OVERVIEW

• Playwright

  Sam Thompson 

• Setting

  The action of the play takes place in the Belfast shipyard, and in a small kitchen house in Ballymacarrett.

• Notes

  Cast also featured Members of the Lord Carson Memorial Flute Band.

• Synopsis

  A group of trade union officials face a dilemma when there is an outbreak of sectarianism amongst their fellow workers at a shipyard. In the aftermath of a sub-station explosion, blamed on the IRA, tensions are heightened, and Catholic workers in general stay away from the yard. Only one, Peter O'Boyle, turns up, and as a mob gathers, he refuses an offer to leave peacefully stating that he will not be forced from his work. A fellow trade-unionist, Protestant Davy Mitchell, makes the decision to stand together with his workmate, and they begin work knowing that tragedy may result.

• Play Type

  Plays General
  

  Number Of Acts

  Full-Length

Cast size

• Male

  12

• Female

  3

• Total

  15

Original Production

• Date of First Production

  26 January 1960

• Producer

  Produced by Ulster Bridge Productions Ltd.

• Original Venue

  Empire Theatre (1894-1961)
  

Source Of Information

Information for this entry was taken from Sam Hanna Bell's 'The Theatre in Ulster', from the published script, and from the original production programme, press cuttings and material held at the Theatre and Performing Arts Archive of the Linen Hall Library, Belfast.