International arts fest launches programme

From October 12 to November 1, inspirational events featuring dance, music, theatre, film, visual arts and discussion will be largely hosted online, with a small number experienced in-person. The impressive programme responds creatively to the current pandemic and explores matters of contemporary interest such as gender equality, multi-culturalism, representation, the climate crisis, and democracy.

BIAF20 will open with the premiere of a new online and interactive theatrical production of Macbeth by local company Big Telly, who have become a world leader in live digital theatre. Opening first to secondary schools, before being available to the general public from Wednesday October 14 to Saturday October 17, this imaginative reboot of Shakespeare’s timeless, blood-soaked tale is performed live on Zoom.

The theatre offering continues with Portuguese theatre maker and performer Pedro Penim’s DOING IT. This livestreamed lecture performance will take the audience on a virtual journey across Pedro’s ‘island collection’, learning about these hidden places and his secret obsession with our planet’s remote islands.

A special series of art films focusing on contemporary dance will see leading NI dancer and choreographer Oona Doherty in conversation with Italian filmmaker Luca Truffarelli, discussing their relationship as artists and their several collaborations, accompanied by film extracts.

As part of Belfast Music Society’s centenary celebrations, Belfast International Arts Festival will host and broadcast a series of exclusive recitals and concerts.

Conor Mitchell will also treat audiences to a new piece of video performance art as Belfast Ensemble reinvent Beethoven with their new work, Septet (for four), created to mark the 250th birthday of Beethoven.

The BIAF20 Talks & Ideas programme brings together the best of contemporary fiction in both established names, such as Sebastian Barry and Sarah Moss, and the newer voices of Daisy Johnson and Bryan Washington.

As BIAF draws to a close, on Sunday November 1, the eve of the US Presidential election, two British-American experts on US history, civil rights and politics will come together to discuss what brought us to the 2020 US election - and where we go from here. Sarah Churchwell and Michell Chresfield, hosted by The Irish Times’ Fintan O’Toole, will discuss how the history of white nationalism in American politics has led us to this point, and what’s at stake when US voters go to the polls.

In addition to the public programme, BIAF also has an expanded range of professional development initiatives to support artists. These range from a digital showcase of local talent for international arts programmers, a series of artist commissions and the customary Festival Artist in Residence, which this year has been awarded to local dance maker, Eileen McClory.

For more information about BIAF20 and to book tickets, visit belfastinternationalartsfestival.com.