CultureNorthernIreland Newsletter

June 18, 2010

Greetings!

This issue we catch up with iconic fashion designer Zandra Rhodes over lunch and talk to Derry author Claire Allan about writing chick-lit with teeth. You can also watch video interviews from the 2D Comic Festival and find out about the downside of island blogging from author Michael Faulkner.

Reviewer Joanne Savage goes from Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood to the beauty of Strangford Lough at the Life of the Lough exhibition. Joe Nawaz is awed by an Indian guitar virtuoso and says goodbye to 'Write on the Edge'.

Finally, win a signed copy of short story collection Requiems for the Departed with stories from Arlene Hunt and Stuart Neville, tickets to Chess the Musical with an all-youth cast and more.

Zandra Rhodes
The 'Princess of Punk' talks about clothes, opera and the need for sharp elbows over lunch.

My Cultural Life: Colin Murphy

'The truth is that I hate people and at the same time I'm fascinated by them. People are perfect fodder for comedy.'

Claire Allan
The doyenne of chick-lit chats to Garbhan Downey about her edgy new bestseller.

Verbal: Michael Faulkner
The author of Still on the Sound talks about blogging his way into the dog house.

Venice @ The Golden Thread
No gondolas, gelati or cappuccinos here, just NI and Ireland's contribution to the 2009 Venice Biennale.

The Chess Piece
'I had never played chess in my life before undertaking this production,' says choreographer Ayesa Mailey.

Chris Agee: Next to Nothing 'One day they let you out and there you are on the road in your big, grey coat of grief.' 2D Comic Festival See 'The Godfather of British Comics' Pat Mills, FLU author Wayne Simmons and the guys behind Berserker comics. TRANS Festival Launches Festival organiser Adam Turkington on a packed programme of music, street art, film and exhibitions.

BBC Radio 3 Recital Series, The Great Hall, Downpatrick, June 18 - 20. Radio 3 brings three singers of international standing to Downpatrick.

The Priests in Concert, Belfast Waterfront, Belfast, June 19. Join The Priests and their orchestra at the Waterfront, with Rebecca Nelson.

Lunchtime Organ Recital, Ulster Hall, Belfast, June 22. Colm Carey, Belfast City Organist, performs a selection of classical music.

Engagement Days, Spectrum Centre, Belfast, June 23. Two Engagement Forums to discuss the Lyric's Creative Learning suite.

NT Live - London Assurance, QFT, June 28. Dion Boucicault's timeless comedy classic comes to Belfast live from London's National Theatre.

Dublin Gospel Choir, Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, June 25. Gospel comes to Strule in the choir's only 2010 performance in Tyrone.

The John Hewitt International Summer School, Market Place Theatre, Armagh, July 26-30. A five day festival of culture and creativity.

Three x 3, CraftNI, Belfast, June 1 - Aug 29. An exhibition in glass and light by Sean Campbell, Andrea Spencer, and Scott Benefield.


Win tickets to Willowstone festival, featuring headliners The Answer, the opening night of Woody Allen's Whatever Works at the QFT and Chess the Musical, performed by an all-youth cast at Derry's Millennium Forum. Win a signed copy of Chris Agee's Next to Nothing and short story collection Requiems for the Departed.