MARCH 2024

KIC TO ROGUE ENCOUNTERS LAUNCH

From early 2024, everyone involved in KIC strapped themselves in for the launch of the company rebrand, beginning with a family-friendly event at The Black Box, Belfast. Highlights included performances by All Doors Open, the Divis Divas and an impromptu Morecombe and Wise tribute performance by the Chairperson and Artistic Director.

ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

With barely time to take a breath, the rebranded company took part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Newry, as part of the BEAT Carnival procession. Rain didn’t dampen the exuberance of a raucous group of young adults in the guise of ancient Irish tribespeople.

APRIL 2024

BROKEN BODIES AT THE LYRIC THEATRE, BELFAST

The wonderful Unusual Suspects returned with the gripping Broken Bodies production; a physical theatre ensemble made up of Brain Injury Matters members, all of whom have survived a catastrophic brain injury. First performed at the Bounce Festival 2023 run by University of Atypical for Arts and Disability. Honest, courageous and beautiful theatre.

ROGUE ENCOUNTERS SHOWCASE

Within a few weeks, the Lyric Theatre hosted the public launch of Rogue Encounters with a 4-day residency in the Naughton Studio, displaying the extraordinary diversity of theatrical output with a total of 61 participants onstage. Every item on the bill was a highlight:

Rogue Encounters perform annually at the Lyric Theatre. Get in touch if you’d like to find out more

Our All Doors Open group during their performance at the Rogue Encounters annual Showcase. All Doors Open is a group of 18-25 year olds with additional support needs who participate in events throughout the year.

Physical Graffiti showcasing work from the core of the company. Physical Graffiti is an introductory physical theatre programme for young people aged 12-18 of all ablilities and backgrounds.

Urban Species, an advanced physical theatre creative learning programme open to teens aged 14-18 from mainstream schools. The 2024 showcase premiered work devised by teenagers from Ashfield Girls’ School and All Saints College;

All Doors Open, Physical Graffiti and Urban Species are core programmes that run throughout the year.

The Divis Divas, is one of our community outreach projects delivered with Divis Youth Project. Here they are wowing the audience with a dynamic children’s dance/theatre exhibition;

We deliver in a variety of community locations for diverse groups from children to senior citizens of all abilities and backgrounds. Contact us if you want to discuss a project with us.

The 2024 Rogues/Lyric All-Ability annual project featured young adults from the disability empowerment organisation, Autonomie;

Rogues/Lyric All-Ability is open to new participants every Autumn. Contact us for further information.

JULY 2024

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM AT THE LYRIC

Then came the wonderful ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at the Lyric theatre, as part of Belfast City Council’s Culture 24 programme. A Rogue Encounters ensemble of 10 young people, supported by a fabulous Creative Team, performed the fairies, in a professional outdoor production that will live long in the memory of everyone who took part or attended as audience.

We loved collaborating with the Lyric theatre actors and the fabulous musicians from Beyond Skin.