ABOUT THE BUILDING

Titanic Belfast Launch Festival 

PDF: download the Titanic Belfast Launch Festival Guide

Nearly 100 years after Titanic left Belfast, we are delighted to invite you to experience and explore Titanic Belfast, the world’s largest Titanic visitor attraction.

event: Official opening of Titanic Belfast
date: Saturday, 31st March, 2012
location: Titanic Belfast

Immerse yourself in the amazing story of Belfast in the 1900s, take a spin in the Shipyard Ride, experience life on board and learn about Titanic’s maiden voyage, her tragic sinking, the many stories of human endeavour, and the technology and science that finally found her, and helped to solve some of the many mysteries surrounding that fateful night in 1912.

Titanic Belfast is a ‘must do’ interactive visitor experience engaging all the senses. To celebrate our official opening on Saturday 31 March we’ll be launching a jam packed fortnight of celebratory events on February 29th with our partners Titanic Foundation, Belfast City Council and Northern Ireland Tourist Board....keep an eye on the press for further details. 

Exclusively, we're delighted to give you a sneak preview and the chance to buy advance tickets for some of the key highlight events.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

event: The Boat Factory a play by Dan Gordon
date: Monday 2 – Thursday 5 April, 2012
location: Titanic Belfast, Titanic Suite

8pm each evening – 2hours including interval 
Suitable for 12 years and above

2 July 1947. The sun shines down on a post-war world. A 16 year-old boy walks through the gates of Belfast’s Harland & Wolff Titanic Shipyard. 1700 ships built between here and the Clyde, 67 different Trades, 300 acres of land and 35,000 men employed at its height. Regarded as the biggest and best there is, if you can dream it - they can build it. This is history - this is his story - this is THE BOAT FACTORY. This acclaimed production, presented by Happenstance Theatre Company and Titanic Foundation Ltd. and performed by Dan Gordon and Michael Condron, is staged at the heart of Belfast’s ship yard, in the magnificent surroundings of the Titanic Suite on the top floor of Titanic Belfast.

“Dan Gordon’s brilliant two-man play....they constructed a picture of boat-building, male friendship, hardship, humour and heroism as carefully as the men they portrayed built the Titanic” - Belfast Telegraph.
Click here to buy tickets.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
event: Titanic Super Special Stage - Circuit Of Ireland
date: Friday, 6 April, 2012
location: Titanic Belfast

Part of Titanic Belfast Festival 2012. A global motorsport phenomenon will roar into Belfast this Easter, as the 2012 Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally joins the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) series in an event that will be broadcast on Eurosport to almost 80 million around the globe.

Starting in Belfast for the first time in over two decades, the iconic Harland & Wolff Cranes and the gleaming new Titanic Belfast will provide a stunning backdrop as the Titanic Super Special Stage starts the famous rally.

As part of the Titanic Belfast Festival 2012, the Titanic Super Special Stage will see thousands of spectators descend on Titanic Quarter as 120 competitors, including the best Irish drivers and IRC stars from around the world, race across and adrenaline-filled track of more than 2 km, specially designed to guarantee incredible spectator viewing. The rally then powers south for fourteen more stages over two days around Armagh and Lisburn.

Gates open 2pm. Rally stage starts 5pm.

Grandstand Reserved -  All seating £25.00
Unreserved Standing  -  All  tickets £12.50

Click here to buy tickets

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

event: Titanic Light Show
date: Saturday, 7 April, 2012
location: Titanic Belfast
time: Gates open 8pm, show starts 9pm (last entry 8.45pm)
tickets: Sold out

A visionary digital projection-mapping lighting show will showcase the iconic new Titanic Belfast visitor attraction on 7 April.

Cutting edge architectural projection, intense 3D motion graphics, synchronised pyrotechnics and bespoke sound design, will combine to treat you to an unforgettable audiovisual performance.

As one of the most challenging projection mapping projects ever attempted, this will be an irrepressible celebration of Belfast, its culture, heritage and bright future.

The show is inspired by the design of RMS Titanic itself, its construction, engineering, its journey and transformation. And it demonstrates its continued life and spirit at Titanic Belfast.

Titanic Belfast will set sail on a wave of anticipation, as the launch of this unique building will capture the spirit of optimism for Belfast`s future.

The Light Show lasts around 40 minutes.

Tickets are limited to four per person. Please note, under 16s cannot collect tickets for the Light Show unless they are accompanied by an adult. Valid ID will be required. View all terms and conditions of entry.

The light show will be followed by three days of interactive installations from Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 April - a free, ticketless and open event.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

event: Titans a new play by Jimmy McAleavey
date: Sunday 8 April – Wednesday 11 April (excl. 10th)
location: Meeting at The Drawing Offices, Queens Road

4 shows nightly: 7.25pm, 8pm, 8.40pm and 9.15pm
Promenade performance so please dress appropriately

A world premiere for a world-class building. Join us for a compelling theatrical trip behind the scenes of Titanic Belfast. Explore the inner secrets of Titanic Belfast as the triumph and tragedy of the Titanic comes to life in the most unexpected ways. Set in an ancient context of sea journeys from early Irish myth, the Bible and Belfast lore, encounter the ghosts who have found a home in this unique structure, now Heaven, Hell and a resting place of lost souls. A haunting, provocative and humorous new drama by award-winning Belfast playwright Jimmy McAleavey. Produced and presented by Titanic Belfast and Kabosh. Expect the unexpected. Further information on http://www.kabosh.net.
Click here to buy tickets.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

event: Songs to the Siren
date: doors 730pm for 8pm show, Tuesday, 10 April 2012
location: Titanic Belfast, Titanic Suite
tickets: £20

A century of brilliant words and music from the days of Titanic to the days of Titanic Belfast. 
Peter Curran, BBC broadcaster and son of the city invites you to celebrate the songs, the wit and the words that have saved both soul and sanity for the people of Northern Ireland and beyond. With performances from some of the great Irish songwriters and musicians, this is an evening not to be missed including a special performance by one of Ireland’s most influential recording artists, Cathal Coughlan. Step on board to enjoy the company of award-winning authors and poets (both the stand-up and sit down variety) cultural troublemakers, films, and some very special guests on the night.  A thrilling mash up of a century’s worth of powerful moments that will be a unique and memorable occasion - presented by Titanic Belfast and Titanic Foundation Ltd.
Click here to buy tickets.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

event: MTV Presents Titanic Sounds
date: Friday, 13 April 2012
location: The Slipways, Titanic Belfast
tickets: sold out

Fresh from bringing Belfast `the biggest party in the world` with the incredible EMA, MTV is returning in April for another blistering night. Once again shining the global spotlight on our city, MTV will be staging a dynamite night of live music against the stunning backdrop of the Slipways.

This is a sold out event.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

event: Titanic Diaries
date: Monday 2 – Wednesday 11 April
location: The Andrews Gallery, Titanic Belfast
tickets: Free - contact Belfast Welcome Centre: 028 9024 6609

Behind every great story there are individual experiences and memories which remind us of the human impact; the highs and the lows. Titanic Diaries are intimate portrayals of how Titanic touched people’s lives from Belfast, Southampton, Cherbourg, Cobh and Halifax.  Join us for these bespoke sessions, which animate a story
inspired by these cities, in which the great ship ported. Brought to life through performance, visuals, music and film.
Choose your city or why not join us for them all.

Mon 2 - Belfast
Thurs 5 - Southampton
Tues 10 - Liverpool
Thurs 11 - Cobh

This is a free event but ticketed for limited numbers so please book early to avoid disappointment. Suitable for all ages.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

event: Easter Family Events - Family Fun Days – incorporating world street performance and interactive family fun
date: Friday 6 - Sunday 8 April, 11am onwards
venue: Titanic Belfast slipways
ticket: Free - no ticket required

Over the Easter weekend at Titanic Belfast, all the family can enjoy some of the world’s best street performers over three days of interactive entertainment; cheer on your favourites at our ‘Street Performance It’s a Knock Out’ and see who is crowned the Ultimate Titanic Street Performer.
The weekend is jam packed with activities for all ages, complimented by an eclectic range of foods and goods from around the globe.

This is a free, ticketless event. Just come along.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

event: Titanic Discovery Series
venue: The Andrews Gallery, Titanic Belfast
date: Mon 9 – Thurs 12 April,12.30pm and 3.30pm
(Duration 40 minutes)
tickets: Free - contact Belfast Welcome Centre: 028 9024 6609

What was life like in Belfast, April 1912? Who were the great innovators of the time? Who were the larger than life characters in the Titanic story? Want to learn more about fun and frocks on board the Titanic? These quirky, entertaining and educational sessions bring a fresh and lively dimension; step behind the scenes of Titanic’s world.

Mon 9: Easter Monday 1912
The times, the people, their lives.

Tues 10: Titanic Innovators
Great minds, great times.

Wed 11: The Fashionista’s Guide
to Titanic – Hat or fascinator? How to turn a head on Titanic.

Thurs 12: That’s Entertainment
from Music Hall to Ragtime, from fiddles to violins – the sounds of an era.

This is a free event but ticketed for limited numbers so please book early to avoid disappointment. Suitable for all ages.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

event: Titanic Memorial Lecture with Dr. Robert Ballard
date: 6pm, Saturday, 14 April 2012 (duration 1hr)
location: Titanic Suite, top floor, Titanic Belfast
tickets: £13

It is an honour and fitting that Dr. Ballard will deliver his annual Titanic Memorial Lecture at Titanic Belfast to acknowledge this significant centenary.
Among the most accomplished and well known of the world’s deep-sea explorers, Dr. Robert Ballard is best known for his historic discoveries of hydrothermal vents, the sunken RMS
Titanic, the German battleship Bismarck, and numerous other contemporary and ancient shipwrecks around the world.
During his long career he has conducted more than 120 deep-sea expeditions using the latest in exploration technology, and he is a pioneer in the early use of deep-diving submarines.

Click here to buy tickets to Dr. Robert Ballard's Titanic Memorial Lecture.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

event: Into The Deep with Dr. Robert Ballard
date: 1130am, Sunday 15 April 2012
location: The Andrews Gallery, Titanic Belfast
tickets: Free - contact Belfast Welcome Centre: 028 9024 6609

A unique opportunity for young people and families to learn about marine science and technology from Dr. Ballard and to discuss his sea-bed discoveries including Titanic.

This is a free event but ticketed for limited numbers so please book early to avoid disappointment. Suitable for all ages.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

event: Eric Whitacre’s Water Night - Virtual Choir 3
date: 11pm, Saturday 14 April 2012
location: Titanic Belfast
tickets: Free - contact Belfast Welcome Centre: 028 9024 6609

A truly unique experience, Eric Whitacre’s beautiful audio-visual installation, ‘Water Night’ is a delicate, commemorative experience to mark the historic evening of 14 April which changed the course of the Titanic journey forever.

‘Water Night’, recorded by singers from across the globe, is Grammy award-winning Eric’s third virtual choir, illuminated by stunning visuals and immersive sound.

Co-commissioned by Titanic Belfast and Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

This is a free event but ticketed for limited numbers so please book early to avoid disappointment. Suitable for all ages.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back to top