When: 1st – 4th May 2015
Where: Belfast, Northern Ireland
£: Free
What is it?
Belfast’s Festival of Fools will take place from 1st to 4th May with more than 120 shows presented by the most talented collection of clowns, acrobats, jugglers and eccentrics from across the world.
The performances will take place across the streets of Belfast City Centre and Cathedral Quarter, free of charge, celebrating the best of street theatre, circus and comedy from around the world.
Artists performing at this year’s festival will be coming from the USA, Australia, Tanzania, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Ireland, and of course Belfast. From the USA, there’s Jonathan Burns, the most flexible comedy act around. Australian acrobat Fatt Matt will entertain the masses with his ukulele playing, whilst balancing on his head. From Spain, La Bella Tour are two destitute and desperate clowns searching the planet for the perfect laugh; catastrophe and chaos usually ensues.
This year marks the 30th birthday of Belfast Community Circus School, and the Festival of Fools will feature more than 20 acts who have either trained or taught at the school. The companies include Dot Comedy with Lost On Earth, a crashed spaceship with a dazed and confused alien in search of intelligent life in Belfast. The Barren Carrousel present Shhhhhhh!, a new circus show packed with aerial stunts, acrobatics, juggling and comedy. The Magilligans, Belfast’s favourite unicycling, juggling and cheese loving brothers, are reunited after a difficult year spent trying to think up a new joke.
The Festival of Fools will open on Friday 1st May at 7pm in Writers’ Square with Cast Off, the biggest street show ever to be produced by the Belfast Community Circus School. Expect stunning choreography, combining aerial feats with acrobatic prowess and manipulative mastery.
The festival will continue with daytime shows over the weekend. Each evening ends with The Big Finish, a variety style show featuring highlights from the day’s acts, taking place in the relaxed surroundings of Saint Anne’s Square.
Visitors will also be able to treat themselves to delicious deals, in 17 restaurants, bars and cafes, taking part in the Festival of Foods. Visitors can find a special voucher section in the festival brochure, or download it from the website. The offers will range from children eating free, to special deals for grown-ups.
More info: foolsfestival.com and www.facebook.com/foolsfestival