Photo Flash: Historical Drama BELFAST GIRLS Makes West Coast Premiere

Launching their 2017-18 season with a gripping historical drama that nods to today's relevant questions of how the elite endeavor to remove undesirable residents from their country, Corrib Theatre presents Jaki McCarrick's U.S. West Coast Premiere of Belfast Girls. Corrib Theatre's production of Belfast Girls runs for four weeks, from November 17 through December 10 at Shaking the Tree Theatre.

Set onboard the ship, the Inchinnan, five young women depart Belfast, Ireland, during the Irish Famine with the hope of a better life in their hearts. The ship sails in 1850 from famine-stricken Ireland bound for Australia under a British government scheme to purportedly help "orphan" girls find a better life. En route, these strong and high-spirited women discover that they have been conveniently gotten rid of. Together, they must confront the demons of the life they've left behind, survive the endless voyage and take strength in each other to face what lies ahead. Based on true accounts, it is a play about emigration and the female experience of the Famine, and of the powers-that-be that scapegoat and victimize their most vulnerable during a crisis.

"I was moved by this play, because it depicted a group of high-spirited women who come to realize that the powers-that-be in their country have spat them out," said Gemma Whelan, Belfast Girls director and Corrib Theatre Artistic Director. "It resonated with recent events in Ireland and the U.S., such as the financial collapse, which bailed out big banks and corporations, while scapegoating the less powerful. It continues to have resonance in the daily news as the U.S. powers-that-be attempt to shape immigration laws that reject certain "undesirable" applicants, and privilege others." She continues, "We're thrilled that the playwright, Jaki McCarrick is coming over from Ireland for opening night. It's a testament to Corrib's growing visibility as a forum for new Irish plays, and for works written by women and with strong female roles."

TICKETS: $25 regular price; $20 student/group

Tickets: Brown Paper Tickets 800-838-3006 or online: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3045992

Photo Credit: Adam Liberman