Tales from the Mother is a conversation through dance between two women. The work is the result of a new commission by two of Northern Ireland’s most respected disabled dancers, Linda Fearon and Helen Hall.

The pair first met as dancers, but soon discovered their lives intersected in a deeper, more personal way—through motherhood. Over time, they talked, they shared stories, they listened. A quiet understanding grew between them—a witnessing of each other’s joys, struggles, and sorrows.

Composer Isaac Gibson has developed bespoke sound design to accompany the work, inviting audiences into the intimate dialogue between mothers. This dance performance blends contemporary movement with personal narrative. It invites the audience to come close, to listen, to bear witness to these stories and the emotions they carry.

Content warning: Some reference to child loss.

This piece is in development and the approximate running time will be 45 minutes.

This performance is funded through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Commissioning Programme supported by National Lottery Funding.

Not Just Clowning is an opportunity for those with no previous circus skills to see what circus performance is all about in a relaxed, no pressure setting. This workshop is open to everyone over 18, but is particularly welcoming to d/Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent participants.You will be introduced to performers with years of experience in circus skills, experience some circus skills including poi, juggling, clowning and hula hoops. There will be something for all abilities.

The workshop will be led by Ashton (they/them), who is a neurodivergent multi-disciplinary artist. They have two decades of experience creating fun, engaging spaces where participants can explore circus, visual art, drama and dance in a playful and empowering environment.

Following our fantastic literary sharing event at Bounce in 2024, we are looking for d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent writers who would like to share their work with an audience.

For audiences, this is a chance to hear work read by disabled writers—some writing about disability and some not—along with a glass of something in the beautiful Seamus Heaney Centre.

If you are interested in reading your work, please complete the Open Mic expression of interest form before 4:00 pm on Friday 26 September 2025 (deadline extended). Access facilitators need to read the work in advance, so we will allocate all slots before the day of the event.

Drinks will be available from 6:00 pm and readings will begin at 6:30 pm.

This workshop will reflect on the last 25 years of disability arts and disability-led theatre. It will explore ‘The Wr0nG W0m3N, makin’ Wr0nG work for the Wr0nG audiences’ from Julie’s experiences.

Julie McNamara (Mack) is a QueerCrip, working class Butch Dyke, and a prolific playwright, theatre and filmmaker. Her creative mayhem, and commitment to disability activism, has led to her receiving many awards in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Julie founded the London Disability Film Festival with Caglar Kimyoncu, which was hosted at the British Film Institute. She was founder and creative drive behind Vital Xposure, a disability-led touring theatre working for social justice from 2010 to 2020.

You can also watch JulieMac performing in Bounce on Saturday 4 October at 8:00 pm: Rapture and Repulsion in the Crescent Arts Centre.

Speak Up is a two hour performance workshop for writers, performers or aspiring speakers who would like to share your words on stage. Feel inspired, recharged, and believe in the power of your own voice.

Alice McCullough is an award-winning performance poet from Belfast. She has performed internationally to critical acclaim. Fans of her work include Stephen Fry, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Van Morrison.

In this workshop, Alice will share what has helped her come out of her shell and share her voice, including insights she has learned from studying performance skills with various internationally renowned teachers from Second City Chicago to the Gaulier School in Paris.

Anushiya Sundaralingam presents an artist talk in the Atypical Gallery, explaining the themes behind the art installation ‘Passages’ and how she works towards creating spaces for shared stories and building cultural understanding. The exhibition contains layered meanings relating to carrying history, crossing boundaries and our ongoing work on memory and rebuilding.

Anushiya Sundaralingam is based in QSS Studios and Belfast print workshop. She also works as an arts facilitator and has exhibited locally and internationally, with work in private collections.