Camden Palace Hotel Community Arts Centre kick-starts the month of April with April Fools - a kaleidoscope of exhibition and performance. The resident artists and friends of Camden Palace Hotel have joined forces to produce a comprehensive programme that showcases a broad spectrum of the arts in and around the building. In addition, from the 11th to the 17^th of April we are participating with the annual ‘Lifelong Learning Festival’ (currently in it’s seventh year), by offering a wide variety of exciting workshops, totalling over 100 hours of skills and knowledge.

On April the 1^st, starting with a strong emphasis on Visual Art, our doors open to an exhibition that will run throughout the month. Exihibits will include contributions from painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, mosaic, installation and multimedia art practices. There will be the opportunity for a guided tour of the building, including the artists studios, on April 2^nd with the Chairman of Camden Palace Hotel, Frank Hickey.

The April Fools programme offers a unique combination of events and performances, inviting you to participate, interact and be inspired . We have some great evenings of theatre ahead, including ‘Margaret; Shakespeare’s greatest unknown character’ - an homage to a character whose story spans over four of the bard’s plays- and ’5 Kinds of Silence’ by the Orchard Theatre Company, a play that delves into the subject of family relationships. Camden Palace Hotel Theatre Co-Op is facilitating a series of rehearsed readings, in which you will have the chance to participate.There is plenty here for the budding actor, or anyone with an interest in drama. There will also be the chance to catch screenings in our newly refurbished auditorium, where our current European Road Trip season continues it’s voyage across the continent. In addition our friends, The Sacred Harp Singers of Cork are showing the documentary ‘Awake my soul’- an insight into the origins and survival of the unique 4 part a capella singing tradition as well as treating us to an open session where you can learn and take part in the practice. Then, A ‘Day of Laughter’ invites you to a side splitting event in an intriguing practical exploration of the laughter epidemic, taking place on Saturday the 9^th of April.Warning: Laughter causes happiness!

On the evening of Wednesday the 27^th of April, Capoeira Interacao will be showing the film ‘Capoeira Iluminada’ in addition to generously treating the audience to a little live performance of rhythm and movement. On Saturday the 23^rd of April our ‘Day of Body Painting’ takes place, where you can be the painter or the canvas! Do you know about World International Dance Day? It’s on the 29^th of April, and our new, dedicated, fully fitted, dance studio, and our ballroom will be filled with colourful performances of Break, Contemporary, Dance Theatre, Aerial and Traditional Dance .

Last but not least, our one day mini-music festival music on Saturday the 30^th, a day packed with various strands of Folk, Rock, Classical, Jazz and Electronica, will take us towards the month’s close .

Camden Palace Hotel launches April Fools to the Public on Friday April 1st at 6pm. No really. Honestly! For more information on this and details regarding the rest of the month, please log on to : [email protected]

April Fools promises to be fun, interesting and should have a bit of something to appeal to everyone.