Belfast Girls

“We have this one an’ only chance. An’ in all the kingdom of Ireland aren’t we – us women – aren’t we damned lucky to be getting out of it?”

Escaping the Famine in 1850 five fierce young women board the Inchinnan in Belfast in hope of a new, better life in Australia. But confined in close quarters in the belly of the ship on a tumultuous sea journey as they sail away from their homeland secrets are revealed, enemies made, and it becomes clear that no matter where they go, there is no escaping the dark pasts they carry with them…

In the Irish premiere of this new drama by award-winning Dundalk playwright Jaki McCarrick, An Táin Arts Centre and Quintessence Theatre bring their unique physical ensemble style to McCarrick’s gripping story, exploring urgent, current questions around classism, patriarchy, and the ripple effects of colonialism through a powerful historical play based on true stories.

Belfast Girls is produced by An Táin Arts Centre as part of its 10-year anniversary celebrations and presented by Quintessence Theatre in Association with The Lyric Theatre, Belfast and The North East Network (An Táin Arts Centre, Droichead Arts Centre, and Solstice Arts Centre, Navan).