New arts season is unveiled for district

21 August 2013

DOWN Arts Centre and Down County Museum have launched their new autumn season programme.

Between now and Christmas Down Arts Centre will host three major exhibitions, opening on September 8 with John Breakey’s first solo exhibition.

This will be followed by Deep Time by artists from Seacourt Print Workshop in October and finishing with Celebrate!, Down Arts Centre’s annual Christmas exhibition in November.

In the theatre programme Marie Jones returns to Downpatrick with the black comedy

Fly me to the Moon; The Immaculate Deception takes centre

stage with a hilarious look at teenagers, growing up and life

in modern Northern Ireland and the popular ‘Blood Brothers’ makes a welcome return to Downpatrick.

Fresh from their run with smash hits A Night with George and The Sweety Bottle, Brassneck Theatre Company present their new production Man In The Moon by highly acclaimed playwright Pearse Elliott”.

The centre will also be run-ning a busy programme of workshops and classes from beginners dressmaking, pottery and jewellery workshops to oil painting, flower arranging and guitar classes.

On the music scene there is a strong line-up of big names with Malojian, Celtic Soul, Finbar Furey, Iarla Ó’Lionáird, Steve Cooney, Rapparees, Grainne Duffy, The Sands Family and Brian Kennedy. And for those interested in combining theatre and literature, there is an atmospheric candlelit performance of Dicken’s classic A Christmas Carol by Pip Utton on December 7.

At Down Museum highlights include The Life and Time of Thomas Russell in October, an event which sold out back in March. As Halloween and Christmas approaches there are also an array of seasonal family events planned from Nightmare on English Street to Christmas at the Old Gaol.

Special exhibitions at the museum include Treasures of the Middle Ages: Archaeological Finds from Poland, Two Men of Mourne by Pat Hudson and Cecil Newman, Digging Our Faith: Exploring our Religion & Cultural Heritage and Ballynahinch: The Island Town.

Commending the quality and variety of this season’s offering, Down Council chairwoman, Maria McCarthy, said: “With an array of quality local arts, great comedy, theatre, children’s events and more, this is just a flavour of all that’s happening at Down

Arts Centre and Down County Museum. There’s certainly enough to keep everyone busy this autumn.”

Visit www.downcountymuseum and www.downartscentre.com. Copies of the new season programme can be obtained by telephoning 028 4461 0747.

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