Sole Purpose Productions Annual Report 2020-2022

Sole Purpose PRODUCTIONS

Report 2020-2022 —1

Sole Purpose Productions is a multi award winning theatre company that has been making theatre on social and public issues for 25 years.

We aim to produce new innovative theatre that contributes to social change, explores the dynamics of human relationships and promotes good relations.

We bring art to the heart of the social, economic and creative life of communities locally, nationally and internationally.

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Welcome from our Chairperson The year 2020/21 was a very difficult year for many arts organisations, and for Sole Purpose Productions. Every project on our 2020/21 programme was postponed, as it became clear that the pandemic was going to last much longer than any of us had imagined. This inevitably impacted on the output and production of our work. Nonetheless, we managed to ‘pivot’ to deliver some of our programme online, and pushed a number of projects into the 2021/22 season, adapting rapidly to the extraordinary circumstances of lockdown.

You, Me and Patriarchy continued online and developed our partnership with The MakeyUppers. We produced a new online resource of Every Move You Make for schools and youth groups.

distanced audience within the theatre, and live streamed across the world with spectators joining from Ireland, the UK, Syria, USA and Germany. It was sold out and received standing ovations.

We partnered with Solace House in New York, delivering the online Blinkered Mental Health Programme with high school teachers based in New York City and State. This programme emerged from our play Blinkered, which tackled the issue of youth suicide and its impact on the remaining family members.

Sole Purpose celebrated 25 years in February 2022. We convened a Festival of Theatre for Social Change working across three professional venues and seven community venues. Contributing local, national and international companies included: Blue Eagle Productions (Londonderry), The MakeyUppers (Derry), Kabosh Theatre Company (Belfast), Graeae Theatre (London), The Freedom Theatre (Palestine), Khayaal Theatre Company (Luton) and Smashing Times Theatre (Dublin).

We ran online English Conversation workshops with refugees using theatre techniques to help refugees to improve their English, which is one strand in our ongoing outreach and artistic work addressing migration and refugees.

May 2021 saw the production of She Wants to be a What? by Berni Kerr, postponed from May 2020. This new play by a local writer explores the journey of a young transgender man from their mother’s perspective. It was performed on livestream from The Derry Playhouse and Accidental Theatre in Belfast.

Patricia Byrne’s new play Samara’s Shop premiered in 2021. This original work explored similarities between Irish and Arabic culture, language, dance, and music, and was developed in collaboration with the local Syrian community, and workshopped with Arabic-speaking actors now resident in England. It was performed to a socially

Sole Purpose presented our own production Scenes From An Inquiry by Dave Duggan, to mark the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and to commemorate one of the early productions of the company, this production was directed by Kat Woods.

The achievements of the years 2020-22 in very difficult circumstances emboldens us for the work ahead. The challenges we are all facing now, present obstacles but also opportunities for companies like Sole Purpose. We are very grateful to our core funders the Arts Council of NI for their continuing support, and the many funders who support our programme. It is in these times that the arts are needed most.

Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick — Chairperson —3

Our Team Patricia Byrne Artistic Director and Co-Founder Patricia is a producer, director and writer. She has written eight plays for the company including Blinkered which toured the island of Ireland to great acclaim and won the Special Jury Prize at Origin Theatre's 1st Irish Festival New York 2019.

Her longest running piece Don't Say A Word toured Ireland and the UK for ten years and was nominated for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2008.

She has produced and directed over twelve productions by new and emerging writers which have toured extensively throughout Ireland and the UK, and have been staged in the USA, including Life and Love: Lesbian Style by Hilary McCollum which won the Eva Gore Booth Award for Best Female Performance at the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in 2014.

In all of her work she addresses issues that are relevant and important to local and international communities. She received the Noel Walsh Freedom Award in 2012 and the Helen Harris Freedom Award in 2014 for making a significant contribution to LGBT rights through theatre work. Patricia believes that making powerful theatre that deals with important issues can make the world a better place, one step at a time.

Aoibh Johnson Social Media / Administrator Aoibh Johnson is a copywriter and theatre maker with a particular interest in performance art that champions activism and social change. Aoibh works extensively as a writer both creatively and for the corporate sector. She took her onewoman play The Daughters of Róisín to the Adelaide Fringe Australia in 2020. Aoibh has worked alongside Sole Purpose in numerous roles since graduating in 2017 and is proud to advocate for the fantastic work they consistently produce.

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Our Board

Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick

Patricia Byrne

Ciara O’Connell

John McQuaide

Dr Lisa Fitzpatrick

Chairperson Dr Lisa Fitzpatrick is Senior Lecturer in Drama at Ulster University Magee, and a founding member of the Irish Society for Theatre Research. Her research focuses on violence in performance, women's writing, and feminism in Ireland. Her current work is on the performance of rape on stage.

She teaches Irish Theatre and North American Theatre.

Don McCamphill

Ann Marie Thompson

John McQuaide

Ciara O’Connell

Ann Marie Thompson

Don Mc Camphill

Vice Chair John McQuaide is currently doing a PHD in Harm Reduction and Alcohol Use. He was previously the Co-ordinator of the HNC Health and Social Care Programme at North West Regional College. He has 17 years Higher Education Teaching experience and of serving on academic boards. He has multisectoral knowledge of education, health, social care, justice and local government. He has a keen interest in the arts as a tool for social change

Treasurer Ann Marie Thompson has over 30 years’ experience working in the finance sector in various management positions and holds a Diploma in Banking. Being a consistent supporter of performance and the arts and their intersection with education, she greatly appreciates the work done by Sole Purpose and their assistance in the advance of education to the public.

Secretary Ciara is an in-house solicitor at a multinational insurance firm. She completed her degree and legal training at Ulster University and College of Law and practiced in England as a litigator for a number of years before returning to her native Derry. Ciara is qualified to practice in Northern Ireland, Ireland, England and Wales. Ciara takes a keen interest in local arts projects and, in particular, projects using art as a vehicle for social change.

Board Member Don is a writer-director who has worked with a number of major theatres including Soho Theatre in London, 7:84 (Scotland) and Aisling Ghear (Belfast). His own writing includes a number of screenplays for BBC, Calipo Theatre & Picture Company, and his own company Dancing Eye Films.

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Samara’s Shop

By Patricia Byrne In September 2021 Sole Purpose produced Samara’s Shop by Patricia Byrne, which explores the similarities of Irish and Arabic cultures. The content was developed through workshops with actors, musicians, Irish speakers, Arabic speakers and Syrian refugees.

The performance included Arabic, Irish and English languages. We built on existing relationships and worked in partnership with the North West Islamic Association and Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin to work with and reach our beneficiaries. The project was a culmination of all the work done between the Arabic and local communities over the past few years, and was a celebration of both

cultures. There were three in person performances in The Derry Playhouse, to a socially distanced audience as some restrictions were still in place. The first night was also livestreamed across the world. The performances in theatre were sold out every night and received standing ovations. Many people watched online including family and friends of the Syrian actors who are in Syria and other parts of the world. The development process was funded by the Arts Council of NI Small Grants Programme, the production was funded by the Community Foundation for NI. —6

“Samara’s Shop was simply fantastic. I learned so much and the characters were so well drawn – seriously didn’t ever think or know about the points of commonality before. Sole Purpose should be so proud.”

— Maureen McLaughlin

“Samara’s Shop was really beautiful. I enjoyed watching the play.” — Rahaf Raad

“What a great night and a fantastic play!

We really enjoyed it. I want to watch it again!”

— Hamed Zuhairy

“Congratulations! Samara’s Shop was incredible. Thank you so so much. We really enjoyed watching it.”

—Mohamad Otah Bachi

Photo Credit: GAV CONNOLLY

“I thought Samara’s Shop was really well done – the writing in particular, grasped a number of themes simultaneously and with an ease of flow! I appreciated the way the play captured the commonalities of our humanity, regardless of history, geography or journey. Well done to Sole Purpose and the team for bringing this together!”

— Amanda Biega, Good Relations Officer DCSDC —7

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Photo Credits: GAV CONNOLLY

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Sole Purpose 25 Years: Festival of Theatre for Social Change Sole Purpose celebrated 25 years in February 2022. We convened a Festival of Theatre for Social Change working across three professional venues and seven community venues in the city. Contributing local, national and international companies included: Blue Eagle Productions (Londonderry), The MakeyUppers (Derry), Kabosh Theatre Company (Belfast), Graeae Theatre (London), The Freedom Theatre (Palestine), Khayaal Theatre Company (Luton) and Smashing Times Theatre (Dublin).

“We had a fantastic time in Derry celebrating the Sole Purpose 25 years festival!

What a line up. How lucky are we to have this fantastic cohort of artists on our doorstep”

Scenes From An Inquiry “This kind of theatre should be seen by everyone in this country and beyond.”

by Dave Duggan The programme included renowned local playwright Dave Duggan’s Scenes from an Inquiry, directed by Kat Woods (a graduate from Derry’s Drama programme at Magee and under commission with the Abbey Theatre Dublin). The play explores the experiences of the Bloody Sunday families giving evidence at The Saville Inquiry, it also marked the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. It was performed by Caoimhe Farren (The Ferryman – West End), Nicky Harley (Rough Girls – Lyric Theatre) and Michael Johnston (On the Street Where I Live – The MAC).

The play was on for 3 nights in The Derry Playhouse and received standing ovations.

World’s Apart

by Jonathan Burgess As a juxtaposition piece Blue Eagle Productions presented World’s Apart by Jonathan Burgess. This play presents the experience of the Protestant community in the early 70s in Londonderry. It explores the theme of people who left and people who stayed.

Photo Credits: GAV CONNOLLY

“Beautifully acted and directed, the show articulated the dynamic within the family and the sisters. I cared about them and their experience as a family.”

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The Revolution’s Promise The Freedom Theatre from Jenin Refugee Camp in Palestine held a two day workshop and a rehearsed reading of The Revolution’s Promise with local actors, students and activists. The Freedom Theatre are interested in building links with Sole Purpose and we look forward to future collaborations.

“The Revolution’s Promise was an absolutely excellent performance! I was blown away.

The local artists telling the stories of artists in Palestine was very powerful. I felt very inspired by the resilience and the resistance which the arts brought to the Palestinian freedom movement. I have been telling a lot of people about it and I hope the performance happens again.”

From the Daughter of a Dictator Yasmeen Audisho Ghrawi brought her play From the Daughter of a Dictator which explores the personal story of migration from Baghdad to Beirut to Berlin to Britain.

Her performance was captivating and very informative. It was followed by a Q&A which allowed a very interesting discussion

Photo Credits: GAV CONNOLLY

Muslim Heritage Tales for Children Khayaal Theatre Company from Luton brought their Muslim Heritage Tales for Children: a selection of Muslim cultural stories in a bilingual (Arabic and English) performance, suitable for ages 6 and above. Alia Alzougbi told the stories of Sabira, Waseela and Little Red Riding Hijab to an enthralled audience of adults and children, Arabic and English speakers.

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Graeae Theatre Residency The world-famous Graeae Theatre Company were in residence with Lilliput Theatre for a three day period, culminating in a sharing of work with an invited audience. The group gained a lot from this experience and will use the new techniques they learned in future productions.

Callings

by Dominic Montague Kabosh Theatre Company presented Callings by Dominic Montague, which tells the stories of the LGBT community in Belfast in the 70s and the development of the Cara Friend helpline. It was a packed house with standing ovations.

Mystery Bag The local comedy theatre duo MakeyUppers presented their Mystery Bag shows at various community venues throughout the week, entertaining children and families with their hilarious and highly energetic shows.

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The Woman is Present Women’s Stories of WWII Smashing Times Theatre presented an interdisciplinary event titled The Woman is Present: Women’s Stories of WWII, recalling stories of bravery, sacrifice and love amidst the horror of war. This was a brilliant contribution telling the stories of Ettie Steinberg and Simone Veil.

Hello Charlie

by Caoimhe Farren The last event of the festival was a Rehearsed Reading of Hello Charlie by Caoimhe Farren. This is a new piece of writing which is a black comedy about trauma, sisterhood and breaking the cycle of familial addiction. It was developed through the New Playwright Programme 2021 at The Lyric Theatre Belfast. It visibly moved the audience and received a standing ovation. This is one to watch out for.

“A Script and Acting that is bang on the mark. A privilege.”

The funders of Festival of Theatre for Social Change were: Derry City and Strabane District Council, Community Foundation NI, Community Relations Council, Ulster Garden Villages, Arts Council NI. — 13

“Fabulous play and performances, promotion of equality and transgender rights are vital”

Photo Credit: GAV CONNOLLY

She Wants to be a What?

By Berni Kerr Sole Purpose produced and directed ‘She Wants to be a What?’ by Berni Kerr. The play tells the story of the mother of a young transgender man, and her journey through his transition. The play was first produced for Foyle Pride in 2019. We had planned to tour it in 2020 but were not able to because of the pandemic. It was postponed three times.

We finally managed to stage it again in May 2021. Due to the restrictions that were still in place there was no audience. The play was livestreamed in The Derry Playhouse and Accidental Theatre in Belfast to great audience responses. The production was funded by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland Social Justice Programme.

“Really important topic well explained, I enjoyed getting families perspective” “The play highlighted lots of important and relevant issues that need addressing, more education is required around these sensitive issues”

“Excellent work, informative, more stories need to be told relating to LGBT issues” — 14

Sole Purpose worked in partnership with the MakeyUppers to design and deliver a programme of Zoom workshops exploring Patriarchy- what it is, why it is and what we can do to challenge it in our own lives. They used prior training in ‘Liberation from Patriarchy for Gender Justice’ and the writing of Cathy Higgins as a basis for their research.

The project was funded by the Community Foundation NI Gender Justice Fund.

“I now have some tools to teach my children and to challenge limiting values and beliefs expressed by others.”

“I found I am speaking out more and challenging patriarchal views and opinions.”

“I stopped thinking of feminism as a dirty word.”

Story Stew Devising Theatre with Adults with Learning Disabilities

Photo Credit: AURORA PHOTOGRAPHIC AGENCY

Sole Purpose developed and delivered theatre devising workshops with Lilliput Theatre Company who are adults with learning disabilities. Gemma Walker-Farren devised the programme and facilitated the workshops. The project provided the group with a fresh outlook on theatre and a new approach to performance. This was the first time they devised their own material. They

had creative control over everything from characters to script and storyboarding the final film. This was also their first time working with a green screen and film making/acting for camera. They learned about recording voiceovers and got lots of new ideas for future projects. This project was funded by the Halifax Foundation NI. — 15

Blinkered Mental Health Theatre Project, New York We delivered five online sessions in partnership with Solace House Suicide Prevention Center in New York, using theatre techniques and our play Blinkered, which won the Special Jury Prize in Origin Theatre’s 1st Irish Festival in New York in 2019, to raise awareness of mental health issues. The sessions included: a video of the play followed by an online Q&A with the actors, director and writer; presentations on mental health issues in the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities; developing and devising short scenes entitled ‘Scenes of Intervention’ which

illustrated how to recognise the signs and symptoms of suicide and how to talk about this issue.

We made five videos which are on the Solace House and Sole Purpose Websites and youtube channels. There were ten participants who were mainly high school teachers in New York, actors and people associated with Solace House. The project was funded by the Arts Council NI Support for the Individual Artist Award.

“We believe that teaming up with Patricia Byrne was a unique and powerful way to promote and normalize the conversation around mental health and suicide. We're grateful to have been part of this experience.”

— Sheena Mullan, Marketing and Clinical Coordinator, Solace House

“The play Blinkered should be in every high school in America.

Blinkered is a really profound and important play that should be shown to everybody. This is going on all over the world and Sole Purpose are the first people to really bring this to light, to start educating us all. I never thought I would see this in a play.” — Denise Dunleavy, project participant

Photo Credit: — 16 GAV CONNOLLY

Every Move You Make

by Patricia Byrne Every Move You Make is a play about abusive relationships among young people, which we have been touring very successfully since 2012. In 2020 we had planned a tour of 20 schools and youth centres across Northern Ireland.

Instead, we made a video of the play so that it could be viewed on line. We also recorded the Q&As with representatives from Foyle Women’s Aid, Youth Action NI, NSPCC and Tearmann Domestic Violence Services in Cavan. We made a trailer to send to schools and youth centres, and we created a video resource pack, in consultation with Foyle Women's Aid Young People’s Centre, which consists of short clips from the play along with discussion points that teachers and youth workers can use with groups. The pack also includes a copy of the published play which has a workshop plan that can be used with groups.

This resource will be available for years to come and can be included in the Learning for Life and Work Curriculum, the Preventative Curriculum and Enrichment Sessions.

The project was funded by the Community Foundation for NI Tampon Tax Fund.

The March of Time

Theatre Lab for Women

In October 2020 we produced the short film The March of Time by Edie Shillue, which is a comedic look at three sisters in their 50s going through the menopause.

They had planned a weekend together to remember their deceased sister, but now have to reminisce through a zoom call.

The sisters were played by Caitriona Cunningham, Maureen Wilkinson and Cathy Brennan Bradley. The video was made for the Southern Health Board and Business in the Community NI for the launch of their Menopause Policy.

We ran an online Theatre Lab for Women for International Women’s Day in March 2021. There were six brilliant plays in development from Edie Shillue, Caitriona Cunningham, Nandi Jola, Berni Kerr, Aoibh Johnson and Alison Martin. The actors who took part were Abby Oliveira, Mel Bradley, Cathy Brennan Bradley, Gemma Walker Farren and Aoibh Johnson doubled up as actor and writer. The online workshop enabled writers and actors to join from across Ireland. This was the first Theatre Lab for Women that we had run, it proved very beneficial for the participants as some of the scripts were on sensitive issues and the women could discuss more freely in an all female setting.

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Work April 2020 – March 2022 The March of Time by Edie Shillue - video Every Move You Make - online resource for schools and colleges You, Me and Patriarchy in partnership with the MakeyUppers - online project Samara’s Shop by Patricia Byrne - online development workshops Blinkered Mental Health Project, in partnership with Solace House in New York, English Conversation Sessions - online workshops with refugees Story Stew - a theatre project with Lilliput Theatre Company ‘She Wants to be a What?’

by Berni Kerr, live-streamed from Derry Playhouse and Accidental Theatre Belfast.

Samara’s Shop by Patricia Byrne, Derry Playhouse Sole Purpose 25 Years: Festival of Theatre for Social Change Scenes From An Inquiry by Dave Duggan to mark the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday Worlds Apart by Jonathan Burgess, presented by Blue Eagle Productions Graeae Theatre Residency with Lilliput Theatre Company The Revolution’s Promise from The Freedom Theatre based in Palestine Muslim Heritage Tales for Children presented by Khayaal Theatre Company From the Daughter of a Dictator by Yasmeen Ghrawi The Woman is Present from Smashing Times Theatre Hello Charlie by Caoimhe Farren The Mystery Bag Tour in partnership with the MakeyUpper

Past Productions

By Patricia Byrne Samara’s Shop Blinkered Every Move You Make A Wee Taste Don't Say A Word See No Evil Camden Tales Under The Carpet Snow White - The Remix

By Dave Duggan Riders to the Road AH6905 The Recruiting Office Scenes from an Inquiry Waiting…..

Without the Walls The Shopper and the Boy

By other writers She Wants to be a What?

by Berni Kerr

Mothers Out Front

by Edie Shillue

The House

by Edie Shillue

Pits and Perverts

by Micheal Kerrigan, script developed by Patricia Byrne

The Maidens’ City: A Herstory of the Walled City

by Anne Crilly

Galatea

by Lawrence Aronovitch

Clouds on a Mountain Road

by Orna Akad

Did you Come by Boat?

by Elly Omondi Odhiambo and Patricia Byrne

The Shadowmen

by Debbie Caulfield and Rea Curran

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Our funders, supporters and partners Our Core funders: Arts Council of Northern Ireland Our Programme funders: Derry City and Strabane District Council Community Foundation NI Halifax Foundation NI Arts Council NI SIAP Award Community Relations Council Ulster Garden Villages Our partners: North West Islamic Association Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin Blue Eagle Productions The MakeyUppers Kabosh Theatre Company Graeae Theatre The Freedom Theatre

Khayaal Theatre Company Smashing Times Theatre Lilliput Theatre Company Solace House New York Foyle Women’s Aid Youth Action NI NSPCC Tearmann DVS

Very many thanks to The Derry Playhouse and all the staff for their ongoing support.

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Sole Purpose PRODUCTIONS

5-7 Artillery Street Derry/Londonderry BT48 6RG E: solepurpose@mac.com T: +44 (0) 28 7127 9918 W: solepurpose.org FB: Sole Purpose Productions IG: @solepurposeproductions T: @SolePurpose_ YT: Sole Purpose Productions Registered as a company limited by guarantee in Northern Ireland | NI37481 A charity registered with the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland | NIC100618 Financial statements are available on request

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