BBC Arts NI presents

Musical artists from various genres come together to create unique collaborations, including Kitt Philippa with Daithí and the Belfast Community Gospel Choir, Wood Burning Savages with Ursula Burns, Ruth McGinley with Neil Martin, and The Lost Brothers with Zoe Conway. Presented by Stephen McCauley.

Innovative musicians and NI Music Prize winners Ryan Vail and Elma Orkestra join forces for the international multimedia project Borders.

The best new sounds on the Irish music scene featuring bonus performances from Jordan Adetunji, J C Stewart, Wild Youth, New Pagans, Dena Anuksa and more. Presented by Stephen McCauley.

BBC Arts and The Lyric Theatre, with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, join forces to create short isolation dramas with some of Northern Ireland’s biggest names. This quick–turnaround project utilises our finest writers, actors and directors to produce unique takes on the Covid-19 lockdown situation, exploring both the positive and negative aspects of social isolation. The five-minute theatrical pieces have been created by top flight actors, directors and writers and are shot in accordance with social distancing guidelines.

Nicky is trying to overcome her Aunt’s death during lockdown without all of the usual Irish customs – there was a ‘zoom’ funeral but Nicky has decided to send her off with a proper gesture – delivering tray bakes, or ‘wake cake’ to family and friends in her honour.

Kenny is an ageing, paranoid recluse. Lockdown sees his well-intentioned neighbours leave bags of essentials on his doorstep each week. Mistrustful, Kenny senses there’s an ulterior motive – what are they after? Next time he’ll be waiting to confront these ‘good’ Samaritans ….

Jimmy is fragile and alone, staying in his late father’s house – he died during lockdown. As Jimmy clears out the house contents he notices a girl in the house opposite. He attempts to communicate but she doesn’t respond, staring straight through him. Doesn’t she see him? Is she a ghost? Is he losing his mind with grief?

Partners Karen & Simon are sharing a small office space at home during lockdown. Karen is meticulous, Simon is relaxed….way too relaxed for Karen’s liking. We join them as Wi-Fi problems are upsetting Karen’s plans for a virtual office get-together.

Stella is a mature actress living on her own. To stave off loneliness and keep her mind active she rehearses plays from her past. A young volunteer delivering her medication overhears. A drama student during normal times, he realises that maybe the medicine she really needs is human interaction….

Gillian tells us she was in love once - with a guy at Uni many years before. But he moved on and married. Lockdown has brought him suddenly out of the woodwork again…. his situation has changed and he wants to meet. Should she let him see what she’s become after all this time? Her mother wouldn’t be pleased and, of course, they’d be breaking lockdown….