Respect Works Both Ways – review
[Courtesy (unknown), September 18th 2005]
A large crowd gathered at the St. Joseph’s Parish Hall on Thursday evening for the performance of ‘Respect Works Both Ways’.
The play was a collaborative effort between the ‘Off the Streets’ initiative and the Galliagh Women’s Group. The drama was the result of discussions and workshops between young and old people. The rehearsals were run by respected local writer, Irene Melaugh who penned “The Dumped Divorcee Support Group” and “Me Da’s Suit”.
The greater Shantallow and Galliagh areas have often suffered from anti-social elements and a large number of young people on the streets. This play was organised in order to develop some understanding between the young people who ‘play’ in the street and the older residents who seek peace and quiet.
Judging by the smiles on the faces the devised piece was very well received.
Respect Works Both Ways – Stars in the making (Derry News)
[Courtesy Derry News, September 26th, 2005]
Members of the Galliagh Drama Group pictured before going on stage for their performance of “Respect Works Both Ways” at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall. The performers are made up of women from the Youth Forum and local Women’s Group. Included are Alison McDaid, Off the Street Initiative, and Irene Melaugh, producer and facilitator.
Members of Galliagh Women's Group before performance of "Respect Works Both Ways".
Respect Works Both Ways – Youth Drama at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall (preview)
[Courtesy (unknown), pre September 15th, 2005]
GALLIAGH YOUTH Forum and Galliagh Women’s Group in partnership with ‘Off the Streets’ Initiative are to perform a 30 minute drama piece exploring and addressing adult’s perceptions of young people,
The piece, which has taken three months to produce, is entitled “Respect Works Both Ways” and explores the issues young people have on the streets and the implications this may have for local residents.
Alison McDaid, Youth Outreach Worker with ‘Off the Streets’ said: “Young people often clash and have a difference of opinion to that of the adult community. This play gave both groups the chance to explore some of these issues and educate each other on their circumstances.”
The play centres on Margaret and her blessed “rosiedandrums” (Rhododendrons) which have been ruined by the “half-rared wains” of the street. The play was written by four local women and will be performed by these four women and six local teenagers, creating a fascinating comedy, not to be missed!
Supported and facilitated by Irene Melaugh. writer of “Me Da’s Suit” and “The Dumped Divorcee Support Group”, this is a witty and warm performance for the whole community to enjoy. lrene Melaugh welcomed the opportunity to work with the community and address issues important to all.
Patrice Meehan, from the, Galliagh Youth Forum added: “The play has helped us understand the concerns of local residents and let us have our say on what it is like to be constantly moved on”.
“Off the Streets’ initiative welcomes everyone to this free performance, which will take place in St. Joseph’s Parish Hall, Galliagh, on Thursday September 15th at 7.30pm.
Respect Works Both Ways – Galliagh play to look at ‘respect’ (preview)
[Courtesy (unknown) September 13th, 2005]
A play devised after a collaboration between the Galliagh Women’s Group and the young people from “Off the Streets” initiative is to be performed at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall this coming Thursday.
The comedy/drama examines the relationships and perceptions held by the young about the old and vice versa.
Speaking about the play, called “Respect works both ways”, project facilitator and renowned local writer, Irene Melaugh said: “The play originates from the Galliagh noise issue. That is the noise generated by a number of young people in the streets and how the matter could be resolved.
“This is not a scripted play. It has been ad-libbed which gives it a realistic feel. The young and old people working it out and saying how they feel.
“I think both sides developed an understanding of each others point of view. There is certainly no bad or good argument in the issue.
Working on the play for the last three months Irene says she developed a new understanding of the problems faced by the area’s teenagers.
“It made me think of my own youth and realise that these young people have nothing else to do. They are being pushed from one street corner to another. Their argument was ‘we live in this street too!’.
“I’m a mother myself so I understand how the older people feel about the noise but hopefully this drama, which is immensely funny to be honest, will open the issue up and help bring a solution to the problem.”
‘Respect works both ways’ will be performed at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall this coming Thursday at 7.30. The whole community is welcome.
Me Da’s Suit – interview (Your Local Sunday)
[Extract courtesy of "Your Local Sunday", May 29th 2005]
I had no idea where the suit was until one of the characters came into the story wearing it.
“I ended up marrying the man who asked me for directions. We got married in the Long Tower Chapel and I moved to America with him. I didn’t stop to think that I was going to a country that I didn’t know, I didn’t worry. I wasn’t smart enough to be worried. I was leaving all my friends and family and it didn’t really hit me until I got there.
US Culture Shock
“When I got there it was a total and utter culture shock. I went to San Francisco a few years ago to visit my son and I found it very much like here, the shopping. television and all the usual mod cons. But when I first arrived in America we had nothing like that here, they were so advanced. They had these massive shopping malls and when I left Derry all we had was Austins and Woolworths.
“The speed of life there was difficult to adjust to. We lived in Buffalo, which was four miles from Niagra Falls, on the border between Canada and America. It was so cold there in the winter. Every house had two doors. In winter a storm door and an inner front door and in summer a screen door to keep the insects out and the same with the windows. Sometimes in winter we would waken to find five feet of snow had fallen overnight and it was an effort just to get out of the house.
“I really missed my family and friends. In Buffalo like most places in America there are many different communities.. German, Polish and Italian, but very few Irish. I lived in the Italian Community and loved it. The Italians are like the Irish, they’re very up front and family orientated and great craic. My neighbours were mostly older people and used to make me pasta and pizza and to this day I still love Italian food. I think they felt sorry for me, they looked on me as a bit of an orphan because my husband’s family lived in Pennsylvania and I had no one else there.
“I lived there for seven years when I became ill. I decided to come home for an extended holiday and never went back.
“When I came home I worked in my brothers shop. I also worked in a jeweller’s shop and did some counselling for Interlink. Over the years I had three more children. I thought about going back to school at different points but the children were more important.
Moving on
Many years later when Irene’s children had grown tip she found herself at a loose end when they all left home within a few months of each other.
“‘The children had been my life for so long and I just woke up one morning and thought: ‘What am I going to do?’ I joined the Galliagh Women’s Group and I was doing a course with them when a tutor from the North West Institute came into verify the work. I wrote a poem for the verifier and she really liked it and not long after that I started tutoring in the North West Institute.
“I joined an all-woman comedy group called ‘Stretchmarks’ and started writing ten minute sketches. It was great experience because it gave me a chance to see how t(i structure something like that, with a beginning, a middle and an end. From time to time I commissioned for local organisations to write sketches about social issues like drug awareness.
They used to ask me, if I could make depression funny and that was the kind of thing I did.
“A friend of mine told me an unusual story about her father’s only suit. It gave me the idea for ‘Me Da’s Suit’. I really enjoyed writing what would turn out to be my first full length play. When I finished writing it I thought it was a good effort and that I might be able to get some one to stage it. I took it to The Playhouse in Derry where it debuted in October 2003 and played to packed houses every night.”
Irene has enjoyed massive success with ‘Me Da’s Suit and her next play, ‘The Dumped Divorcees Support Group’ is due for release in February.
Meanwhile, Irene is adamant that Derry should have its own soap opera and would have no problem producing such a show.
“This town is hiving with stories and characters, they love to see their own and something like this would go down really well.”
In the meantime Irene is concentrating her efforts on more writing for the stage, with two more plays in the production stage. This former shirtmaker looks set to be gracing our stages again and again in the future.