Lincoln Courtand Clooney kids rebuild theWalls of Derry

Children from the Clooney and Lincoln Courts Youth Clubs have rebuilt the city walls ahead of The Playhouse’s new Siege commission, ‘Walking to the Ark,’ which will run at the local theatre from this evening, Wednesday, May 27 to Saturday, May 30.

In a project organised by the Siege Museum and facilitated by the Playhouse, children from Clooney Junior Youth Club and Lincoln Courts Junior Youth Club took part in special arts and crafts workshops with set designer from The Playhouse Phil Ruddock last week.

The workshops were held ahead of The Playhouse’s major legacy commission for 2015, a new piece exploring the Siege of Derry.

Written by Carlo Gébler, the eldest son of writing aristocracy, Ernest Gébler and Edna O’Brien, ‘Walking to The Ark’ opens tonight.

The award winning Hamilton Flute Band will also provide original composition for the play.

The Playhouse production tells the story of Colonel Thomas Whitney, soldier in the Irish army, and his mistress Martha.

Twenty-five years after fathering a child by his mistress, Colonel Whitney finds himself inside Londonderry during the 1689 siege when his son, a Jacobite, arrives in the city, as a prisoner.

Directed by Kieran Griffiths, the cast for the new piece includes Tara Breathnach.

Tara’s television and film work includes the role of Tina in TG4’s ‘Ros na Rún’, Ann Boleyn in a BBC docu-drama series, ‘Holby City’ (BBC), ‘Fair City’ (RTÉ), ‘The Tudors’ (Showtime) and ‘Tracy Beaker’ (BBC).

Dermott Hickson (recently seen in in BBC’s ‘6 Degrees’) and British/French actor Peter Hudson, best known for his role as a recurring villain in the series ‘Highlander’ and the Canadian series ‘Grandstar’ will also star.

Dermott, who trained at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York was also recently seen in Colin Bateman’s TG4 and BBC show ‘Scúp’.

“We’re just delighted to work with the Siege Museum to get local young people involved in this lovely creative response to such an important part of this city’s history,” according to the play’s director Kieran Griffiths.

“It’s a powerful way to provide fun, creative educational events based on events surrounding the Siege. Well done to all the children involved in creative such great pieces,” he added.

Carlo Gébler’s ‘Walking to the Ark’ will run at The Playhouse from Wednesday, May 27 to Saturday, May 30.

Tickets are priced at £15/ £12 and are available now from The Playhouse Box Office on (028)71268027 or online at the website: www.derryplayhouse.co.uk