Hiraeth is a Welsh word with no English equivalent. It’s a sense of loss or separation from your home or the sense of your spiritual being. The yearning of the émigré.

Michael Smiley is a Northern Irish actor who has come a long way since his days as a stand-up comedian in Belfast. His extensive filmography includes performances in Alien: Earth, Rogue One, Censor, The Lobster, Bookworm with Elijah Wood. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer & The Other Boleyn Girl,

Michael is perhaps best known for his acclaimed performance as Roger in Sharon Horgan’s award winning Apple series, Bad Sisters and Gal in Ben Wheatley’s Kill List (for which he won Best Supporting Actor award at the 2011 British Independent Film Awards) and has previously appeared in three more of Ben Wheatley’s films; Down Terrace, A Field in England and Free Fire.

He came to prominence playing Tyres O’Flaherty in cult show Spaced and his television credits include Luther, Black Mirror, Ripper Street, Bloodlands, Utopia, Doctor Who and the latest series of Blue Lights

As well as acting, Michael has written and presented two series for BBC Northern Ireland ― Something To Ride Home About ― focusing on his love of cycling, and he has recently written, directed and produced his first short film, La Petite Mort, which premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh. He is currently completing his first screenplay.

Michael is married to Miranda Sawyer, the acclaimed, award-winning writer and journalist. Miranda is the author of Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 Songs; Out of Time: Midlife if You Still Think You’re Young; and Park and Ride.

For this Out to Lunch special event Miranda will be interviewing Michael about his journey, the idea of ‘hiraeth’ and the notion of what and where is home.

Keith James presents a haunting and immaculately crafted concert celebrating the songs of Nick Drake.

Nick Drake is one of the UK’s most revered singer-songwriters. He has given us timeless songs that shed all the tears of life within their fragile yet perfect lines. He recorded three cherished albums between 1969 and 1972, but was almost entirely unknown in his day.

After his tragic death in 1974 aged only 26, his music almost disappeared into obscurity. Now, thanks to a massive resurgence of interest and a worldwide re-evaluation of his genius, Nick Drake has become a national treasure.

Several meticulously compiled biographies look at every aspect of Nick’s life and music, throwing light on many shadowy corners of mystery and supposition.

Two decades have now passed since singer/guitarist Keith James first performed his stunningly beautiful series of Nick Drake concerts.

He was the first artist to bring this intriguingly fragile music to venues across the UK in a live concert form. The result was six years of highly acclaimed tours featuring over 1000 concerts in venues across the UK and Europe, including Glastonbury Festival.

“Musicians brave enough to make the music they really believe in. Keith James is one of these.” ~ Bob Harris

“A fresh and powerful approach to these wonderful songs” ~ Patrick Humphries (Nick Drake biographer)

Written by Neil Titley
Starring Will Govan | Directed by Rebecca O’Connor

Set in Paris in 1898, this acclaimed one-man play sees Will Govan embody a brilliant but broken Oscar Wilde, exiled and reflecting on a life lived in the glare of fame and scandal. Drawing on Wilde’s letters, essays, and irrepressible wit, Work is the Curse of the Drinking Classes is a tragicomic monologue that moves between dazzling humour and poignant heartbreak.

Wilde, now alone and disgraced after imprisonment, revisits themes of love, beauty, art and injustice with unflinching honesty and defiant charm. Whether you’re a lifelong admirer or a newcomer to his world, this 60-minute performance offers a fresh and humanising portrait of one of literature’s most iconic figures.

Performed over 700 times across five continents, this revival breathes new life into Neil Titley’s celebrated script. It marks a return to the stage for Govan — artist, interviewer, and co-founder of The Moth — under the direction of novelist and theatre-maker Rebecca O’Connor.

Critical acclaim has followed the show across the globe:

“Charming and witty” – Irish Times 

“Funny and melancholic” – The Times 

“Fine and genuinely moving” – Festival Times, Edinburgh

Come see Wilde as you’ve never seen him: alone, reflective, and devastatingly funny.

Live Concert with Six-Piece Ensemble from the sell-out creators of The Ennio Morricone Experience.

Experience the magic of cinema brought to life through a mesmerizing concert featuring the iconic movie music of Hans Zimmer – the Oscar-winning composer of Dune, Interstellar, The Last Samurai, The Lion King, Gladiator, Inception, The Dark Knight and many, many more.

Immerse yourself in the unforgettable melodies that have defined blockbuster films, as our group takes you on a cinematic journey like never before. Join us for an evening of transcendent music, where the silver screen comes alive on the stage.

Film    Art     Poetry       Music  Sculpture    Street Art   Literature    Theatre.  

Get to see more of Belfast and find out about its talented creative people!

Hop on board this Festival half-day bus tour developed by Creative Tours Belfast for a fun exploration of the best of Belfast’s vibrant arts and cultural scene! Journey across the city with your entertaining and knowledgeable tour guide to become acquainted with a plethora of talented and creative people connected with the streets and different districts of the city that you’ll pass through.

Discover many of the city’s arts centres, theatres, art galleries and music venues, see cool street artwork and public sculptures and listen to music and stories as we go.

See and hear about many great visual artists, writers, actors, directors and musicians who were born or spent time in different parts of Belfast:

– Successful visual artists- for example, The Array Collective, Colin Davidson and Rita Duffy

– Award-winning novelists, playwrights/scriptwriters and poets – includingAnna Burns, Seamus Heaney, C S Lewis, Marie Jones, Lisa McKee, and Owen McCafferty

– Famous film directors and actors – including Kenneth Brannagh, Liam Neeson, Jamie Dornan, Tara Lynne O’Neill and Frances Tomelty

– Musicians of our UNESCO City of Music from Van Morrison, James Galway and Ruby Murray to today’s rising stars!

The tour will start from the Cathedral Quarter and stop for four short visits in each of north, south, east and west Belfast, giving you a chance to see what’s on and to explore a bit. There’ll be additional opportunities for photos along the way.

A special performance will be arranged for tour guests at one of the four venues visited, and a light lunch will also be provided at Eastside Visitor Centre, beside C S Lewis Square.

Meet for 10.25am at the Black Box and we will join our bus by St Anne’s Cathedral after exploring Writer’s Square.The tour will last for three and a half hours, and we will return back to the Cathedral Quarter for 2pm.

DATE: Sunday 18^th January 2026

START: 10.25am – the Black Box foyer

END: 2pm: By St Anne’s Cathedral, Donegall St, Cathedral Quarter

This tour has received part funding from Belfast City Council under its Neighbourhood Tourism Investment Programme

Namaste Motherf*ckers is the new show from Cally Beaton (QI, Live at the Apollo) – a quick-witted, unexpected and unapologetic insight into life in midlife.

Combining Cally’s comedic and storytelling prowess with extracts from her provocative, stereotype-busting book of the same name, the show has at its heart her own story of radical reinvention – taking her from meetings in boardrooms to treading the boards, thanks to a chance conversation with the late, great Joan Rivers.

A funny show about a deadly serious subject, Namaste Motherf*ckers is a celebration of and for the female of the species. Invisible no more.

★★★★“SPRIGHTLY WIT AND CONSIDERABLE STORYTELLING PROWESS” The Scotsman

★★★★“ORIGINAL AND CLEVER” The Arts Desk – pick of the Edinburgh Fringe

“GRIPPING, PERCEPTIVE AND UPLIFTING” Chortle

“EXCITING AND HILARIOUS TALENT…SHE’S GOT IT” Time Out

Award-winning comedian Rosie Wilby shares funny, bizarre and poignant tales of heartbreak and recovery with special guests in a live recording of her acclaimed podcast.

Rosie has been obsessively researching the psychology of love for a decade for a trilogy of internationally-acclaimed solo shows and has even been dubbed ‘the queen of breakups’ by BBC Radio 4.

The Breakup Monologues is now also available as a book combining humour, heartache and science to investigate how on earth to actually stay in a relationship in the modern age of ghosting, breadcrumbing and Tinder. It has been described by Red Magazine as a ‘gem of a book’ and by Viv Groskop as ‘balm for the soul for anyone who has ever been in love’.

‘My favourite way to learn is when a funny, clever, honest person is teaching me – that’s why I love Rosie Wilby!’ – Sara Pascoe

This year, Grant-Lee Phillips will release his 12^th solo album, the self-produced In the Hour of Dust.

It’s a work that doesn’t shy away from the big themes of contemporary life. “The mood on this album is contemplative,” says Phillips, “trying to find meaning in an age of confusion, feeling your way through the blinding dust of unreality.”

In the Hour of Dust is also a highly intimate affair; both in its musical presentation and the highly personal – often autobiographical – lyrics in the songs, all set, the songwriter admits, “against this larger discordant backdrop.”

Audiences first discovered Phillips’ thoughtful, literate songwriting in context of the rock band Grant Lee Buffalo, a trio which found success with the 1993 debut Fuzzy. The title track catapulted the group to international recognition. Grant Lee Buffalo followed up Fuzzy with 1994’s Mighty Joe Moon (an album featuring the modern rock hit “Mockingbirds”) etching a distinct mark, while transcending the era.

Beginning with his 2000 solo debut Ladies’ Love Oracle, Phillips opened another chapter in his career, as a folk- and Americana-focused artist crafting songs and stories rich with details and humanity. Phillips was then invited to join the cast of a burgeoning television series. The Gilmore Girls would enjoy lasting syndication and multi-generational embrace, introducing Phillips, “the Town Troubadour” to a new audience.

Phillips is often on the road, performing to eager fans throughout the US and overseas. With the release of In the Hour of Dust in September 2025, concert dates are planned for the U.S., UK, Europe and other regions to follow.

Reflects Phillips “I don’t see songs of love and songs of protest as being so far apart, really. It’s all about recognising the value of connection in a disconnected time.”

Don Letts’ reputation has been firmly established in both the film and music world by a substantial body of work from the late 70’s through the 80’s, 90’s and well into the millennium. His work has been exhibited in The Kitchen N.Y.C, The Institute of Contemporary Art, The N.F.T in London and was honored at Brooklyn’s BAM festival and The Milan Film festival. In March 2003 he won a Grammy for his documentary ‘Westway To The World’.

He came to notoriety in the late 70’s as the DJ that single handedly turned a whole generation of punks onto reggae. It was whilst as a d.j at the first punk club ‘The Roxy’ in 1977, that Don adopted the punk D.I.Y ethic and begun to make his first film ‘The Punk Rock Movie’. Shot on Super-8mm it is the only documentary on the U.K punk scene w/ Sex Pistols-The Clash and many others. This led to a period directing over 300 music videos for an eclectic mix of diverse artists ranging from Public Image to Bob Marley. He then moved into documentary work covering the likes of Gil Scot-Heron, The Jam, Sun Ra, George Clinton and most recently Paul McCartney. Dancehall Queen (co-directedby Rick Elgood) shot in location in Jamaica 1997 was his first feature film.

Don continues to D.J nationally and internationally playing strictly old and new school dub reggae. His set is in the spirit of his time as DJ at London’s legendary Roxy club back in ’77.

The all-new show from Scotland’s new international breakthrough stand-up star. A hit at the 2024 Fringe Encore Series as part of the New York Comedy Festival.

Connor’s previous show “1994” also sold 10,000+ tickets in Edinburgh, toured 100 dates around UK and Australia. He’s supported Daniel Sloss in 3 continents and his debut comedy special gets its world-wide release this summer.

‘Burns has arrived’   ★★★★ Entertainment Now

‘Brilliant… gags coming at you at a terrifying rate… Superb!’  ★★★★ The List

‘Hilarious… he is fearless and it is wonderful…!’ ★★★★★ The Scotsman

* Gallus: Traditional Scots dialect meaning Bold, Daring and Reckless