Heyday of Belfast's Department stores inspires new rambunctious festive comedy

By Joanne Savage
Published 17th Nov 2022, 07:40 BST
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A sparkling new rom com recreating the glory days of the city’s great department stores to be a festive highlight

The Shop at the Top of the Town is a festive comedy musical drama created by one of Northern Ireland’s most exciting new playwrights, Michael Cameron, who also penned the plays ‘Ruby!’ and ‘Carson and the Lady’.

The show steps back in time to Christmas in Belfast 1972, the heyday of the classic luxury stores when Robbs, Anderson & McAuley and Robinson & Cleaver all competed for the best festive window displays while children queued patiently for their trip to Santa’s Winter Wonderland.

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Nestled among these famous stores is Hoffman’s - The Shop at the Top of the Town – whose owner, Felix, has a whole shopping list full of festive woes. The new security barriers are affecting trade, his faithful staff have their minds on romance and Felix fears his wife Cilla might be hanging her tinsel on someone else’s tree.

Appearing in Theatre at the Mill’s new romantic comedy, The Shop at the Top of the Town are (from left): Rosie Barry, Rory McCollum, Libby Smyth, Sean Kearns, Mary Moulds, Marty Maguire and David Marken. The Shop at the Top of the Town will run from December 2-31 at Theatre at the Mill. Tickets for the show are £21 and available online at theatreatthemill.com or by calling 0300 123 7788Appearing in Theatre at the Mill’s new romantic comedy, The Shop at the Top of the Town are (from left): Rosie Barry, Rory McCollum, Libby Smyth, Sean Kearns, Mary Moulds, Marty Maguire and David Marken. The Shop at the Top of the Town will run from December 2-31 at Theatre at the Mill. Tickets for the show are £21 and available online at theatreatthemill.com or by calling 0300 123 7788
Appearing in Theatre at the Mill’s new romantic comedy, The Shop at the Top of the Town are (from left): Rosie Barry, Rory McCollum, Libby Smyth, Sean Kearns, Mary Moulds, Marty Maguire and David Marken. The Shop at the Top of the Town will run from December 2-31 at Theatre at the Mill. Tickets for the show are £21 and available online at theatreatthemill.com or by calling 0300 123 7788

“During my research I was very fortunate to be able to meet a group of people who worked in those iconic stores and they gave me lots of funny and poignant stories. Their memories gave me a real feel for what it was like to work in a department store back then, and I’ve tried to write a script full of nostalgia and glamour. Once the script was finished, I began writing the song lyrics which were then passed to our genius composer Garth McConaghie, who has created some stunning melodies and soundtracks,” he added.

With the Christmas theatre scene packed with pantos, children’s musicals and adult comedies, the creative team at Theatre at the Mill wanted to do something different so Michael looked to the romantic comedies of the Golden Age of Hollywood.

“I thought there was a real appetite for a warm-hearted play that captures the magic of Christmas. I love the old James Stewart film classics such as ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, so my aim has been to create a show which reminds audiences of those classic days of Christmas musicals when all the family gather together to watch,” he added..

The Shop at the Top of the Town will run from December 2-31 at Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey. Visit theatreatthemill.com.

Related topics:BelfastNorthern Ireland