Unrest axes entire two-week run of hit musical as arts events fall victims to disorder - though Farmers Bash looks set to happen, despite shut venues and cancelled public transport during trouble
Entertainment events in Belfast have fallen victim to two nights of disorder, with the Grand Opera House axing an entire fortnight-long run of a hit West End musical.
And while ticket-holders have been asking questions about whether a major event tomorrow night – Farmers Bash, the opening event of the Belsonic festival – will still happen, indications are it’s going on as planned.
During the week concerts and film screenings were cancelled across Belfast as venues closed down, with several well-known names shutting by early evening rather than risk getting caught in disorder.
At the Grand Opera House, performances of ‘Mean Girls’ were supposed to begin on Tuesday, but opening night and a follow-up on Wednesday were both called off due to violence flaring around anti-immigration protests. Today, the venue announced the entire planned two-week run was off.
In a statement pledging refunds, officials said: “Given the uncertainty caused by the unrest over recent days, the producers of ‘Mean Girls’ have taken the difficult decision to cancel the musical’s run a the Grand Opera House.
“We know that customers will share our disappointment and on behalf of the producers and the theatre, we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
On Friday night, £45 per ticket Farmers Bash is to bring a host of acts and thousands of fans to Ormeau Park, which lies on the boundary of east and south Belfast. Big names due to play include the golden boy of Irish country, Derek Ryan, plus the Boyzlife collaboration of former boy band stars Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy, and Co Tyrone folk-rockers the Whistlin’ Donkeys.
Translink has laid on special coaches for the event, travelling between Londonderry and Belfast with six stops in between.
With unrest cancelling events and Translink bringing in widespread public transport shutdowns for three days in a row, ticket-holders have been bombarding Belsonic with questions on social media.
The festival didn’t reply to direct News Letter enquiries, though late this afternoon it posted information about stage times and the final curfew of Farmers Bash, indicating the event is still on. Translink did not answer an enquiry on contingency plans for travel should there be another shutdown.
On a smaller scale, several well-known bars that are home to music venues closed early on both Tuesday and Wednesday, from the Belfast Empire Music Hall in the Botanic area to the Sunflower Pub in the city centre and the American Bar in Sailortown – in the latter’s case, forcing them to stop a planned show by folk band Polar Bolero.
At least two cinemas have cancelled screenings, with the Odeon in Belfast city centre shutting its doors on Tuesday afternoon while Queen’s Film Theatre was closed yesterday and today. Stated officials from the latter: “This decision was taken out of an abundance of caution.”
The SSE Arena went ahead with a gig from Irish indie-folk band Kingfishr on Tuesday night, but has no more events booked until next week.
Saturday is to see campaigners United Against Racism rally at Belfast city hall. Branding the unrest “racist pogroms”, organisers said they “want to send the biggest, loudest, most unified message that we will not tolerate race riots in our city”.