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.

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".

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.

[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.

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.

THE COMEDY EXPERIENCE

Well here we ar, we’re what you see,

We’re sure  not in to modesty,

We’re bold, we’re brash,

We’re big, we’re bad,

We’re the best night’s fun, we’ve ever had.

Stretchmarks Theatre Company started life as Stretchmarks Unlimited two years ago. Since then the group has performed in many venues both here (Derry, Northern Ireland) and Donegal (south Ireland).

We are a cross-community, cross-border group whose members draw on a wide spectrum of experience, both in drama and music.

We provide a varied nights entertainment wherever the venue and whatever the occasion.

Stretchmarks Theatre Company is the only all female theatre group in the area. We write all our own material, mainly comedy, and members are involved in a wide range of activities.

There are six members in the company, plus our director, Rosie O’Hara. Three members from the Waterside, three from the CIty-side and one from Donegal.

MEMBERS OF STRETCHMARKS

PRODUCER: Rosie O’Hara

CAST: Nuala Bradley, Tracey Cullen, Irene Melaugh, Berni Kerr, Bernie Mahon, Lesley Porter.

With saggy boobs, and rolls of flab,

We think we’re absolutely fab,

Our teeth are false, our hair is dyed,

We’re anything but dignified,

We’re STRETCHMARKS!

*Stretchmarks are pleased to be members of the Oral and Written Network

** This event has been funded by Co-operation Ireland, through the Special support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.

Los Angeles (California) writer Gloria Goldsmith putting actors in the Irish Womanspeak through their line at the rehearsals of the play to be held at the Playhouse. Included are Irene Melaugh, Madeline McCully, Bridie Canning, Pat Burne, Anne Crilly and Kathleen Hutton.

Gloria Goldsmith and the actors of "Womanspeak"

Group pictured at the EGSA’a Adult Learners week “Make The Right Connection” conference in the Playhouse. Included are, seated, Carmel McCafferty, Irene Melaugh, Maggie Bernard and Kate Ingram. Standing are Paul Haslam, Tom McKeever, Sharon Moran, Seamus Murphy, Patsy Slater, Ivan Armstrong and Brendan Patterson.

Members/attendees at EGSA's "Make the right Connection" conference.

Irene Melaugh’s new play, ‘Flick’, will premiere at The Millennium Forum on Wednesday, May 23  and run until Saturday the 26 (2007). This is the third play from the pen of the Derry playwright, and like her first two it delves into the lives of ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances.

Set in a hairdressing salon, which is frequented by some very.unusual clients, this is a comedy with a seriously funny twist. Lucy the proprietor has been struggling for years to keep her business afloat. Undaunted by the fact that the plumber has repossessed her sinks and cut off the water supply, she advertises for a hairdresser to hold down the fort so she can get to Mexico to meet up with Wan (Jan) the sailor she met on a night out that’s when everything starts to go under.

The play has several extremely diverse characters. Lucy the salon proprietor lost the love of her life but twelve years later is desperate to marry anyone to get escape the clutches of her domineering mother. Played by Aslinn Harley who has spent the past five years performing in theatres around England, and presenting programmes on Channel 4 Television. Aslinn is a native of Derry. “It will be the first time my mother has seen me perform. I’m both excited and nervous. But also very pleased to be appearing in The Millennium Forum”.

Maurice the gay would-be hairdresser finds the love of his life, and experiences the shock of his life in the salon. Played by Stephen Sellers who was discovered working behind the t*lll in Pr*lmark, and has turned *Into a total prima donna, and a gem of a comedian. Its hard to believe watching Stephen that this a debut performance. Lola the local lady of the night staggers in and out of the salon. Full of life and fun, no one knows her heartbreaking secret. Until that is, fate takes over. bringing out the truth, and shocking everyone. Played by Maureen Wilkinson, a dedicated and enthusiastic performer, who’s portrayal of the tragic Lola will touch your heart.

Minnie the recluse, who has made a hair appointment every week for the past ten years but never shows up, finally appears in the salon. And what she discovers there changes her lonely life forever. Played by Anita Peoples the unforgettable, “Sarah,” In Irene Melaughs play, ME DA’S SUIT

Flick is the story of a hairdressers where, you let your hair down, and get your spirits lifted. A place where you will meet unforgettable characters in a heart-warming comedy of lost love reunited.

The Derry Playhouse writers pictured with Gloria Goldsmith, seated centre, whose play Womanspeak, was staged at the Playhouse. Included are Anne Crilly, Gloria Goldsmith, Margie Bernard.

Author of Womanspeak (Gloria Goldsmith seated centre) with actors in the play.