, broadcaster and Guardian columnist Jon Ronson
leads the literature programme with tales from his new book 'Out
of the Ordinary'.
AL Kennedy, regarded as the finest Scottish writer of her
generation and sometime stand-up comic will take a wry look at a
career in writing and Bruce Fummey will deconstruct that
fine poem of Rabbie Burns in About Tam O'Shanter ending
with a stirring rendition of the great poem.
New performance poetry sensations, The Poetry Chicks will
present their acclaimed show AlphabeTitudZ - an A to Z of what its
like to be a woman in modern times.
With over 20 million books sold, Out to Lunch is delighted to welcome
Children's Laureate Jacqueline Wilson author of Bad Girls
and her new novel Starring Tracey Beaker. Jacqueline will
read and discuss her work in the Waterfront Studio on January 20.
Finally, renowned music journalist Everett True will discuss
his new book Nirvana: The True Story. The book is an honest
and incisive account of a band who have so often be misrepresented
since their demise in 1994 written by a close personal friend of
Kurt Cobain.
Music
One of the fastest rising stars to come out of Belfast in many years,
Foy Vance plays the Black Box on January 6 before a major
headlining UK tour. A performer of rare charisma Foy's music is
gaining huge exposure after featuring on the American show Grey's
Anatomy.
The musical legacy of Nick Drake is explored by Keith
James in a wonderful solo performance of Drake's music. This
show has travelled all over the world but visits Ireland for the
first time for 'Out to Lunch'.
The Children of Soweto Gospel Choir perform their Belfast
debut on January 24 with some soulful and stirring renditions of
gospel and popular classics guaranteed to get any audience off their
feet.
An afternoon of classical music with a fresh twist is on offer
from the Dennison String Quartet and on Saturday January
27 a new local music showcase will feature the talents of Eilidh
Patterson, Paddy McKeown, Cat Malojian and The Delawares.
Finally, sometime member of 4 Men and a Dog, Kevin Doherty
plays a rare Belfast gig on Sunday January 28 in the John Hewitt
which will be a must for fans of great folk-influenced country and
rock.
Welcoming the return of the Festival, Brian Henning from this year's
lead sponsors St Anne's Square said;
"The Festival team are to be congratulated in gathering such
an eclectic mix of entertainment which will amaze, enthrall and
at times challenge our local audiences.
As a future potential venue provider for "Out to Lunch"
St Anne's Square is delighted to be associated with this innovative
arts programme and looks forward to developing and evolving in tandem
with it."
Also supporting this year's festival are the Northern Ireland Events
Company. Mervyn Elder, Chairman of NIEC said;
"The Events Company is delighted to support Out to Lunch 2007.
The arts are of vital importance in the creation of an events strategy
for Northern Ireland and allowing people to experience them first
hand, and on their lunch break is an imaginative concept."
The Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Pat McCarthy
welcomed the Festival;
"Out to Lunch 2006 was a superb event - encouraging people
to take a break from their normal routines and enjoy a taste of
cultural talents from Belfast and beyond. Festivals like this one
are really encouraging people to get out and explore their city
and I look forward to seeing a real buzz around Cathedral Quarter
again this January".
Further information and ticket enquiries should be made to 028
90232403 and all tickets can be booked on-line at www.cqaf.com
Accommodation Partner
The festival's Official Accommodation Partner is Express by Holiday
Inn, which has a range of special offers available to festival audiences.
Festival Website and Booking Information
The festival is delighted to offer online booking through our 'Print
at Home' Ticket facility. Simply log on to www.cqaf.com, choose
your events and pay by credit card through our secure payment system.
You will receive an email confirmation of your booking. This is
your ticket, please print and bring along to the venue on the day.
The festival website also offers full details of the Out to Lunch
programme, daily news updates, digital photographs from festival
events, competitions and special ticket promotions.
If you would like further information on any of this year's events,
please visit www.cqaf.com.
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