Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee pens new drama exploring lockdown isolation
Six new short drama commissions from some of Northern Ireland’s biggest names in writing and acting - including Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee - will explore the positive and negative aspects of social isolation and lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under the title Splendid Isolation: Lockdown Drama, the five minute theatrical pieces, produced by some of Northern Ireland’s premier theatre talent, will be collated and broadcast on BBC Two NI in June and made available afterwards on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer.
The venture is part of a collaboration between the BBC and the Lyric Theatre, with support from the Arts Council in Northern Ireland.
The project is part of a wider national collaboration between BBC Arts, theatres and Arts Councils in each nation in this challenging time for the creative sector.
The films have been written by top writers including Lisa McGee (Derry Girls), Owen McCafferty, (Ordinary Love, The Absence of Women), David Ireland (Cyprus Avenue), Abbie Spallen (Pumpgirl ), Sarah Gordon (Sinkhole in Guatemala) and Stacey Gregg (Scorch).
Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee says: “I’m thrilled to be working with the Lyric and the BBC on this ambitious project and to be collaborating with such exciting Northern Irish talent”.
They will be directed by Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones), Des Kennedy (Harry Potter & The Cursed Child/Good Vibrations), Emma Jordan (Artistic Director, Prime Cut Productions), Jimmy Fay, (Exec Producer, Lyric Theatre) and Cathy Brady, (Wildfire/ Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope) and Damian McCann.
Splendid Isolation: Lockdown Drama will broadcast on BBC Two at 10pm on Thursday June 25.