Ballina Fringe Festival continues with a series of diverse events over the next few days that bring The Cure under scrutiny in Ballina, examine the Irish approach to female puberty and introduce the town’s first major short film festival.
The annual festival kicked off on Friday night last and will close this coming Saturday, October 13.
Written and performed by Rosa Bowden, ‘Frigid’ is a coming-of-age comedy about 14-year old Niamh O’Reilly and her encounter with puberty in all its Irishness. Set in Dublin in 2007, Niamh takes you on her journey through innocence, discovery and fun – and the mortification and terror around Irish adolescence. ‘Frigid’ will be performed in The Cot and Cobble Bar and Restaurant, Sligo Road, Ballina on Saturday, October 12 at 8pm. Admission is €12. Direction is by Hildegard Ryan with live DJ Ciarán Gallagher.
On Thursday, October 10, an informal evening event in The Mary Robinson Centre will provide an opportunity to engage with the vision of Ballina’s Cascade project, learn about its exciting next steps and gain a deeper understanding of the project’s progress to date.
Cascade is funded by Creative Ireland and aims to explore how the laneways of historic town centres can adapt to cope with increased rainfall from climate change. All residents of Ballina are invited to take part in a series of events and creative workshops throughout 2024 and 2025 to share their experiences of water and public space in the town, and explore how laneways can become a connected trail of climate-resilient, shared spaces that celebrate water. This Fringe Festival Cascade update runs from 5pm to 7pm.
The book ‘Curepedia – An A-Z of the Cure’ by Simon Price was first published last December and chronicles the 40-year history of cult band The Cure and its frontman Robert Smith. This British goth group was the first alternative band to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The event in the Mary Robinson Centre on Friday, October 11 at 8pm is a discussion and Q&A with the acclaimed music journalist Simon Price about his book, described as an encyclopaedic biography and homage to The Cure. Irish based journalist and documentary-maker Paul McDermott will pose the questions to the author before opening up for an audience Q&A.
It will be followed by a Curepedia DJ set that same night in Lillie’s Bar, Connolly Street, Ballina, beginning at 10.30pm and running until late. For this special Curepedia event, Simon Price brings one of Brighton’s best-loved monthly clubs ‘Spellbound – The Alternative 80s Night’ to Ballina for one night only. Presented by Ballina NCF Cultural Co-Op and October Nights, entry is free to the music night, where you can expect to hear lots of 1980s sounds, from The Cure to The Clash, Echo & The Bunnymen to Siouxsie & The Banshees, and The Jam to Dead Kennedys.
Then, on Saturday, October 12, from 11am to 5pm, Ballina Fringe Festival will host, for the first time, the 15th Annual Divipassion International Short Film Festival, in partnership with Ballina’s twin town Athis-Mons, France.
The final event in the Ballina Fringe Festival 2024 calendar is the Festival Wrap Party in Ballina Arts Centre on Saturday night at 10pm with a DJ set.
Pure Ballina – United by Place’, a street art and graffiti project running throughout the festival, will add extra colour to the eight-day festival.
