Belfast Actors Join World Shakespeare Day

The Bard's birthday is to celebrated in Belfast.

The Belfast Actors' Studio - a non-profit training group for professional actors - aim to change the way in which local professional actors approach their craft and at the same time mark World Shakespeare Day (he was born 23rd April 1564).

They are kicking off their year of celebrations by performing short excerpts from two of Shakespeare's best known plays, Romeo and Juliet (directed by Michael Poynor) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (directed by Stephen Beggs) in Botanic Gardens on Saturday 24th April from 1-5pm. The performances will run every 30 minutes.

Ongoing actor training is second nature to many actors across with globe with centres such as The Actors Studio, New York and The Actors Centre, London facilitating hundreds of workshops throughout the year with a huge following.

Every artist, whether they are a painter, singer or actor must work to maintain and improve their skills and the actors of Northern Ireland are no different, said a spokesperson.

Until now, no such training has existed for actors in Belfast and The Belfast Actors' Studio are determined to continue leading the way in actor training in Northern Ireland.

Weekly workshops are held in all areas of theatre practice, affording actors a platform to learn new skills and develop their craft on an ongoing basis in a comfortable and encouraging environment.

All costs are kept to a minimum with workshops costing £2/5 per week. Currently workshops are run from the Great Victoria Street Baptist Church Hall, however due to the building's refurbishment a new venue is currently being negotiated.

(BMcC/GK)