Bright Umbrella Theatre Company is set to bring the provocative, award-winning play Ulster American to Belfast audiences this summer in a new production directed by company founder and artistic director Trevor Gill.
Written by David Ireland, Ulster American was first performed in 2018 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it won the prestigious Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award. The play has since gained a reputation for its bold, darkly comic exploration of identity, nationalism, and the uncomfortable tensions between art and politics. This latest production by Bright Umbrella marks the first time the show will be professionally staged in East Belfast.
The production will run from Tuesday, August 26 to Saturday, September 6, 2025 at The Sanctuary Theatre, Castlereagh Street, East Belfast, with performances each evening at 7pm. A matinee performance will take place at 2pm on Saturday, September 6.
Speaking about the decision to stage the play in the east of the city, director Trevor Gill said: “It is a pleasure to stage Ulster American by David Ireland in East Belfast, where he is from.
“We have a very strong and experienced cast well capable of delivering what is a challenging script. David Ireland’s work is a carefully crafted mixture of satire, shock and black humour. We can guarantee a memorable night at the theatre.”
The play centres around an American film star, an English director, and a Northern Irish playwright who come together to discuss an upcoming production. As rehearsals begin, differences in politics, perspective, and personal agendas quickly spiral into chaos.
Known for its sharp wit and unflinching commentary, the script challenges audiences to confront assumptions about power, privilege, and the narratives we tell ourselves.
Ulster American deals with themes such as cultural identity, liberal posturing, misogyny, and consent. It is a satire that critiques the abuse of power in creative spaces, the commodification of identity, and the performance of progressive values in the arts. It contains very strong language, graphic violence, and references to sexual assault.
Bright Umbrella Theatre Company, based at The Sanctuary Theatre, presents its own productions alongside visiting theatre, poetry, comedy and music. The company has consistently aimed to bring challenging, high-quality productions to local audiences, with a focus on socially relevant themes and educational outreach.
In recent years, Bright Umbrella has gained attention for its bold programming choices, including its reinterpretations of classical works with a strong emphasis on making theatre available and relevant to the surrounding community.
The company also supports a range of community engagement initiatives, including creative learning programmes and post-show discussions.
Trevor added: “We are not interested in theatre that plays it safe. This production is about holding up a mirror and asking difficult questions. It’s about making space for uncomfortable truths to be heard.”
The production, which is part-funded by Belfast City Council, will feature a cast of three, with full casting details to be announced in the coming weeks. Set design, lighting, and visual elements are currently in development to suit the venue’s close and atmospheric setting.
Tickets for Ulster American at The Sanctuary Theatre are on sale now at brightumbrella.co.uk
About Ulster American
Written by East Belfast playwright David Ireland, Ulster American premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2018, winning the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award. It has since received international acclaim for its dark satire and provocative themes. The play unfolds over a single evening as three characters, an American film star, an English director, and a Northern Irish playwright, meet to discuss a new production. What begins as creative collaboration spirals into confrontation, exposing tensions around identity, power, and artistic ethics. Ulster American has been described as “brutally funny” and “not for the faint of heart”, praised for its graphic honesty and emotional intensity. This production will be the first full professional staging of the play in East Belfast.
About Bright Umbrella Theatre Company
Bright Umbrella is a professional theatre company based in East Belfast. Founded in 2017, the company is affiliated with Equity and the Independent Theatre Council. It presents an all round programme of our produced works and visiting works, including those from visiting amateur and professional companies, poetry readings, comedy and music.
About The Sanctuary Theatre
The Sanctuary Theatre is located at 1a Castlereagh Street in East Belfast. It is housed in one of the area’s oldest buildings, a former church that has been converted into a welcoming and atmospheric performance venue. The site contains two performance spaces: a 60-seat Studio and a 120-seat main Sanctuary Theatre. Operated by Bright Umbrella, the venue hosts both in-house and visiting productions and acts as a creative hub for the local community. The theatre is fully licensed, with a bar that opens one hour before and after each performance. It is wheelchair accessible, though toilet facilities are not.
