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Drama on 4: DeLorean

Drama: SciFi & Fantasy

DeLorean

29/07/2011

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, DeLorean

The ambitious story of John DeLorean's gull-winged sports car built in Belfast.

The ambitious story of John DeLorean's gull-winged sports car which gave hope to 2,000 workers in Belfast, all wishing to 'live the dream' at the height of the Troubles.

Northern Ireland was a very dark place in the 1980's. A hunger strike was looming and street violence and tit for tat murders were an everyday occurrence but in a small corner of West Belfast something extraordinary was happening. In a factory in Dunmurry a unique new sports car was being built, a DMC 12, a style icon for the late twentieth century. For two years John DeLorean brought hope to communities flattened by the Troubles in Northern Ireland, where every other person was out of work and the unemployment rate was the highest in Western Europe. This is the story of that two year dream as seen through the eyes of key employees - including a union representative, an assembly line worker and a supervisor. Over 9,000 DMC's were produced during this period, cars which today still retain their cult status. The workforce put their heart and souls into this car plant believing that this was going to be the start of a better future, they too could 'live the dream.' 

Glenn Patterson is one of Northern Ireland's leading contemporary novelists. He has also written various plays for radio and is co-writer on the feature film 'Good Vibrations' which is to shortly commence filming in Northern Ireland. 

Cast

Liz - Michelle Fairley
Anto - Richard Dormer
T.C. - Rhys Dunlop
Al Benetar - Stuart Milligan
James Callaghan - Anton Lesser
Robert - Patrick Fitzsymons
Various Roles - Paul Kennedy


Producer - Clare Delargy 
Director - Gemma McMullan
Writer - Glenn Patterson.

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