Epic East Belfast Love Story ‘A Bomber’s Moon’ Marks 85th Anniversary of Belfast Blitz at The Sanctuary Theatre This April
Bright Umbrella Theatre Company is proud to present A Bomber’s Moon, a sweeping new production at The Sanctuary Theatre, east Belfast, from Tuesday 14th April – Sunday 19th April 2026. Co-written by Trevor Gill and Sam Robinson, directed by Trevor Gill, this epic love story spans time and generations. Coinciding with the 85th anniversary commemorations of the Belfast Blitz, A Bomber’s Moon also reflects on the devastating Luftwaffe air raids on the city in 1941.
At its heart is Sadie “Minty” Murray (Leah Williamson), a 20-year-old with a love for dancing, a wee glass of stout, and an unbreakable spirit. Minty’s world is turned upside down as bombs rain down on her city. Amid smoke, rubble, and heartbreak, she discovers loves lost and found with aircrew member Frank Warnock (Glenn McGivern) and Drogheda fireman Sean O’Connor (John Travers), faces unexpected truths, and begins to see her beloved father, Jamesy ‘Jangling Jamesy’ Murray (Andrew Porter), in a very different light.
A Bomber’s Moon is a poignant, darkly humorous exploration of love, loss, and identity during WWII as well as other historic moments in Belfast’s history, showing how ordinary people find courage and connection amid extraordinary times.
Under the fearful glow of a Bomber’s Moon in 1941, Mountpottinger Church in east Belfast offered sanctuary to families struck by the Belfast Blitz, including those on Thorndyke Street and Ulster Hospital, where bombs claimed lives and destroyed homes. The church’s pews once held worshippers connected to the RMS Titanic and honour those lost in the Great War. Today, as home to Bright Umbrella’s Sanctuary Theatre, it transforms that history into performance, hosting A Bomber’s Moon within walls steeped in resilience, remembrance, and community, allowing audiences to experience the echoes of wartime stories of survival and hope.
Director and co-writer Trevor Gill said:
“We are proud to bring A Bomber’s Moon to The Sanctuary Theatre, especially during the 85th Anniversary commemorations of the Belfast Blitz, which devasted the whole city especially east Belfast. This story is about east Belfast people – their wit, their courage, and the way love can survive even in the darkest of times. We hope we have created something that feels both intimate and epic, grounded in real lives and real voices.”
Co-writer Sam Robinson added:
“At its core, this is a love story that weaves throughout history but has its beginnings on the streets of east Belfast during WWII. It’s also a story about the hard decisions that are taken when faced with reality, as well as those moments that shape us and the truths we discover when everything familiar is shaken.”
Performance dates are Tuesday 14th April – Sunday 19th April 2026. Tickets available from www.brightumbrella.co.uk or by calling The Sanctuary Theatre Box Office on 07305 069597. Follow Bright Umbrella on Facebook and Instagram. This production contains scenes of violence and sexual content and is recommended for audiences aged 16 and over.