Belfast Ensemble

Belfast Ensemble The Belfast Ensemble is music | theatre | new. Our mission: to create work in Belfast and move that work into Europe. Our vision: Art in the hands of Artists.

Who we are…

The Belfast Ensemble is an emerging collective of internationally established, award-winning Belfast-based artists. Our purpose is the eventual founding of a permanent performance ensemble - world-class theatre and music makers in the city of Belfast - a legacy and a living wage. Our manifesto is ‘Made in Belfast / Brought Beyond’: engaging with the wider European contemporary music /

theatre / design scenes by festival touring, commissioning and drawing upon present trends in writing and performance. The Belfast Ensemble will have no ‘home’: the city is our stage.

20/08/2026

A huge, generous response for RIOT Symphony with Ooppera & Baletti from our packed audience at Helsingin juhlaviikot / Helsinki Festival

Check the comments for a very happy composer ( Conor Mitchell ) and Film Maker ( Nicky Larkin )

At this moment in time, the cultural significance of presenting this Belfast born protest work on Europe's eastern front is monumental.

Thanks to conductor Andrew Gourlay, soloists Ric Furman & Aurora Marthens - soprano, alongside video tech Fergus Wachala-Kelly and producer Andrew Hume, for your stunning work.

Kiitos x

Culture Ireland Belfast Music Arts Council of Northern Ireland

14/08/2026

RIOT! Symphony unleashes a spirit of energy, revolution and activism through a multi-media orchestral experience.

A high concept protest work that refuses to be defined.

Playing - 20 August 2026.

Music: Conor Mitchell
Film:

Soprano:
Tenor: Nic Furman

Symphony:
Conductor: Andrew Gourlay

Video Tech: .e.w.k
Producer:

Commissioned and premiered by [2024]

Supported by &

05/08/2026

Olet tässä:EtusivuTapahtumatKlassinen ja nykymusiikkiKansallisoopperan orkesteri, C ... Kansallisoopperan orkesteri, Conor Mitchell: Riot Symphony Kuva: Neil Harrison Aika: to 20.8.2026 19:00 Kesto: n. 1h 40min, sis. väliajan Osoite: Musiikkitalo, Konserttisali Mannerheimintie 13 A 00100 Helsinki...

31/07/2026

Belfast Ensemble x Nicky Larkin

Our visually explosive symphonic protest piece travels to the iconic Helsingin juhlaviikot / Helsinki Festival in 3 weeks time.

An orchestral experience that fuses Conor Mitchell's symphonic colour with the music of PussyRiot and the Ukrainian national anthem, set against the writing of Sophie Scholl.

Performed by Ooppera & Baletti with Aurora Marthens - soprano & Ric Furman.

Conducted by Andrew Gourlay.

🎟️ Link in Comments

OPEN LETTEROn his appointment to cabinet as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Bryant MP outlined a boost to...
28/07/2026

OPEN LETTER

On his appointment to cabinet as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Bryant MP outlined a boost to the Creative Industries as a checklist priority.

In an open letter also sent to Gordon Lyons MLA(Communities Minister) and Roisin McDonough (CEO, Arts Council of Northern Ireland), our Executive Producer Andrew Hume lays out a challenge for the Secretary of State:

to unlock increased investment in the NI Arts Sector to at least levels comparable with our English colleagues.

Read the full blog - link in comments

08/07/2026

RIOT! Symphony hits Helsingin juhlaviikot / Helsinki Festival this August.

The symphonic and operatic colours of Conor Mitchell's music and the Ooppera & Baletti blend with a newly invigorated film design by the award-winning Irish filmmaker Nicky Larkin

In a European premiere conducted by Andrew Gourlay, and featuring Soprano Aurora Marthens - soprano & Tenor Ric Furman, RIOT Symphony presents a daring and evocative orchestral installation that speaks truth to power through music and film.

With lead partners from Belfast & Helsinki - northern Europe’s western & eastern hinterlands - this trans-European concert demonstrates the unique power of art & music to connect, enrage, and inspire on a continental scale.

Ticket Link in comments.

Presented with support from Culture Ireland and Belfast City Council

Big ideas start small, but WHAT A WEEK! Music, politics, gender & power - research and blue-sky thinking in Rome with th...
06/07/2026

Big ideas start small, but WHAT A WEEK! Music, politics, gender & power - research and blue-sky thinking in Rome with the Southbank Centre classical team and great minds from University of Cambridge. WOW !

We couldn't have done it without the generous support of The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon - investing in Irish ideas that seek wider critical partners home and abroad; new & vital work of scale for our brilliant home audiences north and south.

For more info on this new q***r orchestral work, keep an eye on our socials throughout 27/28. And thanks to the Vatican.. err.. too! Arts Council of Northern Ireland Belfast City Council Culture Ireland

x A total thrill to give the opening performance at the all island Performing Arts Forum [belfast edition] last week...
05/06/2026

x

A total thrill to give the opening performance at the all island Performing Arts Forum [belfast edition] last week.

Led by AD Conor Mitchell, ensemble artists / .vox / / / / .mccann / presented highlights from our last season:

▪️doppler effect
▪️group
▪️dublin jack

A vital and rare chance for our island's leading artistic thinkers to connect, converse, and conspire.

Thanks to / / / / and our gorgeous hosts

27/05/2026

A real, real privilege to open the annual all-island performing arts and theatre conference this week. Huge thanks to Performing Arts Forum for putting Belfast artists pride of place. We're honoured ☺️ Hope you all enjoyed the 🎼

▶️ Maebh Martin (violin), Elias Rooney (Cello), Roger McCann (Bass) ▶️ Emma Power, Adam Dougal, Matthew Cavan (Performers) ▶️ Gavin Peden (video), Ian Vennard (sound)

Arts Council of Northern Ireland The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon Irish Theatre Institute (ITI) Lyric Belfast Performing Arts Forum

05/04/2026

Last night our amazing cast and band gave their last performance of GROUP! The Musical at the Lyric Theatre. It’s been an incredible journey bringing this piece back to the stage more than two decades after it was first created. We welcomed thousands of audience members to a therapy session not to be forgotten and we loved every second. Thank you to everyone who came to laugh with us, to Lyric Belfast for making us a part of their 75th anniversary celebrations and to every member of the team who helped make this production come to life!

Bye bye, baby see ya round some day!

Address

Crescent Arts Centre
Belfast

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
6pm - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
6pm - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
6pm - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
6pm - 7pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
6pm - 7pm

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