Northern Ireland’s healthcare crisis is to to star in the latest theatre production coming to the Down Arts Centre in Downpatrick.
AFTER a very successful first run at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, c21 Theatre Company is taking the hugely popular ‘Stitched Up’ production on tour throughout Northern Ireland later this month. The show hits the road on a Northern Irish tour from Wednesday 25 February until 14th March 2015, with a tour production to take place in Downpatrick on Saturday 14 March 2015.
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Richard Clements, who plays Aidan in c21 Theatre Company’s production with his on stage wife, Kate, played by Roisin Gallagher. Darren Franklin is the antagonist, Ruari in this darkly comic production.[/caption]
‘Stitched Up‘ features Aidan, a surgeon in the NHS, who is reaching melting point in his career. His wife, Kate, a high profile peace-facilitator is meanwhile preoccupied with her campaign to remove the peace walls in Belfast. Their passionate relationship is tested by the differences developing between their careers. The production also features the complexities of the Northern Ireland landscape, not to mention the arrival of Ruari, who forces Aidan to make a life or death decision.
Stephen Kelly has taken on the major directorial role with ‘Stitched Up’ and is co-founder of the c21 Theatre Company. Stephen directed the award-winning production ‘Choices’ in 2014 for c21 Theatre Company that looked at the subject of underage binge drinking.
The production won an Arts and Business NI award at the 2015 awards ceremony.He added: “The sold-out opening night at the Lyric Theatre was a huge success. It would seem that we really struck a chord with people, much more than we could have imagined. I think that many people have had their own personal experiences of the NHS, whether it is negative or positive experiences, and that has drawn them to the show.
“Of course it was Rosemary Jenkinson’s personal experience with the NHS that inspired the show, so to be able to portray that in this satirical comedic production has had a few people in stitches to say the least.
“What is happening in the NHS is quite serious, but I don’t want to be deceptive as this is an entertaining show. It is a satirical and smart production where we poke fun at some of the serious aspects of the NHS, but it also highlights relationships and the complexity of the Northern Irish landscape. This will provide you with a hearty laugh. It is an enthralling show.”
‘Stitched Up’ touches heavily upon the interplay between lead characters and their relationships. Rosemary Jenkinson explained: “a power struggle is almost developing between the two lead characters as they reach such different points in their careers. I wanted to fully examine and explore the stress that our surgeon, Aidan, experiences in his role and how this affects him and his relationship with his wife.
“This is a show not to be missed so we are encouraging everyone to come along. Since we are doing a tour across Northern Ireland, there are no excuses not to see one of the most talked about shows, as we will be in a theatre near you!
‘Stitched Up’ will be in the Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick on Saturday 14 March 2015.
For more information and to buy tickets please telephone 028 4461 0747.
Some Tour Dates February • Wednesday 25th at 8pm: Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry 028 3031 3180
March
• Saturday 7th at 8pm: The Courtyard Theatre, Newtownabbey 028 9034 0202 • Friday 13th at 8pm: Island Arts Centre, Lisburn 028 9250 9254 • Saturday 14th at 8pm: Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick 028 4461 0747
Rosemary Jenkinson – Playwright
Rosemary suffered for two and a half years from debilitating pain from cysts on her spine, which required a serious operation. Even the simplest of things like sitting was extremely painful and was destroying Rosemary’s ability to write. As her condition was so rare, the only specialist in the field was in London, but the referral was taking such a long time that in the end Rosemary had no other alternative than to fund the operation herself.
Rosemary Jenkinson is from Belfast. She studied Medieval Literature at Durham University and was an English teacher in Greece, France, Poland and the Czech Republic before returning to Belfast in 2002. Plays include The Bonefire (Stewart Parker BBC Radio Award), The Winners, Johnny Meister + the Stitch, Basra Boy (Brassneck), Planet Belfast (Tinderbox) and Ghosts of Drumglass (Kabosh). Her previous play at the Lyric was White Star of the North in 2012. Her plays have been performed in Dublin, Edinburgh, New York and Washington DC and she was writer-on-attachment at The National Theatre Studio in London 2010. Castlereagh to Kandahar was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. A collection of short stories, Contemporary Problems Nos. 53 & 54, was published by Lagan Press in 2004.
Stephen Kelly – Producer, Actor and Founder c21 Theatre Company
Stephen co-founded the Company in 2005 when, as a graduate from Gaiety School of Acting Dublin, he wanted to create professional theatre in his home city of Belfast. He went on to act, produce and direct in over fifteen productions throughout the last ten years. He strongly believes that as a touring company in Northern Ireland, audiences should have the opportunity to experience professional theatre. The Company has toured extensively to rural areas on numerous occasions around the country and continues to explore opportunities nationally and internationally.
Originally from Ballymena, his recent theatre credits with c21 include ‘Appendage’, Irish Tour 2012 ‘Not a Game for Boys’ ‘Choices’, Time Flies, PS Your Cat Is Dead, Polonius in Hamlet, Zoo Story and Sex, Drugs Rock n Roll.
Stephen performed ‘A Game of Two halves’ for Spring Lane productions as part of the City of Culture Derry 2013. Anna Weiss (Spanner in the Works Irish Tour), Caucasian Chalk Circle (GSA Peacock, Dublin) Applicant (GSA James Joyce Centre Dublin).
He has numerous TV and film credits to his name; some of which include Sean Brady in Betrayal of Trust Kevin McMullan in The Big Heist for Ch4; Mountbatten for BBC2, Aiken (RTE/Mint Prod.) and Snooze (Make Films). His film ‘The Race’ (Grand Pictures) with Colm Meany was recently aired on Sky Movies and BBC2.
Roisin Gallagher
Roisin is from Belfast and trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Previous Theatre credits include; The Holy Holy Bus (Brassneck) Pentecost, Demented, Weddins, Weeins’ and Wakes, White Star of the North, Dockers and Be My Baby (Lyric Theatre). The Trouble with Harry (TheatreofPluck). Belfast by Moonlight (Kabosh Theatre). A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Royal Lyceum Theatre). The Christening (Rawlife Theatre). Aladdin (Lana Productions) The Haunting of Helena Blunden (Big Telly Theatre). Sleep, Eat, Party (Tinderbox Theatre). The Wicked Lady (New Vic). Cinderella (c21 Theatre). The Bloody Chamber (Northern Stage). Much Ado About Nothing and The Merchant of Venice (Glasgow Rep.)
TV: Doctors (BBC One); The Fall (BBC Two).
Radio: Translations (BBC Radio Four); Ulster Volunteers (RTE Radio One); Love Letters from the Front (BBC Radio Ulster).
Film: Made in Belfast (KGB Productions); To Loose Control (Scattered Images); Eyeline (Marine Media).
Richard Clements
Richard trained at the Royal Welsh College.
His recent credits include the feature film A Christmas Star due for release in November 2015 and the second season of The Fall. He also worked at the Traverse Theatre at last years Edinburgh Festival on Spoiling, which won a Fringe First award and transferred to the Theatre Royal in Stratford East.
Other credits include:
Theatre: Summertime, Bruised, Caught Red Handed ( Tinderbox) Pride and Prejudice the Musical, Cinderella, The Miser, Pentecost, Spokesong, Observe the Sons of Ulster, Paradise, The Wizard of Oz, The Nativity, What the Reindeer Saw ( Lyric Theatre ) Same Time Next Year ( Skewiff/Belfast Film Festival), Comedy of Errors ( Theatre at the Mill ), Titanic Boys ( GBL ), Collecting Culture ( Kabosh ), The Old Curiosity Shop ( Gate Theatre ), Transparency ( Ransom ), Arguments for Terrorism ( Oran Mor/Ransom ), Over the Bridge ( Green Shoot ), Confusions, Blue Remembered Hills, O What a Lovely War ( Bruiser ), Have a Nice Life ( Pleasance ), Lovers ( Big Telly ), The Dreamer Examines His Pillow ( Stray Dawg ), Danny Boy ( Westcliff Palace )
Film and TV credits include: Good Vibrations, The Keith Lemon Movie, Free Spirits, Titanic Town, S.O.S The Titanic Inquiry, Betrayal of Trust, Scapegoat, At Water’s Edge, Wodehouse in Exile, The English Class, I Can’t Stop My Dream ( NI Screen Short ), Cleansed ( Short )
Richard has previously worked with c21 on Zoo Story and Time Flies.
Darren Franklin
Darren is a 22 year old actor from Belfast. He trained at the Rainbow Factory School of Performing Arts.
Previous c21credits include: Choices; Hansel and Gretal
Theatre Credits include: Mixed Marriage; Macbeth; The Home Place (Lyric Theatre); Herons; Private Wars; Teechers(Pint-sized Productions); Teenage Kicks; Snow White and the Seven Dwarves; Cinderella; Aladdin(Millennium Forum); Egg (Cahoots N.I.); Lay Up Your Ends (Charabanc Theatre Company)
Television, film and radio credits include: Betrayal of Trust; Dry Your Eyes; Give My Head Peace(BBCNI);Lord Mountbatten(RTE/History Channel);Grand Mal (Silver Sombrero Pics).2012 Road Safety Campaign (DOE).
Darren is a multi-instrumentalist, specialising in piano, guitar, alto saxophone and the tenor horn, amongst others. He also received a distinction in his ALCM in singing from the London College of Music in 2011. He has musically directed “Little Red Riding Hood” for the Rainbow Factory as well as the Christmas special of “It’s William Caulfield, So It Is”.
As well as performing, Darren enjoys playing sports and has an Antrim All-Star in Gaelic Football.
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