Plays To Uncover Hidden Tales Of Belfast

Belfast Harbour and the Grand Opera House Launch ‘Scenes from the City’

The Grand Opera House will be recreating ‘Scenes from the City’ with the support of Belfast Harbour and local communities. The theatrical project is part of the Grand Opera House’s ongoing 125th anniversary celebrations.

Communities from Sandy Row, the Shankill, Donegall Pass and Carrickhill will be working alongside C21 Theatre Company to deliver short plays to celebrate the city’s history.

The groups are taking part in a series of workshops to help local playwright Gary Wilson write four pieces of theatre that reflect Belfast through the ages. The plays will be premiered at Belfast Harbour Office next month.

Jenni Barkley, Belfast Harbour’s Communications & Corporate Responsibility Manager, said:

“Belfast Harbour and the Grand Opera House are intrinsically part of Belfast’s history and it’s a privilege to be able to support a project that will help tell some of the city’s hidden stories.

“We’re delighted to be involved in an initiative that is creatively collecting tales from local communities whilst encouraging continued engagement in the arts.”

Aine Dolan, Creative Learning Manager at the Grand Opera House, added:

“It’s great to have Belfast Harbour’s support for ‘Scenes from the City’ given that the Harbour has such a long and proud history of supporting the arts in Northern Ireland.

“This project is an important part of our 125th anniversary celebrations, bringing together voices from the surrounding communities and empowering them tell their own story of Belfast’s history through the arts.”

The plays will premier in Belfast Harbour Offices on 11th April before featuring at the Grand Opera House.

The Grand Opera House opened in on 23rd December, 1895, the same year that the Harbour completed an extension of the Harbour Office at Corporation Square.

The first season at the Opera House included burlesque acts, musical comedies, farces and melodramas. There were also performances of classical opera, drama and Shakespeare.

The Grand Opera House will be recreating ‘Scenes from the City’ with the support of Belfast Harbour and local communities. The theatrical project is part of the Grand Opera House’s ongoing 125th anniversary celebrations.

Communities from Sandy Row, the Shankill, Donegall Pass and Carrickhill will be working alongside C21 Theatre Company to deliver short plays to celebrate the city’s history.

The groups are taking part in a series of workshops to help local playwright Gary Wilson write four pieces of theatre that reflect Belfast through the ages. The plays will be premiered at Belfast Harbour Office next month.

Jenni Barkley, Belfast Harbour’s Communications & Corporate Responsibility Manager, said:

“Belfast Harbour and the Grand Opera House are intrinsically part of Belfast’s history and it’s a privilege to be able to support a project that will help tell some of the city’s hidden stories.

“We’re delighted to be involved in an initiative that is creatively collecting tales from local communities whilst encouraging continued engagement in the arts.”

Aine Dolan, Creative Learning Manager at the Grand Opera House, added:

“It’s great to have Belfast Harbour’s support for ‘Scenes from the City’ given that the Harbour has such a long and proud history of supporting the arts in Northern Ireland.

“This project is an important part of our 125th anniversary celebrations, bringing together voices from the surrounding communities and empowering them tell their own story of Belfast’s history through the arts.”

The plays will premier in Belfast Harbour Offices on 11th April before featuring at the Grand Opera House.

The Grand Opera House opened in on 23rd December, 1895, the same year that the Harbour completed an extension of the Harbour Office at Corporation Square.

The first season at the Opera House included burlesque acts, musical comedies, farces and melodramas. There were also performances of classical opera, drama and Shakespeare.