'Citizen' World Premier To Show In Castlewellan

‘Citizen’, a poignant, relevant and funny new play by Belfast-based writer Vincent Higgins.xa0 The play will be staged at The Lodge Cultural Centre in Castlewellan at 8pm on Saturday 5th March. Citizen is a truly Northern Irish production that stands on its soap box to address the key questions of government and citizenship that are immediate and relevant to all of us. This production features three of Northern Ireland’s best young actors – Kerry Cleland, Julie Maxwell and Downpatrick-born Shaun Blaney – with new music performed by Belfast bandxa0Silhouette and produced by Belfast-based Replay Theatre Company. Three actors play a range of characters, including cleaners, motivational speaker, migrants and state officials. Difficult choices, disappointments, hopes and regrets all feature in Vincent Higgins’ fast-moving (and very moving), quirky and entertaining vision of a future where immigration is limited because there is not enough food to go around. [caption id="attachment_20676" align="alignleft" width="282" caption="Citizen... a futuristic look at where we just me be in a few years time."][/caption] Tomorrow is here. After the World Food Riots of 2012, new policies are in place regarding immigration and citizenship. Two Citizens address a group of Junior Citizens, preparing them for the brave new world ahead.xa0 Unnoticed by the Citizens, three cleaners go about their work with even their everyday business transformed by the events of the preceding few years.xa0 But one of them has a particular interest in the outcome of today’s immigration selection… In a country where it is claimed that more young people voted for X Factor than in the general election, and where over a tenth of MLAs in the Northern Ireland Assembly are unelected, Citizen shoves aside Uncle Sam and the historic stalwarts of Revolution to take a satirical look closer to home and expose our own illusions of democracy. To purchase tickets (£10/£8) or for further information, please contact the box office at Down Arts Centre on 028 4461 2233. Citizen is suitable for age 14+ years. The Ultimate Guide is available for download at www.downartscentre.com and can be picked up throughout the district.]]>