Motorists detoured to facilitate new feature film

Roads Service has given Belfast-based film company Cypress Avenue Films Limited permission to shoot “Limbo” a thriller/love story on the Foyle Bridge every night until Sunday .

Vehicles were excluded from the bridge - one of only two available to people wishing to cross the Foyle - between 7pm and 3am on Monday/Tuesday and between 7pm last night and 6.30am this morning.

Tonight the thoroughfare will be closed between 7pm and 6.30am on Thursday; tomorrow between 7pm and 6.30am on Friday and at the weekend the closing times will be from 10pm to 8.00am.

A spokesperson for DRD Roads service explained: “A film company is currently filming in and around the city for a movie.

“One of the scenes is on the Foyle Bridge and they have been given permission to film during the evenings for a week.

“Filming will take place during late evening (anytime after 7pm) at which time the road will be closed until 6am in the morning. The impact on traffic will be minimal and diversions will be signposted.”

Traffic wishing to travel between the Waterside and the Cityside will have to take the long way around via Limavady Road, Craigavon Bridge, Strand Road and Culmore Road and vice-versa.

The film, with a working title “Limbo” is being made with the assistance of Northern Ireland Screen, the Irish Film Board and BBC Northern Ireland.

It is set on New Year’s Eve and will feature landmark streets around Londonderry including Shipquay Street and Waterloo Street, which will all be lit up with Christmas Illuminations.

It tells the story of four heroes whose lives intertwine over the space of 12 hours, resulting in loss, gangster dealings and love.

“Limbo” is written by Londonderry playwright Lisa McGee whose work includes the hit RTÉ series Raw as well as Being Human, The Things I Haven’t Told You and Totally Frank.

Her plays include, The Heights (Royal National Theatre: Connections) Girls and Dolls (Stewart Parker Award Winner, Susan Smith Blackburn Runner up, Irish Theatre award nominee) Jump! (The Exchange Theatre, New York) Seven Years and Seven Hours (Rough Magic Theatre Company, Dublin) and The Young Man with the Cream Tarts (Sneaky Productions, Belfast)

The film is being produced by Brendan J. Byrne who was Pedro Almodóvar’s UK countepart on The Secret Life of Words (2006) which starred Hollywood A-Lister Tim Robbins and Julie christie and was part-shot in Belfast.

It’s being director by Kieron J. Walsh who controlled the action on Irihs romantic comedy When Brendan Met Trudy (2001), which was written by Roddy Doyle.

Welcoming the film crew to the city last week Mayor Colum Eastwood said: “We are delighted that this movie is being shot in Derry.

“Not only is it great profile for the city, but it will create a great buzz in the city centre. The film crew will be staying locally so it will give the local economy a boost.

“Our staff have been busy putting back up the Christmas illuminations over the past week or so and we are delighted to be part of this feature film,” he commented.