Ballymena woman has show at Belfast Festival

A talented Ballymena woman is writer, director and performer in her own one-woman show at this year’s Belfast Children’s Festival which runs from March 8-15.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Mar 2013, 12:30 BST
Local woman Mary Frances Doherty who has written, directed and will be performing in her own one woman show in the Belfast Childrens Festival this year.Local woman Mary Frances Doherty who has written, directed and will be performing in her own one woman show in the Belfast Childrens Festival this year.
Local woman Mary Frances Doherty who has written, directed and will be performing in her own one woman show in the Belfast Childrens Festival this year.

Mary-Frances Doherty (27) contribution is ‘Katie’s Birthday Party’, about a young girl going from a small village primary school to a big grammar school in town. She explores the complicated transition from childhood to adolesence as Katie has to deal with the changes in friendships, new teachers, exams and expectations for the future.

The youngest of 12 children, Mary-Frances attended St Patrick’s Primary School in Rasharkin before going on to St Louis Grammar in Ballymena. She has been interested in performing arts from a young age appearing in shows at school and with Ballymena theatre groups Slemish players and Alternative Medicine theatre company.

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Mary-Frances went on to study at Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama but has since brought her talents back to Northern Ireland. Her first solo performance was at the Braid Arts Centre in 2009 and has enjoyed working with them since then. She co-led the Paralympic Flame ‘Welcome performance’ at the arts centre last August and is Artist in Residence for the Ballymena Arts Festival this April with her installation ‘Time for Tea’.

Talking about her show at the Belfast Children’s Festival Mary-Frances commented, ‘This is my first time performing as a solo artist in the Festival and I am absolutely delighted to be part of it! I devised Katie’s Birthday Party especially for 11 to 12 year olds and the fun and energetic party atmosphere should have both them and their parents dancing along with me! I can’t wait!’

Katie’s Birthday Party is at An Cultúrlann on 13 Mar at 4pm, tickets £1.50.

To find out more about festival events and to book tickets visit the website www.belfastchildrensfestival.com or call the Box Office on 028 9024 3042.

Related topics:BallymenaPrimary school