Downpatrick Welcomes Culture Night, Teeny Weeny and Jane Austen

Down Arts Centre has a busy weekend planned, with events taking place as part of Downpatrick’s first ever Culture Night on Friday 19 September from 6-9pm, a teeny tiny show for the very youngest audience members, TiNY, on Saturday 20 September and a relaxing Sunday afternoon performance of Austen’s Women on Sunday 21 September.

[caption id="attachment_51798" align="alignleft" width="390"]BABBLE, a great show for parents and tiny tots. BABBLE, a great show for parents and tiny tots.[/caption]

On Friday 19 September, the first ever Culture Night Downpatrick will take place in unusual locations throughout the town from 6pm – 9pm. Down Arts Centre (DAC) are working with SERC and Down Community Arts to organise special events and workshops, free of charge, in participating locations.

Culture Night is an annual all-island public event that celebrates culture, creativity and the arts. During Culture Night arts and cultural organisations and venues of all shapes and sizes extend their opening hours to allow increased access to the public. Special events and workshops are specifically programmed at participating locations and everything is available free of charge. For more information about events taking place, contact Down Arts Centre on 028 4461 0747.

[caption id="attachment_51799" align="alignright" width="230"]Jane Austen comes to life on stage in Downpatrick. Jane Austen comes to life on stage in Downpatrick.[/caption]

Did you know that a 10-minute old baby can mimic your facial expressions? Did you know that the experiences that babies have in their very first few years actually impact upon how their brains are formed?

Replay Theatre Company will be making sure that some of these experiences are imaginative and beautiful with their latest show for babies, TiNY, which comes to DAC on Saturday 20 September. Following the huge success of Replay’s first baby show, BABBLE, which is off to Broadway next March, TiNY is full of magical sounds, lights and textures and takes its audience on a fantastical journey full of wonder and surprises.

It takes as its starting point the bodies of research which show that listening to music can contribute greatly to a baby’s development during the first 3 years. Many experts strongly believe that music plays an important role in building babies’ emotional basis and helps them gain a sense of confidence.

But TiNY is not just about music. Replay also use a variety of other senses to help entertain and relax your baby – with lights, sounds and some strange little animals – all close enough for even a new-born to see. Performances will take place at 11am, 12 noon and 3pm and last about 45 minutes.

On Sunday 21 September at 3pm DAC is delighted to welcome back Rebecca Vaughan, described by the British Theatre Guide as ‘…one of the most exciting young performers on the British stage’, with her celebrated 5-star show, Austen’s Women.

Thirteen of Jane Austen’s heroines come to life in this bold revisiting of some of literature’s most celebrated works. In this much-loved Edinburgh sell-out hit, using only Austen’s words, Rebecca Vaughan (I, Elizabeth, Female Gothic, The Diaries of Adam & Eve) becomes Emma Woodhouse, Lizzy Bennet, Mrs Norris, Miss Bates and nine other beautifully observed women in critical moments from Austen’s major novels and lesser known works. What better way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon, relaxing after a busy weekend, than in the company of Austen’s Women?

To purchase tickets (Culture Night events are free, TiNY £10 admits one baby and their adult, Austen’s Women £12 / £10) and for further information on any Down Arts Centre events, please contact the box office on 028 4461 0747 or visit:

www.downartscentre.com

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