Local performers bring story linking northwest and USA to life at Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre
A remarkable story linking Ulster, Scotland and the United States will take centre stage at Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre this October, with a cast of local dancers, actors and singers bringing ‘The Unfinished Broadside’ to life.
Taking place on Friday, October 2, the free performance explores the extraordinary story of John Dunlap, who was born in Strabane in 1746 and left Derry Quay for America at just ten years of age.
Dunlap went on to become a successful printer and was involved in printing some of the first copies of the United States Declaration of Independence, which was formally approved on July 4, 1776.
Printed as large posters known as broadsides, Dunlap’s editions became an important part of American history, with just 26 copies of the original Declarationbro adsides known to have survived.
But The Unfinished Broadside is about more than one man. Through drama, music, dance and storytelling, the production explores the journeys of those who travelled from Scotland to Ulster and onwards to America, and the connections, stories and traditions that travelled with them.
Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Dawn Huggins, said: “The Unfinished Broadside is a wonderful example of how our shared history can be brought to life through the creativity of local people.
“John Dunlap’s story is a fascinating connection between our own part of the world and the history of the United States, yet it is a story that many people may not know.
“I’m particularly pleased to see local performers and the Dungiven Fife & Drum taking part in this production, giving audiences the opportunity to discover a piece of our shared heritage while enjoying an evening of music, drama and dance.”
The production itself has grown from a community arts project led by the North West Cultural Partnership, with the participants developing the theme and working alongside professional creatives to bring their ideas to the stage.
The cast features local dancers, actors and singers from across Londonderry, Strabane and Donegal, combining Irish and Highland dance with music, drama and storytelling.
The production has a strong local connection, with Limavady-based dancer Hollie Hunt, taking to the stage as part of the cast. Audiences will also hear from Dungiven Fife & Drum, who will open the performance.
The creative team includes Jonathan Burgess of Blue Eagle Productions, who worked with the participants to develop this original musical play, and Georgina Kee-McCarter of Sollus Highland Dancers who created the choreography, alongside local designers who helped bring the costumes to life.
This production forms part of the wider USA-NI250 programme celebrating the historic connections between Northern Ireland and the United States. As part of these celebrations, a blue plaque commemorating John Dunlap was unveiled in Strabane in 2026, recognising the local beginnings of a man whose little-known story would become closely linked to the birth of the United States.
The Unfinished Broadside takes place at Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre, Limavady, on Friday, October 2 at 8pm, with doors opening at 7.30pm. Tickets are free, but booking is essential.
The performance forms part of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s USA-NI250 programme, celebrating the historic and continuing connections between Northern Ireland and the United States through music, heritage, performance and culture.