THE Imagine Belfast Festival of Ideas & Politics returns for its 8th annual outing next month with over 150 in-person and live events.
Taking place from March 21 to 27, the festival offers up an eclectic week of talks, workshops, theatre, comedy, music, exhibitions, film and tours. Most of the events are free and many will take place in venues across Belfast as the festival returns to live events after two years operating online.
"We are delighted to bring you this unique way of imagining the future of this great city," says festival director Peter O'Neill.
"Our festival has gone from strength to strength and we are looking forward to welcoming you to our biggest offering to date. We hope to address the big issues of our troubled times and promote debate on diverse opinion and new ideas on politics, culture and activism. Goodness knows, we need a bit of inspiration as we try to make sense of this volatile world."
Highlights of this year's Imagine Belfast include the following events, which are available to book now:
:: Tom Robinson, with support from Paul Connolly (Wood Burning Savages) – Saturday March 26, Crescent Arts Centre.
The iconic musician and broadcaster returns to Belfast for an evening of songs and stories. Expect intimate solo versions of TRB classics such as War Baby, Glad To Be Gay and 2-4-6-8 Motorway, plus a sprinkling of fan favourites and stories from behind the scenes.
:: Over The Edge literary reading on poetry & politics – March 21, Crescent Arts Centre
Galway's Over The Edge literary reading series brings poetry and political conflict to Belfast. Poets Laurence McKeown, Susan Millar DuMars and Kevin Higgins will read their poems, discuss the relationship between political conflict and poetry and take questions from the audience.
:: Paddy Cullivan: The Murder of Michael Collins – March 21, The Black Box
Historical entertainer Paddy Cullivan relates the incredible story of the death of Ireland's first commander-in-chief with this audio-visual show featuring hundreds of images and music.
:: Nuala McKeever: Is It Over Yet? – March 22, Crescent Arts Centre
Join Nuala McKeever as she takes a laugh-out-loud look back at how we coped with Life in the Time of Corona.
:: Bill Neely: 40 Years In TV News – March 24, Crescent Arts Centre
Well-known local journalist Bill Neely talks about his amazing career, from Belfast in during the Troubles to covering wars, earthquakes and US Presidential elections.
:: What Do We Do Now?: Ece Temelkuran and Jon Alexander – March 25, Crescent Arts Centre
Writers Ece Temelkuran and Jon Alexander will discuss how to keep faith with humanity and the part we can all play in making a different future.
:: Why We Need More Diversity In Publishing: Kit de Waal and Paul McVeigh – March 27, Crescent Arts Centre
In this conversation two of our leading authors who have championed working class writers discuss the lack of diversity in publishing and the importance of promoting a wider range of voices in literature.
:: Tony Law – March 27, The Black Box
The award-winning comedian returns to Belfast with his surreal take on free speech and all things political.
:: This Sh*t Happens All The Time – March 22 to April 2, The Lyric Theatre
This powerful new one-woman play from Amanda Verlaque uses personal experience to explore misogyny, coercive control and queer-baiting to ask why the privileges and protections granted to most of society remain out of reach for Northern Ireland's LGBT+ community.
Check out the full programme of over 150 events at imaginebelfast.com.
