Cristal Palace (booked up) - Belfast International Arts Festival

Cristal Palace by Transe Express. Photographer Fred Collier. A young child sits on top of father's shoulders and looks in amazement at gigantic chandelier suspended in the night sky

Bringing people together for an unforgettable opening to Belfast International Arts Festival’s 60th season, Cristal Palace promises to transform Titanic Quarter into an open-air ballroom complete with a gigantic chandelier, airborne orchestra, aerial acrobats and sharp-witted characters!

An outdoor spectacular by renowned French company, Transe Express, who brought the stunning Mù in 2016 to Ormeau Park, this awe-inspiring event is a high-flying, immersive production, fusing dance, music, and circus.

The public are invited to enter the open-air ballroom, crossing continents and eras from the European waltz to the Latin American tango, to American Charleston, through to rock ‘n’ roll and techno.

On the chandelier an orchestra of seven perched musicians play, accompanied by a house band on the ground. Look out for flying trapeze, acrobatics and physical comedy interludes.

The company’s dancers and acrobats will be joined by a community cast.

This is an interactive promenade performance, meaning that the action takes place in different locations across the site and audience members are encouraged to dance along. Therefore it is not permitted to bring chairs, furniture, BBQ’s, or glass bottles on-site. There will be a Rest Space area with fixed seating.

Soak up the atmosphere and grab a bite to eat from the food trucks on-site. This is an alcohol-free event. Remember to dress for the weather. The entrance to The Paddocks (adjacent to Titanic Slipways) is on Queens Road and gates open at 6.30pm.

Cristal Palace is programmed to align with a number of major anniversaries, including 60 years of the festival, 10 years of Titanic Belfast, 150 years of St Joseph’s Church Sailortown and 175 years of Belfast Harbour.

Cristal Palace is presented by Belfast International Arts Festival in association with Belfast City Council, Circusful, Maritime Belfast Trust and Titanic Belfast.