-Imagine! Belfast Festival returns next week (24th -30th March) with a stellar line-up
Next week sees the return of one of Belfast’s most thought-provoking and innovative festivals, the Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics.
This year’s festival is taking place from 24th – 30th March 2025 across Belfast and will explore the theme, “helping you make sense of a crazy world.” This unique festival is in its 11th year and features over 120 events in 50 venues across the city, supported by over 60 partners. The week-long programme is an eclectic mix of talks, workshops, theatre, comedy, music, exhibitions, film, poetry and tours.
Here are 10 events from the programme not to be missed at this year’s festival. We have a huge range of events over the course of the week all of which can be viewed via the Imagine! Belfast website: www.imaginebelfast.com
- Inua Ellams: Search Party
A poetry event with a difference. Dr, Who writer, playwright and award-winning poet Inua Ellams delivers a spontaneous performance reading pieces from his extensive archived collection, all inspired by audience suggestion.
Friday 28th March: Crescent Arts Centre, 8.00pm – 9.00pm
imaginebelfast.com/event/inua-ellams-search-party/
Matt Forde
Stand-up comedian and impressionist, Matt Forde of Spitting Image fame will perform a 20-minute stand-up set followed by an interview with BBC’s William Crawley.
Monday 24th March: The Limelight, 8.00pm – 9.00pm
imaginebelfast.com/event/matt-forde-fireside-chat-with-william-crawley/
Jo Caulfield
Comedian Jo Caulfield regularly headlines the UK’s biggest and best comedy clubs and is rated as one of the best stand-ups in the UK. Jo will perform her critically acclaimed stand-up set, ‘Here Comes Trouble.’
Wednesday 26th March: Cube Theatre, Crescent Arts Centre, 8.00pm – 9.00pm
imaginebelfast.com/event/jo-caulfield-here-comes-trouble/
David Baddiel: in conversation with William Crawley
A veteran comedian, author, screenwriter, television presenter and activist who needs absolutely no introduction! David Baddiel will be in conversation with the BBC’s William Crawley.
Tuesday 25th March: The Limelight, 8.00pm – 9.00pm
imaginebelfast.com/event/david-baddiel-in-conversation-with-william-crawley/
Erin Fornoff ‘Artivist’ In Residence
Award-winning poet, Erin Fornoff who has been described, “as close to music as poetry gets” is the Imagine! Festival’s ‘artivist’ in residence and as such is leading several events in this year’s programme. She is delivering, ‘Hymn to the Reckless’ – a dynamic spoken word poetry performance.
Tuesday 25th March: Cube Theatre, Crescent Arts Centre, 8.00pm – 9.00pm
imaginebelfast.com/event/hymn-to-the-reckless/
Christopher Ward: Model Strangers
Join Christopher Ward – photographer, videographer and the mind behind global social media phenomenon Model Strangers as he discusses his inspiring, life-affirming work with local journalist Amanda Ferguson.
Tuesday 25th March: Cube Theatre, Crescent Arts Centre, 8.00pm – 9.00pm
imaginebelfast.com/event/christopher-ward-model-strangers/
Palestine 101 Live Webinar
Mo’min Swaitat, founder of the Majazz Project, and DJ Snuff feature in this live webinar and in-person panel discussion exploring the Palestinian Sound Archive – a collection of historic Palestinian music, poetry and album artwork. The event will include a conversation on archival practice as a form of resistance, followed with a music performance.
Wednesday 26th March: The Black Box, 7.00pm – 11.30pm
imaginebelfast.com/event/palestine-101-live-webinar/
Lessons from the Nordics: Imagining a New Ireland
In this screening of ‘Denmark – The State of Happiness’ we’ll discover what we can learn from the Nordics and Baltics, small independent countries who also started with big challenges and who continue to work things out in surprising and inspiring ways. The film will be followed by a conversation with present / producer, Lesley Riddoch.
Friday 28th March: QFT, 6.00pm – 8.30pm
imaginebelfast.com/event/lessons-from-the-nordics-imagining-a-new-ireland/
Songs of Freedom featuring The Vibes
An all-ages Ska and Reggae gig which will feature a DJ set and an expert panel discussing what connects Belfast with Ska, Reggae and Two-Tone music.
Sunday 30th March: Oh Yeah Music Centre, 1.00pm – 4.30pm
imaginebelfast.com/event/songs-of-freedom-featuring-the-vibes/
Politics of the Imagination
Boundary-pushing rappers from the Birmingham hip-hop scene – Joel the Custodian, Kosyne, and Barrowclough – team up with avant-garde classical composer Anselm McDonnell to deliver an evening of genre-defying, humorous and hard-hitting music.
Saturday 29th March: Oh Yeah Music Centre, 7.30pm-9.30pm (Doors: 7pm)
imaginebelfast.com/event/politics-of-the-imagination/
The full Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics 2025 programme is available to view online via imaginebelfast.com.
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