Mark your diary now!

We’ve set the dates for the 37th Westport Arts Festival: Monday, October 1 to Sunday, October 14, 2012.

For the first time ever we’ll be running for a full two weeks, with two action-packed weekends full of events.

As ever, we’ll have an exciting, quirky and diverse line-up of things for you to do and see, but we’re still in the throes of programming. Lots of interesting ideas are being bandied about and we’ll have lots to tell you soon.

To be the first to know what we’re planning like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or sign up to our newsletter.

We’d love to hear from you if you’ve got any ideas or would like to help out. Email us here.

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Shaolin Dragon

A jaw-dropping, traffic-stopping performance of epic proportions. This amazing oriental dragon dance will enchant and entertain onlookers as it winds its way around the streets of Westport. Watch out for the dragon!

Screening at BRAWNS FLORISTS, Brewery Place, Westport

Thursday 6 October at 7pm

Winner of several awards in 2011, this Documentary-Film explores the effects of Globalisation on communities around the world and how Localisation might actually be a more common sense and ultimately happier alternative.

Click here to view film trailer 

Mill Times Hotel, Mill Street

€15/€12 concession

Westport Entertainment Ltd in association with Open Window Productions present Macbeth

Macbeth, one of the shortest and perhaps most widely seen of Shakespeare’s plays is electric! It addresses the eternal battles of good versus evil within us and morality versus political aspiration. Still relevant today, we witness the corrosive nature of power and the destructive force of guilt.

This dynamic, hour-long production is accessible to all and ideal for students. Potent, fast, fiery and exhilarating, it is crammed with magic, madness and murder!

Saturday 1st October 1pm & 5:30pm
Sunday 2nd October 1pm & 5:30pm
Sunday 9th October 3pm

Westport House – meet in Church Lane
€12, concession, €10, children €8

This family event isn’t a once upon a time story, it’s a happening right now story. At the bottom of Church Street is a door that hasn’t been opened for 100 years. This door leads to the world of Buglite, the only fairy left that hasn’t become a character in a computer game.

A Fairies Tail is a promenade theatrical circus performance piece. The audience follows the show as it moves about the forests of Westport House. Don’t miss this amazing outdoor mix of theatre and aerial circus, suitable for the entire family.

PLEASE NOTE: This is an outdoor event. Audiences are advised to dress appropriately. Performances take place in a forest and are not suitable for prams or those with mobility difficulties

Aerial and Dance Workshops

Adult Workshop: Tuesday 27th September, 7pm – 9pm

€15

Have you everwanted to learn to fly? Fidget Feet is running a series of aerial and dance workshops for those interested in learning the ropes. We offer separate classes for children, youths and adults.

Official Opening Friday 30^th September at 7:30 pm by Minister Michael Ring – marking the launch of Westport Arts Festival 2011

Custom House Studios, The Quay

Jackie Nickerson is an award winning fine art photographer with an international reputation. This exhibition, “The Past is Another Country”, investigates the nature of identity and explores how globalization has affected indigenous and local culture.

Jackie’s work is driven by a passionate interest in people and their environments, and the photographs in this exhibition were made in Oman, Qatar, China and Japan.   Her ability to engage with those on the other side of the lens has given her access to a diverse range of communities, enabling viewers to get an unobtrusive glimpse of people living in their own environment.  In her own words, she says that her aim as an artist is  …“always to see what’s really there”.

CULTURE – what does it mean to us and what cultural traits help define who we are?  As globalization dilutes the world’s unique cultures UNESCO have developed a list of world-wide ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’, on which Ireland is not yet represented.   This exhibition shows us a range of other cultures and then asks us to think locally: “what would you like to preserve for future generations?” To join in please fill in a post-it and leave it in the gallery – and help to form a list of Mayo’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Presented on large format aluminum plates, this museum quality exhibition was commissioned by the Millennium Court Arts Centre, Portadown, with support from Craigavon Borough Council and Arts Council Northern Ireland.

Image “Untitled” courtesy of the artist, The Jack Shainman Gallery, NY and Millennium Court Arts Centre.

Opening - The opening of this exhibition by Minister Michael Ring marks the launch of this year’s festival.

Friday 30^th September at 7:30 pm, Custom House Studios, Free.  Exhibition runs from 27th September until Sunday 16th October 2011.

Gallery talk with Jackie Nickerson - Saturday 1st October at 11:30am,  Custom House Studios, €5.00 (Please book – limited places available)
 

Small Maggie and the Enormous Dinosaur

Presented by Kidzpuppets

Saturday 8th October

Westport Public Library, 11am, 12pm & 1pm

Suggested Donation €2

Suitable for 3–6 years old

Maggie is outside playing in her garden when suddenly an enormous dinosaur walks in and he just won’t go away. What is she supposed to do? Will he ever go away again? If you can help Maggie find the answer to her questions come and see the show because she really needs your help.

The Enormous Dinosaur is an interactive puppet show, its sweet funny and just a little bit scary. Performed in a Punch and Judy style booth the audience sit on the ground in frount of the show so it is easy to drop in and join the fun.

The Courtyard, Westport House

Free, €20 per car parking space

1987, 100 mins

Starring: Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach and Cynthia Rhodes.

Directed by: Emile Ardolino

It’s the summer of 1963 and 17 year old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman (Grey) is on holiday with her family in a Catskills resort.  One night, bored by the other guests and the tame activities, Baby hears music coming from the staff lodge. She’s completely shocked to see the employees enjoying some really close, sexy dancing and is particularly drawn to the steamiest dancer there, resort dance instructor Johnny Castle (Swayze).  When Johnny’s partner Penny (Rhodes) has to drop out of an upcoming show, love struck Baby offers to take her place and learn her steps.  Johnny agrees to train her and the two get very close.  But Baby’s father (Orbach) sees Johnny as a low life and has him fired.  Will love win out and the final performance of the season go ahead?

Dirty Dancing was a smash hit on its release and has continued to grow in popularity.  The solid performances, great dance sequences and classic ‘80’s soundtrack help make this deeply romantic movie a winner.  See it on the big screen and have the time of your life!

This film is part of the Drive-In movie series.

Admission is free but tickets must be booked in advance. Car Parking is €20 per space (€10 for season ticket holders) and must be booked in advance. An FM radio is required to hear the movie soundtrack. More information here.
 
 

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Saturday 8th October from 12 noon to 4pm

The Octagon, Westport

Free

Icecream Architecture is coming to the Octagon on Saturday 8th October to bring the Architectural Circus to Westport.  It will be a day of creativity, fun and exploration; working with straw bales, willow, hessian and plenty of other natural materials to build shelters, structures, houses, huts, ships, castles, dens, furniture, booby-traps, gardens, pets and a giant weetabix domino line.  Come join in the excitement and test your skills as a designer and master-builder!