Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - News

17 June 2010

An innovative arts programme using drama and theatre to promote reconciliation and mutual understanding within Donegal and on a cross-community and cross-border basis.

Smashing Times Theatre Company with support from Donegal CDB Peace and Reconciliation Partnership are delighted to announce an innovative new project called Acting for Change. The project aims to use drama and theatre activities within Donegal to engage participants from a cross-border and cross community perspective; bringing people together to explore themes that are a consequence of the conflict in Northern Ireland and the Southern Border counties. The project aims to use drama and theatre to address segregation in Donegal and across the border and to promote equality, diversity and the coming together of different communities in mutual understanding and respect.

This project has been supported by the PEACE III Programme, managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Donegal County Council. This project is part-financed by the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund through the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Donegal County Council. Over the coming year a series of events will take place as follows:

1. Outreach Programme and Five Taster Drama Workshops

2. Ten Storytelling Workshops to encourage the sharing of people’s experiences of the legacy of conflict and to promote peace and reconciliation with cross-community and cross-border participation

3. Ten Anti-Racism and Anti-Sectarianism Workshopsthrough Drama with cross-community and cross-border participation

4. Five Equality Workshops through Drama

5. Professional Performance on Tour –with invited cross-community and cross-border participation and all performances followed by post-show discussions to discuss issues raised

6. One Day ‘Reconciliation and Equality Seminar through Drama’ with cross-border and cross-community participation

7. Final Report and Evaluation printed in booklet and web-based format.

The workshops for this project are conducted by professional theatre practitioners from Smashing Times Theatre Company and are very accessible and informative as participants do not need to have any previous knowledge of drama and are open to all those interested in taking part. Each drama workshop is two and a half to three hours long and offers an introduction to issues around reconciliation, equality, anti-racism and anti-sectarianism exploring for example what underpins stereotypes and myths about ‘the other’. Exploration is through active participation in theatre exercises and improvisations using the creative, participative and experiential processes of drama. Adults and young people develop a stronger awareness of the issues through a quality arts experience.

Smashing Times Theatre Company would like to hear from schools and communities interested in taking part in this project. If you are interested in having a workshop take place in your local school or community please contact: Freda Manweiler freda@smashingtimes.ie or 00 353 1 8656613 or mobile 00 353 87 2214 245.

Smashing Times Theatre Company Ltd is a professional theatre company involved in professional performance, training and participation. The work of the company is underpinned by a rights-based approach and a commitment to artistic excellence and social engagement. The company has four high profile patrons – Maeve Binchy, Brian Friel, Tim Pat Coogan and Robert Kee. Smashing Times Theatre is supported by Dublin City Council Arts Office. As part of this project Smashing Times are working in collaboration with a range of organisations including the Irish Peace Centres, the Mid-Ulster Women’s Network, the Balor Arts Centre and Plain Speaking Community Theatre.

Smashing Times Theatre Company Ltd

Coleraine House, Coleraine Street, Dublin 7.

Tel: +353 (01) 8656613 Email: info@smashingtimes.ie

www.smashingtimes.ie