The Braid Arts Centre

15/10/2026

Upcoming talk in the Carnlough Heritage Hub on Shane O'Neill

Carnlough Town Hall
7pm Start
Friday 30th October

Our Next Talk

13/10/2026

The Bjorn Identity – Tribute to ABBA

Saturday 24th October

Tickets available via the Braid Box Office on 028 256 35077 or online here
https://www.shapedbyseaandstone.com/whats-on/the-bjorn-identity-tribute-to-abba-p1038951

Musicon Entertainment present:

The Bjorn Identity - a Tribute to ABBA, celebrating 50 years of Dancing Queen!

Europe’s, most authentic live ABBA show marks the legacy of ABBA’s greatest song – Dancing Queen with a welcome return to Braid Arts Centre.

Expect to be impressed by their uncanny vocals & physical likeness, stunning array of replica costumes, attention to detail as well as Benny’s iconic spinning white Yamaha piano. The Bjorn Identity is a faithful tribute to ABBA, an even boasts real-life couples playing their part to capture the magic of the originals Swedes ‘on stage’ chemistry.

A two-hour - disco throwback concert full of ABBA’s greatest hits and more. This high-energy show promises nostalgia and Gimme Gimme glamour for all you Super Troupers. Secure your tickets early for the time of your lives, in this perfectly stage crafted ABBA ‘in concert’ reproduction.

“I saw the real Abba in Dublin in 1979 and have seen several tribute acts since. The Bjorn Identity are right up there with the best” - Trish Loughman - Dublin

“Capture the essence of ABBA like no other” – Abba Official Fan Group

“Looks like ABBA, sounds like ABBA” – The Ticket, BBC Radio Ulster

“The Costumes, the choreography, the voices… EVERYTHING!” – 3 for 1 Trinity Concerts, Germany

Approximate Run Time - 2 Hours 20 Minutes including interval

Show Suitable For - All Ages

13/10/2026

The Bjorn Identity – Tribute to ABBA

Saturday 24th October

Tickets available via the Braid Box Office on 028 256 35077 or online here
https://www.shapedbyseaandstone.com/whats-on/the-bjorn-identity-tribute-to-abba-p1038951

Calling all Dancing Queens!
Join us for an ABBA-olutely brilliant evening of music and dancing with The Bjorn Identity Abba Tribute Show.

Expect to be blown away by unrivaled vocals & physical likeness, attention to costume detail as well as Benny’s iconic spinning white piano. The Bjorn Identity’s faithful tribute even boasts real-life couples playing their part, capturing the magic of the originals Swedes ‘on stage’ chemistry.

Approximate Run Time - 2 Hours 20 Minutes including interval

Show Suitable For - All Ages

12/10/2026

🔴2 WEEKS TO GO🔴
Join us on Monday 26th October at The Braid Arts Centre Ballymena as we kick off Halloween week in style!

THE FRIGHT CLUB NI presents a special collaborative film and historical event with ALTERNATIVE ULSTOURS as we remember BURKE & HARE, two of Ireland's earliest and most notorious serial killers with an in-depth educational talk followed by a screening of THE FLESH AND THE FIENDS starring Peter Cushing, Donald Pleasence and George Rose.

https://wegottickets.com/f/25956

TALK @ 7PM
Dark historian Andrew Johnston of ALTERNATIVE ULSTOURS takes his 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe sell-out show on the road!

Scotland’s infamous grave robbers William Burke and William Hare weren’t Scottish
– and they never robbed a grave. Born and raised in Ireland, the duo were arguably
the first modern serial killers, predating Jack the Ripper by decades.

Andrew reveals the grim reality behind this misunderstood pair. Follow their journey
from rural Ulster origins to the sinister Edinburgh slayings, when they provided
unscrupulous anatomists with fresh corpses during the body snatching era.

The talk honours Burke and Hare’s forgotten victims, while exposing the fate of the
murderers, their complicit wives and their nefarious paymaster, Dr Robert Knox.
Unearth the truth, as Andrew reclaims history’s grisliest ghouls for the north of
Ireland in this informative and entertaining evening of horror and true crime!

10 MINUTE INTERVAL

SCREENING @ 8PM
In 1828 Scotland, Edinburgh surgeon Dr. Knox does medical research on cadavers he buys from murderers Burke and Hare, without questioning the unethical procurement methods. Starring the legendary Peter Cushing as Dr. Knox with George Rose as William Burke and Donald Pleasence as William Hare. Screen icons Billie Whitelaw and Melvin Hayes also star.

Alternative Ulstours

BUY TICKETS NOW
https://wegottickets.com/f/25956

THE FRIGHT CLUB NI presents a special collaborative film and historical event with ALTERNATIVE ULSTOURS as we remember BURKE & HARE, two of Ireland's earliest and most notorious serial killers with an in-depth educational talk followed by a screening of The Flesh and the Fiends starring Peter Cushin...

08/10/2026

We’re delighted to share the latest edition of our Arts & Culture Guide, ‘Threads’ - bringing together another exciting season of arts, culture, and entertainment across Mid and East Antrim.

Packed with theatre, live music, comedy, exhibitions, creative workshops, museum experiences, family activities and seasonal events, there’s plenty to discover across Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne this autumn and winter.

A particular highlight is the celebration of 300 years of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, with a packed programme in Carrickfergus featuring exhibitions, a giant Gulliver installation, family experiences, creative workshops, music, film, comedy and more.

Threads is all about connecting people with arts and culture across the borough, encouraging everyone to explore our venues, discover something new, get creative and enjoy memorable experiences with family and friends.

We hope to see some of you at our events over the coming months.

https://issuu.com/meabc/docs/mid_and_east_antrim_threads_autumnwinter_26

Tickets can be purchased via the Braid Box Office on 028 256 35077 or online here
https://www.shapedbyseaandstone.com/whats-on/theatre-events?order=alpha&p=1

Dive into our extensive resources on the topic that interests you. It's like a masterclass to be explored at your own pace.

07/10/2026

Adderstone - Changelings

Saturday 17th October

Tickets available via the Braid Box Office on 028 256 35077 or online here
https://www.shapedbyseaandstone.com/whats-on/adderstone-changelings-p1076211

CHANGELINGS is gig theatre: oral storytelling woven together with music, myth, humour and personal experience. Alt-folk musicians Cath Heinemeyer and Gemma McDermott will take you on an unforgettable journey through song and story.

Up on a high windy mountainside sits a cailleach, a hag whose days as a powerful goddess are long behind her (if they were ever quite as impressive as she remembers...) And a retired climate goddess needs a hobby - so why not take up kidnapping? But the only ones she seems to be able to reach are the sensitive ones, the ones who find it hard to ignore her nighttime calls. The changelings.

"We were somehow dropped into their story...I was totally riveted and people cried and laughed and sighed!"(Story Forge)
"A sublime interweaving of song, spoken word and myth."(Beeston Tales)
"Phenomenal! A story for our times, but rooted in the past."(A Bit Crack Storytellers)

Approximate Run Time - 1 hour 45 Minutes

There is nothing in the show that is unsuitable for children, but it is aimed at adults, so we would recommend age 13+

05/10/2026

Here is a round up on What's On here at the Braid Arts Centre this month

Tickets available via the Braid Box Office on 028 256 35077 or online here
https://www.shapedbyseaandstone.com/whats-on/theatre-events?order=alpha&p=1

Adderstone - Changelings
Date: Saturday 17th October
Times: Doors 7.30pm Start 8.00pm
Tickets: £13 Inc Booking Fee

Braid Comedy Club Presents Kevin Gildea with Support
Date: Saturday 17th October
Times: Doors 7.30pm Start 8.00pm
Tickets: £11.50 Inc Booking Fee

Ballymena Chamber Orchestra Presents – A Night Of Spooktacular Music
Date: Friday 23rd October
Times: Doors 7.30pm Start 8.00pm
Tickets: £16.50 Inc Booking Fee

The Bjorn Identity – Tribute To ABBA
Date: Saturday 24th October
Times: Doors 7.30pm Start 8.00pm
Tickets: £27.50 Inc Booking Fee

03/10/2026

Headline act for our October Comedy Club is Kevin Gildea

Tickets available via the Braid Box Office on 02825635077 or online here
https://www.shapedbyseaandstone.com/whats-on/braid-comedy-club-presents-kevin-gildea-with-support-from-ian-thomson-sean-begley-and-neave-wright-p1090901

Kevin has gigged all over Britain and Ireland and the rest of the known world – from Singapore to Sligo. He's headlined gigs in Johannesburg and Cape Town and regularly plays all the major comedy festivals in Ireland – The Electric Picnic, ATN, The Paddy Power Comedy Festival in the Iveagh Gardens, The Galway Comedy Festival, Kilkenomics and etc. He is a regular at The Edinburgh Comedy Festival.

'Highly original and Explosively funny'. - The Sunday Times

He’s one of the most daring and committed comedians at work right now. Brave, unafraid and compelling…..and very, very funny.' - Tommy Tiernan

'Comedy on another level.' - The Irish Times

Support on the night comes from Ian Thomson, Sean Begley and Neave Wright

MC on the night is as always, Paddy McGaughey

Approximate Run Time - 2 hours 30 minutes

Show Suitable For - 18+