Theatre project gives a voice to residents

C21 Theatre Company, one of Northern Ireland’s leading theatre companies, is collaborating with care and nursing homes across the country on a unique project.
By Julie-Ann Spence
Published 23rd Oct 2020, 08:58 BST
Eoghan Lamb (cast), Damian Smyth Head of Literature Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Colm McCready (cast), Stephen Kelly Director c21 Theatre Company, Christina Nelson (cast) and Debra Hill (cast)Eoghan Lamb (cast), Damian Smyth Head of Literature Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Colm McCready (cast), Stephen Kelly Director c21 Theatre Company, Christina Nelson (cast) and Debra Hill (cast)
Eoghan Lamb (cast), Damian Smyth Head of Literature Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Colm McCready (cast), Stephen Kelly Director c21 Theatre Company, Christina Nelson (cast) and Debra Hill (cast)

‘Through The Glass’ The Reminiscence Project creatively interacts with residents stimulating conversations and encouraging them to share stories from their past. A selection of these stories will be developed into theatrical films and shared with residents and councils.

The project, supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland through its National Lottery Fund, regional councils and Doyle Shipping Group, features five short theatrical films based around the theme of home, community, school days, work and going out.

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The films will feature actors, music, visuals and poetry and will be broadcast between November and December on c21 Theatre’s YouTube Channel and social media platforms.

c21 Theatre Company worked with the education departments within local museums to supply reminiscence loan boxes to the nursing and care homes who used them in workshops facilitated by the activity coordinators located in the homes. The loan boxes contained historical items ranging from powdered milk from WWII to 1970s shoes. The stories gathered provided the project’s writers Gary Wilson, Tom Rowntree-Finlay and poet Shelley Tracey with content for brand new work for the films. The films, which are directed by Stephen Kelly and produced by Donna Hunter, feature local actors Colm McCready, Christina Nelson, Debra Hill, and Eoghan Lamb.

Director Stephen Kelly said: “COVID-19 has been very challenging for us all but especially has had a huge impact on the arts and social care sectors.

“As a touring theatre company, we quickly had to find ways to adapt as well as remaining true to our ethos of providing relevant and memorable theatre experiences. With the support of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, councils, museums, care and nursing homes we believe we have developed a project that clearly demonstrates how the arts is vital to connect with and give our communities a voice - especially to care and nursing homes.”

For further information visit www.c21theatrecompany.com.

Related topics:Northern Ireland