Artist Commissions
With lead artist Stephen Beggs
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County Down and the Ards Peninsula
Family Friendly
Free Event
About
What does the sea sing to you? Set off on a captivating journey where the rhythms of the Ards Peninsula come alive.
Join Beat Carnival to create an unforgettable experience along the Ards Peninsula where the sea’s song of beauty and joy entices us to the water’s edge. But the coast also sings a warning of future threats: Our Siren Song will tell what we love about the sea, its myths and its magic – and explore the challenges our coastline faces.
Beat Carnival has commissioned Lead Artist, Stephen Beggs and Music Lead, Anne Harper to work with participants in creating our Song. Our Siren Song will be crafted through coastal walks and talks, carnival arts, willow making, fabric dyeing, and music workshops. Dynamic collaboration brings together artists, performers, youth and community groups and environmental campaigners to share stories, explore the coast, and create together.
On 17 May, journey with our Siren in a carnival pageant through Millisle, to the spectacular Song performance on Millisle Beach.
Related Events
Our Siren Song Finale
Millisle Beach
Millisle Beach Walk and Talk
Millisle Beach, Millisle, County Down
Our Siren Song – Ballywalter Beach Walk
Ballywalter Beach, Ards Penninsula
Our Siren Song – Portaferry Walk and Festival Event
Portaferry, Ards Penninsula
Our Siren Song – Cloughey Beach
Cloughey Beach, Ards Penninsula
Beat Carnival is a full-time, producing, Carnival Arts organisation established in 1993 that creates carnival arts, organises and produces performances, trains and develops artists and encourages community participation and ambition. Activities include drumming, dance, puppetry, costume design as well as prop, set and float construction for everything from bespoke community celebrations to large-scale outdoor events. Beat Carnival Centre is in a former industrial building at one of Belfast's interface areas and Beat Carnival participates in international networks and projects.
Stephen Beggs is an actor, writer, theatre director and producer. Theatre acting credits include a wide variety of roles for most of Northern Ireland’s producing companies. Film acting credits include ‘Haunted Ulster Live’, ‘Belfast 1912’ and ‘The Well Below The Valley’. Writing credits include productions for arts companies and his self-performed solo shows ‘Ron’s World’, ‘The King Of East Belfast’ and ‘My Father’s Chair’. Theatre direction credits include productions for GBL Productions, Brain Injury Matters, The C.S. Lewis Festival and Eastside Arts Festival. He facilitates theatre and drama workshops and performs walkabout characters for public and private events. Stephen has worked with Beat Carnival since the start of his professional career.