The creators of a unique performance, which is set to take place at one of Belfast’s most famous landmarks, hope it will spark a conversation around how we engage with our heritage spaces to help them maintain relevance for future generations.
Shadowdock, a light and sound outdoor theatre experience, will take place from today (Wednesday) until September 29 at the Thompson Dry Dock, which became famous as the location where the Titanic spent almost a year for fit out work ahead of her maiden voyage.
The immersive experience, set 40-ft below sea level, explores the rich heritage of the people of Belfast, as well as the city’s maritime connections, using storytelling within a specially composed soundtrack.
Parts of Belfast’s historic waterfront will also be illuminated and animated. These include the Titanic walkway, the Great Light and HMS Caroline right down to the very end of the Maritime Mile to Thompson Dock.
As part of the rich tapestry of attractions along Belfast’s Maritime Mile, the Thompson Dock attracts huge numbers of visitors every year, but never before has it been used for an event of this nature.
From the creative minds of designer Henry Sykes and Anna Leckey of Three’s Theatre Company, this light show, produced by innovative lighting designers, Conal Clapper and Alan Mooney, is accompanied by a captivating soundscape created by award-winning composer, Katie Richardson.
Shadowdock has been commissioned by Belfast City Council as part of Belfast 2024, a cultural celebration of creative projects and events taking place across the city throughout 2024. The performance will transport the audience on a journey of discovery to explore the history of the place where Belfast began.
While the performance itself is set to be mesmerising, creators hope it will help stimulate a wider debate on how our heritage spaces are used in the future.
Shadowdock Creative Lead, Henry Sykes, who has also worked on Our Place in Space and the development of Banana Block in Belfast, said the Maritime Mile is a special place in the city.
Home to key attractions and venues, including the Titanic Belfast, SSE Arena, HMS Caroline, W5, Titanic Distillers, SoundYard, Great Light and SS Nomadic, the Maritime Mile attracts, in excess, of three million visitors every year.
Henry said: “Our spectacle aims to celebrate this extraordinary space, but we also hope it is just the beginning when it comes to reframing historic sites across Belfast.
“We want performances such as Shadowdock to really inspire new ideas which will help attract even more visitors to this amazing area of Belfast.
“Shadowdock can be the backdrop to a wider conversation on how we preserve and protect our heritage spaces as well as make them relevant for a younger audience.
“Titanic Distillers is a perfect example of how new life can be breathed into a heritage site. Their new distillery within the Pump House at the Thompson Dock is a wonderful attraction.”
Belfast 2024 is a celebration of home-grown culture and creativity with a series of events and projects, under the three pillars of people, place and planet, taking place across the year aimed at promoting the city as a cultural destination.
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, said the programme, which launched in February, has had some really ‘ambitious, beautiful and exciting’ events take place across the city.
He said: “In May, we had Little Amal, the 12-foot puppet of a Syrian refugee child who has become a global symbol of human rights, visit and explore Belfast through a series of creative events and it was such a powerful and moving experience for all involved.
“We have some wonderful homegrown events and performances still to take place for Belfast 2024 and, for me, the most exciting part of the programme is the fact that it has all been co-created with the people of Belfast.”
September has enjoyed an intense part of the Belfast 2024 programme but there is still a chance to enjoy a number of events such as Drift which continues until the end of the month.
A European first, Drift is a floating event space installation on the River Lagan. With the aim of letting locals and visitors alike discover their relationship with the river, Drift can host film screenings, star gazing and even yoga classes.
Other European cities have already been reaching out to Belfast 2024 keen to bring the structure to their rivers.
Another stand-out event will be North Star which will take place in the former Belfast Telegraph Building on October 24 and 25.
Solab, a new collective led by Kwame Daniels will orchestrate an immersive spectacle, North Star led by Grammy Award winner, Kaidi Tatham; award-winning poet, Nandi Jola, rising stars Leo Miyagee and Winnie Ama.
Inspired by Frederick Douglass’ time in Belfast, it will transport everyone from 1845 to Belfast 2024 in surround sound. The ambitious live show will feature music, visual art and literature, all deeply rooted in Black music and cultures.
From November 1-4, Touch, Hear, Feel will be an immersive and multi-sensory performance created with visually impaired communities led by artist Helen Hall, that explores the senses through original choreography, fabrics, audio and video narratives.
For more information about all of the Belfast 24 events visit www.belfast2024.co.uk and to plan your next giant adventure in Northern Ireland, visit www.discovernorthernireland.com