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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Entertainment
Shaun Keenan

Derry Halloween: The world-class music and drama school behind 'Awakening The Walled City'

A London-based drama and music school part of this year's internationally renowned Halloween 'Awakening the Walls' festival in the city has said they're "relishing" the opportunity.

Over 100,000 are expected to flood into Derry city centre this weekend for an unforgettable outdoor experience.

The action all kicks off on Friday, October 28 with the start of the Awakening the Walled City Trail which takes place throughout the City featuring captivating installations, music and performance.

Read more: Derry Halloween ultimate guide to parade, fireworks, parking and more

This year Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) has joined forces with the renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama, an exciting creative collaboration that will see the city transformed through illumination and animation, with 28 creepily curated installations.

The trail will run from Bishop Street through the City of Bones, and Guildhall Square and over the Peace Bridge and into the Forest of Shadows in St Columb’s Park.

Speaking ahead of the beginning of the spooktacular festival, Dan Shorten, Director of Guildhall Live Events (GLE) said they were looking forward to showing off Derry's amazing history and cultural heritage of Samhain.

"We plan to transform the buildings within the Walled City using dazzling projection displays and to bring a sinister forest of shadows to life in St Columb’s Park by combining sound, light and video with physical performers and fire displays.”

"We are relishing the opportunity to bring our blend of digital and theatrical design to Derry."

Meanwhile, the Head of Culture with DCSDC Aeidin McCarter, said the involvement of GLE was a "coup" for the Halloween festival.

"Guildhall School are renowned for their artistic skill and the team will also work closely with some of our own performance groups including the Playhouse and In Your Space, allowing the opportunity for some innovative creative collaboration," she said.

"Our conversations with the School so far have been really encouraging and I’m really looking forward to seeing their vision for this year’s festival as it all comes together.”

"This is a great coup for Derry Halloween and a fantastic creative partnership that will really add to the diversity of the festival programme."

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