The sun is rising over the Titanic Quarter, I’m sipping coffee in the Premier Inn at 6:30am (I know!) and already the Titanic Quarter is springing to life, thousands of busy bees zooming towards millions of final last-minute preparations.  I’ve just been chatting to Mark Simpson off of the BBC, live on BBC breakfast, as dawn breaks on the last day of the run-up to the opening of Titanic Belfast.  Tomorrow, it’s showtime – and the TQ (and Belfast) will never be quite the same again.  A new day.

And a new start for Belfast.  We are now Titanic people.  After decades of telling the stories that divide us, we’re now telling the story that unites us: that as we walk the streets of Belfast city we’re walking in the footprints of the men who hammered together this monumental, doomed, wonderful, terrible, endlessly-fascinating ship.

And man-oh-man, are we telling the story in style.  Celebrating the triumphs, commemorating the terrible losses, finding a thousand new angles and perspectives on this absorbing story.  You’ve maybe noticed that there are one-or-two wee events coming up… last night I started piecing together all the different timetables, programmes and flyers that we’ve been collecting in Dock Cafe over the last few weeks, and I think I’ve come up with the (possibly definitive…?!) guide to EVERYTHING Titanic that’s happening over this next month.

(Of course having said that I’m sure I’ve missed something, so if you spot any omissions let me know and I’ll update the list.  I’ll also post the complete timetable in the ‘Events/Special Events’ tab on the Dock homepage, so you can access it all month as you plan your own Titanic diary.)

So, are you ready?  Really, are you ready? – ready for a new day in Belfast, for a new story, for a month of colour and laughter and tears and love and history and future like we’ve never seen or even dared to dream?  Take a very, very deep breath – and we’ll begin…

Saturday 31st March
12 noon Opening of Titanic Belfast – www.titanicbelfast.com
12 noon Titanic Lockdown daytime programme – www.titanic-lockdown.com
7pm Titanic Lockdown evening programme – www.titanic-lockdown.com
8pm Titanic Centenary Celebrations at Westbourne Presbyterian – www.titanic-people.co.uk
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk

Sunday 1st April
11am Yardmen service at Westbourne Presbyterian – www.titanic-people.co.uk
12:45pm Yardmen Walk and cycle – www.communitygreenway.co.uk
3:33pm Dock Walk – starting at Dock cafe
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
9pm ‘Titanic’ (Julian Fellowes version) on ITV

Monday 2nd April
7pm at Dock Cafe – ‘She was all right when she left here’ Dock Walk
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
8pm ‘The Boat Factory’ at Titanic Belfast – www.titanicbelfast.com
8:30pm ‘A Night To Remember’ open-air cinema at the Thompson Dock – www.belfastfilmfestival.org
‘Game of Thrones’ series 2 (filmed in the TQ!) premieres on Sky Atlantic

Tuesday 3rd April
7:30pm ‘Blackness After Midnight’ at the City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
8pm ‘The Boat Factory’ at Titanic Belfast – www.titanicbelfast.com
8:30pm ‘Saving the Titanic’ open-air cinema at the Thompson Dock – www.belfastfilmfestival.org

Wednesday 4th April
1pm ‘Lost Voices from Titanic’ at Public Records Office – www.proni.gov.uk
7:30pm ‘Blackness After Midnight’ at the City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
8pm ‘The Boat Factory’ at Titanic Belfast – www.titanicbelfast.com

Thursday 5th April
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
8pm ‘The Boat Factory’ at Titanic Belfast – www.titanicbelfast.com

Friday 6th April
5pm Circuit of Ireland Super Special Stage at Titanic Belfast – www.titanicbelfast.com
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide

Saturday 7th April
11:00-5:00 Family Fun Day at the City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
1pm ‘Titanic in the Movies’ at the Belfast Barge – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
1pm ‘Titanic Birthplace’ at the City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
9pm Titanic Light Show at Titanic Slipways www.titanicbelfast.com
‘Titanic 3D’ at cinemas nationwide

Sunday 8th April
11:00-5:00 Family Fun Day at the City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
1:00pm ‘Honeymoon Couples on Titanic’ – City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
3:33pm Dock Walk – starting at Dock cafe
7:15pm ‘Titans’ at the Drawing Office – www.titanicbelfast.com
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
9pm ‘Titanic’ (Julian Fellowes version) on ITV
‘Titanic 3D’ at cinemas nationwide

Monday 9th April
11:00-5:00 Family Fun Day at the City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
1:00pm Edwardian Fashion Event at the City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
7:15pm ‘Titans’ at the Drawing Office – www.titanicbelfast.com
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
8pm ‘A Better Boy – Thomas Andrews, Shipwright’ at the Belfast Barge – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
8:30pm Titanic Light Show installation at Titanic Slipways – www.titanicbelfast.com
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide

Tuesday 10th April
11:00-5:00 Family Fun Day at the City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
1pm ‘Titanic Miscellany’ at the City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
7:15pm ‘Titans’ at the Drawing Office – www.titanicbelfast.com
7:30pm ‘Titanic the Musical’ at the Grand Opera House – www.goh.co.uk
8pm ‘Songs to the Siren’ at Titanic Belfast – www.titanicbelfast.com
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
8pm ‘A Better Boy – Thomas Andrews, Shipwright’ at the Belfast Barge – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
8:30pm Titanic Light Show installation at Titanic Slipways – www.titanicbelfast.com
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide

Wednesday 11th April
7:15pm ‘Titans’ at the Drawing Office – www.titanicbelfast.com
7:30pm ‘The Wireless Room’ at the City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
7:30pm ‘Titanic the Musical’ at the Grand Opera House – www.goh.co.uk
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
8pm ‘A Better Boy – Thomas Andrews, Shipwright’ at the Belfast Barge – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
8:30pm Titanic Light Show installation at Titanic Slipways – www.titanicbelfast.com
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide

Thursday 12th April
6pm  Creative Arts Festival at Public Records Office – www.proni.gov.uk
7:30pm ‘The Wireless Room’ at the City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
7:30pm ‘Titanic the Musical’ at the Grand Opera House – www.goh.co.uk
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
8pm ‘A Better Boy – Thomas Andrews, Shipwright’ at the Belfast Barge – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
‘Titanic 3D in cinemas nationwide

Friday 13th April
7:30pm ‘Titanic the Musical’ at the Grand Opera House – www.goh.co.uk
7:30pm ‘The Wireless Room’ at the City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
8pm ‘A Better Boy – Thomas Andrews, Shipwright’ at the Belfast Barge – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
8:30pm MTV Titanic Sounds at Titanic Slipways – www.titanicbelfast.com
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide

Saturday 14th April
5:30pm and 11:40pm ‘Titanic the Musical’ at the Grand Opera House – www.goh.co.uk
6pm Titanic Centenary Lecture with Robert Ballard at Titanic Belfast – www.titanicbelfast.com
7:30pm Titanic Centenary Commemoration at Waterfront Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
8pm ‘White Star of the North’ at Lyric Theatre – www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
8pm ‘A Better Boy – Thomas Andrews, Shipwright’ at the Belfast Barge – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
9pm Titanic Requiem at St Anne’s Cathedral – www.belfastcathedral.org
11pm ‘Water Night – A Titanic Vigil’ at Titanic Belfast –www.titanicbelfast.com
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide

Sunday 15th April
9am Unveiling of Memorial Garden at City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
11am Titanic Requiem at St Peter’s Cathedral – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
11am ‘From Loch Ness to the North Atlantic’ – City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
12 noon ‘Sunrise from Carpathia’ brunch service at Titanic Belfast – www.titanicbelfast.com
3:30pm Titanic Commemoration Service and pilgrimage walk at St Anne’s Cathedral – www.belfastcathedral.org
7:30pm ‘The Titanic Story’ at the Ulster Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
8pm ‘Theatre Titanick’ at Titanic Belfast – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
8pm ‘A Better Boy – Thomas Andrews, Shipwright’ at the Belfast Barge – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
9pm ‘Titanic’ (Julian Fellowes version) on ITV
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide

Monday 16th April
7pm ‘Belfast Shipbuilders’ – City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide

Tuesday 17th April
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide

Wednesday 18th April
7pm ‘Father Browne’s Album’ – City Hall – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide

Thursday 19th April
6pm ‘Last Night of a Small Town’ at the Linen Hall Library – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
6:30pm ‘Titanic – Belfast’s Own’ at Public records Office – www.proni.gov.uk
7:30pm ‘The Iceberg’ at the Belfast Barge – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide

Friday 20th April
7pm ‘The Man Who Left The Titanic’ at the Linen Hall Library – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
7:30pm ‘The Iceberg’ at the Belfast Barge – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide

Saturday 21st April
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide

Sunday 22nd April
1pm ‘Sisters to an Icon’ at the Belfast Barge – www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic/
1:30pm TQ 10K at Queens Road – www.athleticsni.org
3:33pm Dock Walk – starting at Dock cafe
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide
‘Titanic – Scenes from the British Wreck Commissioners’ Inquiry 1912’ at the MAC

Monday 23rd April
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide
‘Titanic – Scenes from the British Wreck Commissioners’ Inquiry 1912’ at the MAC

Tuesday 24th April
1pm ‘All At Sea – Maritime Records’ at the Public Records Office – www.proni.gov.uk
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide
‘Titanic – Scenes from the British Wreck Commissioners’ Inquiry 1912’ at the MAC

Wednesday 25th April
Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide
‘Titanic – Scenes from the British Wreck Commissioners’ Inquiry 1912’ at the MAC

Thursday 26th April
‘Titanic 3D’ in cinemas nationwide
‘Titanic – Scenes from the British Wreck Commissioners’ Inquiry 1912’ at the MAC

Friday 27th April
‘Go’ awards at Titanic Belfast – www.titanicbelfast.com
‘Titanic – Scenes from the British Wreck Commissioners’ Inquiry 1912’ at the MAC

Saturday 28th April
‘Titanic – Scenes from the British Wreck Commissioners’ Inquiry 1912’ at the MAC

Sunday 29th April
3:33pm Dock Walk – starting at Dock cafe
‘Titanic – Scenes from the British Wreck Commissioners’ Inquiry 1912’ at the MAC

Another amazing day in the TQ, another blog with LOADS to tell you about all that’s going on – but just for once, all that can wait for tomorrow.  Because tonight there’s something even more important than Titanic: I’ve just become an Uncle.  Congrats to my wonderful little sis, proud mum to a lovely teeny tiny boy.

The story of these years in the Titanic Quarter has been a story of dreams given form.  When I arrived here there was a big gulf between a developer’s dream and the concrete building-site reality; now there are many places throughout the Titanic Quarter where the reality looks strikingly similar to the CGI artist’s impression from just a few years ago.

For example, the Arc apartments…

 

or Belfast Met…

or Citibank

And yesterday, the ultimate dream given form: INSIDE TITANIC BELFAST!!  Tegan and I were honoured and delighted (well -Tegan was honoured and delighted; I was like an excitable child on Christmas morning crossed with a lottery winner) to be part of a group of Titanic Ambassadors given a preview visit to Titanic Belfast, to help the team get up to speed and iron out any wrinkles in time for the big launch on 31st March.

And now I’m sitting typing this blog in another dream given form: Dock Cafe.  We’re meeting neighbours, starting conversations, welcoming strangers, drinking a lot of coffee – it’s everything I could’ve hoped for – and loads more I didn’t expect – when the Dock began with a blank page 2-and-a-bit years ago.  So, in honour of all this progress, I’ve updated (did you notice?) the strapline at the top of the Dock website homepage for the first time since the Dock began.  (Bonus brownie points for anyone who can remember the old one…)

We’re no longer just a vision, just an idea – so the strapline can now tell the story of The Dock.

It began with a vision…
Then it became a walk…
Now it’s a pop-up cafe…
Some day it could be a boat…
But it’s always been about Life in the Titanic Quarter.

Awesome.

And what of Titanic Belfast, you may ask? – did I take any sneaky photos inside, will I give you a sneak preview, what did I think of it all…?  To which I will only answer: Buy a ticket.  NOW.  Don’t be an armchair observer of the Titanic Quarter – come and see, taste, feel, experience dreams becoming reality in Belfast City.

(PS extra bonus bonus brownie points – the phrase ‘a dream given form’ is an obscure reference to a wonderful old sci-fi show called…?)