Booking is essential for all events including free events. All event tickets are non-refundable. Please view our Customer Service Policy.
We are thrilled to announce a special one-night-only performed reading of the acclaimed Belfast Shipyard play ‘The Boat Factory’, brought back to life by the original cast – Dan Gordon and Michael Condron. The proceeds from this event will directly contribute to the support of The Linen Hall.
Written by Dan Gordon, The Boat Factory is a love letter to the remarkable shipbuilding heritage of Belfast. Growing up as the son of a shipyard worker and surrounded by family members employed at the renowned Harland & Wolff shipyard, Dan found inspiration in his own father’s experiences.
Follow the journey of 16-year-old Davy Gordon as he walks through the gates of Harland & Wolff’s Titanic Shipyard to begin life as a carpenter’s apprentice. He soon discovers the vast shipyard is a city within the city, with 35,000 men working over 300 acres in 67 different trades.
Davy’s journey is intertwined with that of Geordie, another spirited young apprentice. As their paths converge, a friendship is formed that withstands the test of time. Through hardship and triumphs, they adapt to shipyard life.
The overwhelmingly positive feedback to the play prompted an extensive tour born in Belfast to the Edinburgh Fringe to London, Dublin, and even across the Atlantic to the Brits off Broadway festival in New York. This heart-warming tale of camaraderie, ambition, and resilience continues to captivate audiences, transcending borders and resonating across generations.
Dan Gordon: Hailing from Belfast, Dan Gordon is an actor, director, and playwright. Recognisable for his unforgettable portrayal of Red Hand Luke in BBC Northern Ireland’s sitcom ‘Give My Head Peace,’ he gained acclaim for his role in the Marie Jones award-winning one-man-play ‘A Night in November,’ earning a nomination in New York for a Broadway Outer Critics Circle Award. His diverse career spans TV, film, and radio, including appearances in ‘The Fall,’ ‘Some Mother’s Son,’ ‘Four days in July’ and is shortly to be seen in series two of the hit BBC police drama ‘Blue Lights’.
Michael Condron: Born in Toronto, Canada, and raised in Belfast, Michael Condron is a hugely versatile actor with an impressive presence. A familiar face at the Lyric/Mac/Grand Opera House in Belfast and Theatres throughout the UK, Michael’s talents have graced both stage and screen. You may recognise him as Bowen Marsh from HBO’s hit series ‘Game of Thrones,’ a role that earned him a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award. With a passion for storytelling, Michael brings depth and authenticity to every performance. Recently he commanded attention in ‘Number Two’s’, ‘Hope Street’ (BBC NI), ‘Distortion’ (MAC Streaming) and as the terrifying Griff Reynolds in ‘Coronation Street’ (ITV).
Booking is essential. Please visit goh.co.uk for more information and to book your ticket.
Booking is essential for all events including free events. All event tickets are non-refundable. Please view our Customer Service Policy.
The Linen Hall (Belfast Library And Society For Promoting Knowledge) is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC 104 564.
