Reporters at Children's Express talk to Director of Belfast Festival at Queen's Stella Hall to find out how she decided on this year's programme.
| We want new and exciting things that don’t come any other time. |
This year's Belfast Festival at Queen's offers a large arts smorgasbord based around the theme of Let there be Light. There will be 350 performances, several world premieres, lots of local talent and well-known international acts.
Director of the Festival, Stella Hall, appointed last September, made special efforts to include events that would appeal to young people. "I think Festival had begun to look as though it was only for an older audience. The kinds of brochures we were producing did not look as though they were the kind of thing young people would pick up," she said.
"This year, as well a putting things in the programme that we though would be exciting for young people, we invited student arts representatives to help us design a programme," Ms Hall added.
After many long hours on the telephone canvassing opinion, Ms Hall got a clear message of what people wanted in the festival programme. "'We want new and exciting things that don't come any other time, family things, events all over the city and eventsperformed in unusual places,' they told me."
This year's programme seems to fit the bill and is decidedly upbeat. Orlaith Graham Wood, 13 cannot wait to go and see Japanese company Osaka's Ryusei-Shooting tars in the Paint Hall at Harland and Wolff. Thirty-five young people will tell a story of living in a post-nuclear city through dance and song.
"It is a massive production, and the brochure says it is like a Japanese ap opera. It looks so colourful and exciting, I am definitely going," Orlaith said.
Intensified advertising and extended outreach work by the Festival team seems to be having a positive impact, particularly among young people.
Andrew Bailie, 13, who had never really heard about the Belfast Festival at Queen's said "this year there seems to be a lot more advertisements all over the place.
"I want to see a play called Decky Does A Bronco by Grid Iron, who won a prize at the Edinburgh festival, because it deals with childhood. It sounds exciting and interesting and is going to be performed outside," he said.
Andrew is also attracted to some of the more exotic events such as Gateway to India and Roshni Diwali Lights.
"I don't really know much about India and I think it could be fun to see the Indian costumes, and musical instruments. And of course taste the food!"
For many young people, Belfast Festival offers an opportunity to see events they may have only dreamed of. Sheena Hall, 14 is mad keen to see Cinderella.
About the team
This article was produced by Thomas Kielty, 16; Orlaith Graham Wood, 13; Lisa Skinner, 17, Andrew Bailie, 13 . It was published on the Belfast Festival website.
