SIMON Cowell and co. will be searching for tomorrow’s stars when ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent visits the Waterfront in January.
And with a bit of luck at least one bright new local talent will soon be rubbing shoulders with some of the latest, greatest stars about to light up the new season at Belfast Waterfront and The Ulster Hall.
Dance stars don’t come bigger that Brendan Cole, one of Strictly Come Dancing’s most charismatic performers, who will treat his fans to an evening of pure Ballroom magic and Latin excitement on 1 March. There’s a double treat for ‘Strictly’ fans, as Anton Du Beke – arguably the nation’s favourite Ballroom dancer, dazzles with his thrilling new show, Ballroom to Broadway on 31 January.
The dance theme continues as magical waltzes and polkas transport the audience to the glorious ballrooms of 19th century Vienna during the Johann Strauss Gala (24 January), now a traditional New Year Waterfront favourite.
For sheer spectacle combined with a feast of masterful music, it’s hard to look beyond Verdi’s Aida (25 March) – a stunning new traditional production of the grandest of all operas. Lovers of the classics can also look forward to a full programme of Ulster Orchestra showpiece evening and lunchtime concerts and a series of BBC Invitation Concerts.
Belfast’s most famous musical instrument, the iconic Mulholland Grand Organ, will strike up an amazing wall of sound during the Ulster Hall Organic Lunches – a unique series of four lunchtime concerts by popular organists, from January to April.
The laughter generated by packed audiences flocking to see today’s latest and greatest stand-up comedians will provide Comedy Club at the Waterfront and Ulster Hall with its own unique wall of sound. Coming soon are Neil Delamere (15 February) and Andrew Lawrence (12 April). Sarah Millican is now sold out. Looking further ahead, Russell Kane (11 May), Jimmy Carr (14 November) Dave Gorman (29 November) and Ross Noble (10 December) return by popular demand. Alan Davies makes his Ulster Hall début on 12 December.
From current chart sensations to timeless rock legends, some of the most celebrated music acts are Waterfront and Ulster Hall-bound. X Factor favourites, Union J (12 and 13 January) will delight their legions of fans while 2012 X Factor winner, James Arthur, is in town on 1 and 2 February. Former West Life star, Shane Filan (9 and 10 March), showcases his smash hit début solo album while Baltimore pop-punk sensations, All Time Low return on 18 March.
Stiff Little Fingers perform a momentous Ulster Hall home-coming concert on 14 March while Foreigner, internationally renowned for creating some of rock music’s most iconic and enduring anthems, take to the Waterfront stage on 1 April. Country music’s latest superstar, Eric Church, has an Ulster Hall date on 25 February, The Overtones mix the tradition of American vocal groups with the best of British pop on 19 February and fans of Seventies soft-rock can take a journey through Smokie’s amazing catalogue of hits on 15 February.
As always there’s a strong representation of more local music talent on offer that includes Tommy Fleming (21 February), Finbar Wright celebrating the music of Pavarotti (23 February) and the Kilkennys, who bring their own brand of folk and ballad music to Belfast for the first time on 13 February.
The unmistakable music of three music legends is meticulously brought to life during Elvis Presley on Stage (28 April), The Dolly Parton Story (20 February) and The Ultimate Eagles (26 January).
Top drawer professional theatre returns to the Waterfront Studio courtesy of Brassneck Theatre Company’s acclaimed Man in the Moon (19 – 29 March), while Youth Lyric’s Magical Mayhem (5 – 8 March) is an opportunity to enjoy tomorrow’s stage stars today.
Two Ulster Hall favourites make welcome returns: Literary Lunchtimes feature fascinating readings by popular writers and specially themed music performances with a literary theme. Meanwhile the ever-popular Breakfast Club Movies present movie classics, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Apartment, Sunset Boulevard and Pretty Woman – complete with continental breakfast!
The Waterfront’s hugely popular Festival in a Day is back on 9 March with a packed programme of fun events and activities for families with young children to see and do, including a Baby Rave; Circus, Comic Strip Illustration and Story Writing workshops; a book reading by children’s author, Lara Williamson and loads of free stuff to explore and enjoy!
The Ulster Hall celebrates International Women’s Day with a mini-series of lunchtime lectures themed on the role women have played in shaping society as we know it today, featuring guest speakers Dr John Gray, Tom Hartley, Kellie O’Dowd, Dr Margaret Ward and Lynda Walker, and Belfast Feminist Network.
Visitors to both Belfast Waterfront and The Ulster Hall can now enjoy photographic and art exhibitions all year-round by renowned local and international artists.
Exhibitions coming up at the Waterfront include Verbally Confirmed by Keith Connolly (10 – 31 January); University of Ulster’s Introducing… (6 February – 3 March); The Jazz Of Shapes to Come by Stephen Millar (6 – 31 March) and Luminance by Chris Davis (2 – 30 April).
Ulster Hall exhibition highlights include Royal Society of Ulster Architects’ Hidden Heritage – Photographic Awards Competition and Exhibition’ (6 – 25 January); Wheelworks Exhibition (28 January – 22 February); Wanderlust by Aimee Hutchinson (3 – 29 March) and Graphite by Lee Boyd, Sara O`Neill, Lenka Davidikova and Michael Geddis (7 – 26 April).
Visit the Waterfront and Ulster Hall websites for more information about the exhibitions.
These are just some of the many highlights of the new season at Belfast Waterfront and The Ulster Hall. Full details of all events are listed in Front Row – the events guide for Belfast Waterfront and The Ulster Hall, now available from all usual outlets and directly from the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Box Offices. Telephone: 028 9033 4455. You can also download Front Row at www.waterfront.co.uk and at www.ulsterhall.co.uk
Tickets for events are available online, by calling 028 9033 4455 and from the Waterfront and Ulster Hall Box Offices.
There is a Credit/Debit card handling charge of £1.00 per ticket for bookings made by telephone. Online bookings attract a charge of just £1.50 per transaction. A fee of 50p per booking is payable for tickets forwarded by post.
Belfast Waterfront and The Ulster Hall are now on Facebook. Visit us at: www.facebook.com/waterfrontandulsterhall
