Test Drive The Arts NI is a scheme run by the Belfast City Council and the Arts Council in which it lets people who do not regularly go to art performances to actually get free tickets to plays or performances which could be of interest to them. The idea is that if you go to it once and enjoy it, you will happily start going to more and more, thus showing your support, thus bringing family and friends, thus funding the already lacking Arts Council. The idea and premise is really quite simple and as a writer and a student, it is encouraging that firstly there is a company that shares a similar interest in the performing arts as myself, and secondly, (and most importantly) there is clearly an audience for this. I have been on this website quite regularly waiting for that hidden gem of a show to come up that I can go to, but often it surprises me just how many of these shows get "sold out" which can only be good news for the shows themselves. According to the website, similar schemes have been run successfully in UK, Sweden and Australia so it is proof that this website does work and if you see a show on it that is really popular, I would insist that you book early to avoid disappointment. Very good idea and very well executed read more

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