Festival Of Fools Top Picks

For a solid 13 years now the Festival of Fools has been dispelling the rumour the Northern Irish don't like audience participation. The festival is now internationally renowned and attracts some of the world's finest and funniest street performers to spots throughout Belfast city centre.
For four days, from Friday 28 April to Monday 01 May, the city centre will come alive with acrobatics, circus acts, clowning and astounding tomfoolery, from Spain, Italy, France, Canada, Holland, Argentina, USA, England, Ireland and of course Northern Ireland.
Oh and best of all, it is all free, you might just have to join in now and again.
With an event like this it is often best to forego any sort of plan and simply hit the streets and see what you stumble upon, but for those who like a bit of organisation, we've chosen some of our festival highlights that we think are not to be missed.

Dansko

(EU/Kash Republik/Belfast)
It seemed only right and proper to start with one of of the many creations of NI's very own Paul Curry, Dansko.
Paul is an anarchic comic with many years of experience and Edinburgh Fringe successes behind him. The Festival of Fools would be a little less unpredictable without him.
"As the net tightens on Dansko, we are lucky enough to squeeze another few shows out of him before Brexit forces an honourable dash for the border. Back from the brink, Dansko may have ducks, strange habits, unusual national customs and the odd Luck Dragon, but most of all he has you - his loving audience - to support him and most important of all to hide him when the time comes."
Dansko will perform two shows on Saturday 29 April – 1.40pm at Bank Square and 5pm at Cornmarket.

Luis Brusca Presents: The Train...Is Gone!!!

(Argentina/EU/Spain)
Luis Brusca, has devoted his life to exploring the chaos and anarchy in the world around us. His research has led to the creation of a poetic & prize winning clown show looking at lost love and found friends on a sensational journey through life.
In his Belfast-bound performance, 'The Train...Is Gone!!!!', a Drifter arrives at the station just as the freight train has left, which was to take him to where his love is - someone who may have been waiting for him for a long time, but the train....is gone.
Dejected and downcast...until he sees his fellow travellers on the platform of life.
There follows a series of gentle encounters with the sensitive clown within. Unmissable echoes of our giants of the silent screen in this poetic work of clowning.
Luis Brusca performs seven shows over three days...
Saturday 29 April : 12:40pm Cotton Court , 3:00pm St Anne's Square , 5:00pm Cotton Court
Sunday 30 April : 3:00pm Bank Square , 5:00pm St Anne's Square
Monday 1 May : 1:00pm Writers' Square , 3:00pm St Anne's Square

The Flying Dutchmen

(EU/Netherlands & Canada)
Described as "the Rolling Stones of streetperformers", The Flying Dutchmen, are back for one last tour... again!
For thirty years the Flying Dutchmen have been travelling the world on their unicycles, hurling flaming torches and punchlines at each other in pursuit of the ultimate trick.
Amsterdam's juggler Michiel Hesseling – "A Mozart in his profession" – and Canada's fearless crazy French Canadian unicyclist Jean-Michel Paré combine their multiple talents to become "The Flying Dutchmen", which is odd because only one of them is Dutch and neither of them is a steam locomotive.
The pair perform six shows across the festival...
Saturday 29 April : 1:00pm Cornmarket , 5:00pm St Anne's Square
Sunday 30 April : 2:20pm Writers' Square , 5:00pm Cornmarket
Monday 1 May : 2:00pm Cornmarket , 3:40pm Writers' Square

Mat Ricardo

(EU/England)
Mat Ricardo has a place in history as the first person to put the tablecloth back on the table...
If that sounds like something everybody can do, you need to watch his show to realise why he is the only man to perform this feat. He has been courted by David Blaine to reveal his secrets, yet he is no magician, merely a minor miracle worker as well as one of the finest manipulators working the world today.
The Gentleman Juggler, is unique in the world of variety entertainment, renowned for his engaging, stylish and relaxed approach to even the most fiendishly difficult of tricks.
Mat will perform six shows during the festival...
Saturday 29 April : 12:00pm Writers' Square , 2:00pm St Anne's Square
Sunday 30 April : 2:20pm Cotton Court , 4:20pm Cornmarket
Monday 1 May : 1:20pm Bank Square , 3:20pm Cornmarket

Dado

(EU/Germany/Canada)
Dado, aka Danuel Warr, aka Mon Oncle le bossu, is a Canadian-born street performer, magician and clown with more than 14 years of performing experience.
He flew in to bamboozle us all last year and we still haven't worked him out so he is back again with his unique street show bringing together classic clowning in a New Vaudevillian style.
Dado's props-based shows combine a "delicious variety of slapstick comedy and improvised mayhem".
The disturbingly hypnotic artist produces an array of original props presented with a bizarre collection of unusual instruments of comedic eccentricity.
He will perform six shows during the festival...
Saturday 29 April : 2:00pm Cornmarket
Sunday 30 April 3:00pm St Anne's Square , 5:00pm Cotton Court
Monday 1 May : 1:20pm St Anne's Square , 2:40pm Cornmarket

It would be entirely possible to keep going and going, as the Festival of Fools manages to squeeze in an impressive number of performs. Again, while we'd definitely recommend catching these five, don't be frightened to just hit the city centre and see what finds you.
Speaking about this year's event Will Chamberlain, Artistic Director of the Festival of Fools, said: "I am absolutely delighted to be able to introduce another wonderful weekend of talent from around the world onto the streets of Belfast City Centre and the Cathedral Quarter. "In a year which has seen so much bad news, we find there is much to celebrate as we bring Belfast's public spaces to life with comedy, circus and a little bit of glamour. Being able to offer 120 free performances over the course of the Festival together with all of the food and drink deals means that we are Northern Ireland's most affordable festival bringing together people from all backgrounds, ages and territories to unite in a celebration of laughter and talent from around the corner and around the world."
During the festival there are also a number of connected food and public transport offers. Full information can be found at foolsfestival.com