'A Brief encounter' in Castlereagh

Golden Oldies – Part 2




The film guru Michael Smythe introduced the film Brief Encounter, a milestone in British cinema.




‘A Brief encounter’ in Castlereagh.




More than 60 seniors (and not-so seniors) turned out for Castlereagh Art’s second installation in the ‘Golden Oldies Movie Night’ series. Having sent the audience home singing and dancing last time with ‘Singing in the Rain’, we slowed things down this month with Lean’s classic ‘A Brief Encounter’. Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard fall into a spiral of love, temptation, fulfilment and eventual emptiness through a chance meeting in the train station.



Robin Colvill had played Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 2 in the First Friday concert last week, and I had been humming it since, wondering where I had heard it before… I was soon reminded as the film began. The sound track gives a great sense of gravitas to the piece, and Noel Coward’s writing, the imagined confession of Laura to her middle of the road husband, is a simple yet beautifully observed premise which carries the brief, ‘Brief Encounter’ (1 hour and 25 mins) throughout. The piece is an adaptation to screen from Coward’s one act ‘Still Life’.



The feedback was incredible with many asking that this become a main-stay in the council arts program, but that may have had a lot to do with the popcorn and icecream!

Rock & Pop School Graduation Day!

Congratulations to all the participants of the Rock & Pop School 2010! The Award ceremony occurred on 9th November to celebrate our young musicians and their completion of the Rock & Pop School, which took place from 19th to 30th July 2010.

Councilor Michael Copeland with Ben Flavelle-Cobain

23 of the graduates attended with their parent’s friend’s and family, and other people involved in the music industry such as Lisa Flavelle, DJ of Downtown Radio and daughter of the local jazz and blues legend Jackie Flavelle. Along with representatives from the Community Safety Partnership, who have funded the school for the past two years, the SEELB who partnered Castlereagh Arts in delivering the project, and representing the music tutors – renowned jazz musician Linley Hamilton -

Councilor Michael Copeland presented the graduates with their certificates and thanked the young musicians for their commitment…

Well done to all our talented musicians and singers, we wish you a successful future!  We hope to add some songs to our Blog soon for you listening pleasure

Classical Music performed with aplomb

First Friday Concert

Following the success of the First Friday concert on the 1st October, featuring 'The Dirty Blues Band', Castlereagh Arts proudly presented the second concert of the Autumn afternoon series on the 5th of November. This time we were treated to some classical music, with international concert pianist Robin Colvill performing popular piano classics.

Robin made a welcome return for the 3rd time in as many years enchanting the audience with music by Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, Chopin and Puccini among the others.

Frightfully fast fingers

The musician entertained the listeners, not only with his music but also with his words, explaining the beauty, harmony and background of the music, and interspersing the mesmeric melodies with anecdotes on his travels; playing music to thousands in Cuba on a piano the size of a tank was a particular highlight.

The next First Friday concert will take place on 4th February, write it down on your 2011 calendar!

Halloween Fun in Castlereagh

Family Fun Day in the Dundonald Icebowl


Creepy and spooky…A family fun day took place in the Dundonald Ice bowl on Saturday 30th October to celebrate Halloween.  From 11am to 5 pm, more than 150 people participated in the event.  Children and parents got involved in making spooky masks and creating their very own Halloween ghosts with the help of artists Therese Gorman and Grainne Kielty.

The kids had a SCREAM!

Two face painters were also available for kids who wanted a bit of colour on their face!

The event tied in with the Big Draw and the artists helped the kids in drawing and painting, making scary scream masks, floating ghosts and Frankenstein heads!

5 little Frankensteins up to their elbows in crafts