ALL OUTDOOR SHOWS ARE FREE
BELFAST CITY CENTRE
AMAZING FEATS ON
THE CITY STREETS
Festival of Fools is the largest festival of free-to-access circus and outdoor performance on the island of Ireland. Artists from around the world feature alongside the best of locally based talent.
All daytime shows are free to attend. Evening show tickets can be booked via foolsfestival.com.
If it rains (it won’t, of course), keep your eye on our socials and we’ll update you on where you can see shows inside.
Meet Our
Performers 2024
OTROS AIRES
DUO LAOS
Duo Laos mesmerise and astound audiences with high skill partner acrobatics, tango and comedy!
TONY AND RAY FIND THEIR FEET
RUDKIN & HICKS
Two workers distracted by friendship, rivalry, work tools, tomfoolery and dance.
PARKOUR
JUMP NI
Come along and experience extreme parkour as JUMP NI bounce, twist and flick across Belfast.
IT'S CLASSIC CONNEE
DARYL & CO.
A larger than life celebration of Connee Boswell, probably the most popular singer you've never heard of.
THE CAMPAIGN FOR CUSTARD PIES
BUREAU OF SILLY IDEAS
Studies show that Belfast's global rankings in Pie Throwing are down... Let's fix this!
SWARM
CIAN AUSTIN JESUS
Dancing cows, angry Gods, and much more. A very silly show about very important things!
ENTRE NOS — BETWEEN US
JOGANDO O JOGO
Through humour and skilful manipulation two performers (from opposite ends of the world) navigate the challenges of unexpected mishaps, communication catastrophes and gravity itself.
CAPTAIN C-MAN
PITCH’D PRODUCTIONS / CIRCUS FACTORY
Help Captain C-Man achieve the greatest and most dangerous juggling trick in the universe!
BEACH BARRAGE
THOSE TWO IDIOTS
Two ‘idiots’ arrive at the beach with their own perfect day in mind. What could go wrong?
MEMORY ANCHORS — WALKING TOUR
KATYA SOLOMATINA
A digital treasure hunt through Sailortown celebrating local heritage, supported by HUB-IN, transforming Belfast’s Maritime Mile. Starting point at the Big Fish!
STORIES IN THE CITY
LES DUDES
Stories in the City uses circus, music and humour to celebrate love and humanity.
DORIS AND MABEL'S BOOK CLUB
SANITA CIRCUS
Best friends, Doris and Mabel explore their love of books through acrobatics, aerial and more!
READY. AIM. FIRE!
SARA TWISTER
Part Lara Croft, part Robin Hood, Sara Twister will blow your mind whilst stealing your heart.
PLAYGROUND
COLLECTIF PRIMAVEZ
Playground is a comic and sometimes absurd show that reaches up to 8 meters high.
FRESH FOOLS
Watch out for some of Belfast's most talented emerging artists taking to the and taking over 2 Royal Avenue this year!
SHARP DRESSED MEN
LOGY LOGAN AND MR. G. SHARP
Mesmerizing high-skill object manipulation, gravity-defying diabolo tricks, and daring juggling feats
HAPPY HOOP
SILVIA MARTINI
Dive into a world of gifts, 35 hula hoops, and handstands in this energetic show
FOF 2024 — EVENING PROGRAMME
CONTRA
Laura Murphy
18+
BELONGING
Cikada Circus
12+
Fierce, witty and uncompromising — Contra interrogates personal, social and historical views of the female body.
★★★★
“…a blistering show blending stand up, confessional and circus performance… kicking against the culture of female oppression.”
Belonging is an abstract acrobatic performance piece that explores what it is to belong. Whether that be to one another, to a place, to the natural world, or to not belong at all. A unique immersive version, developed especially for FoF24.
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
THE WORST CAFÉ
Big Telly Productions
CIRCUSFUL
CORNER
Big Telly Productions presents
A menu of theatrical bites to amuse your bouche — music, mystery, magic and mayhem. From Shakespeare to sci-fi, the stories come well-done and rare. The waiters have a lot on their plate and may meltdown any minute… This may be the Worst Café for food but it’s the best for craic.
Sat, Sun, Mon — 12:00 – 16:30
Schedules announced on the day
All at 2 Royal Avenue
Suitable for all ages
PERFORMANCE
WORKSHOPS
INSTALLATION
Join us as we take over our favourite city centre venue with performances by highly skilled and talented young people and emerging artists.
Try out some circus skills for yourself — free workshops available throughout the day.
THE BELFAST THAT TIME FORGOT
(in 3D)
Leo Boyd & Laura Nelson
Come and see Belfast recast as a day-glo B-movie disaster zone. Fun for all the family!
Performance Locations
