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The Boat Factory Heads to New York!

31 May 2013

The Ulster-Scots Agency is working in partnership with Tourism Ireland to take The Boat Factory by Dan Gordon to the Brits Off Broadway Festival in New York for a total of 4 weeks. The Boat factory will run from Tuesday 4th to Sunday 30th June, 2013 at 59e59St Theaters.

The Boat Factory evokes life in the Belfast shipyards with passion, humour and authenticity and is based on extensive research and Dan Gordon’s close personal knowledge of the subject matter through his own family history. Dan’s grandfather was a labourer who came from the shipyards on the Clyde to the shipyards of Belfast. His father served his time as an apprentice Joiner in the Belfast Shipyard in the early 1950s alongside his five brothers and the husbands of his two sisters. He worked on the last great liner they ever built - The Canberra. Their experiences, both real and imagined, are embodied in the play alongside their latter day Ulster-Scots urban experience and way of life.

 

The Brits Off Broadway Festival is a high profile celebration of new British Theatre at 59E59 Theaters, which offers an invaluable opportunity to showcase a positive, poignant, entertaining and informative story of Ulster-Scots heritage, culture and language on the international stage.

 

In addition to the support received from the Ulster-Scots Agency and Tourism Ireland, Happenstance Theatre Company has also secured funding from the NI Bureau in North America and sponsorship from several Northern Ireland based private organisations.

 

Dan Gordon said: Growing up in East Belfast I listened to many astounding stories, myths and legends documenting the rise of the Belfast Shipyard.  I decided to write a play that celebrated my Ulster-Scots ancestry, the people, history and triumphs of Belfast’s Titanic shipyard and now it is heading for the bright lights of New York and London as part of an extensive four-month overseas tour. The tour began with a special performance of “The Boat Factory” at the Grand Opera House on Sunday 28th April, after which Michael Condron and I headed off to represent Northern Ireland on the national and international stage with what I hope is a poignant, entertaining and uplifting story of Belfast life.

 

The Times ★★★★ - Belfast Telegraph ★★★★ -
Ed Evening News
★★★★★ - Ed Guide ★★★★★
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The List
★★★★ - Broadway Baby ★★★★★

 

Download the Brits Off Broadway Festival brochure at

http://issuu.com/59e59theaters/docs/59e59_brits_brochure_2013

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dnz99VYutI

http://www.59e59.org/moreinfo.php?showid=119

 

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