Maiden City Festival community play to tour Derry

As part of the run-up to The Maiden City Festival, a short play entitled “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way From The 12th”, is bring toured around the city.

The play is set at a bus stop on Foyle Street on the afternoon of the annual Apprentice Boys Relief parade as five different people from different backgrounds wait for a bus.

As they are waiting for the bus, they get talking, particularly as it’s the day when the Apprentice Boys are ‘out’. Coming from different backgrounds and experiences they all have very different opinions and perspectives on the day, but as they are all standing waiting for the same bus, they have to find a way to get along.

The play is an entertaining and humourous look at issues around parading and the history and culture surrounding the Apprentice Boys and the famous Siege of 1688-89. The play seeks to create dialogue and is followed by a facilitated discussion where the audience get a chance to engage with the subject and personally respond to issues raised.

The play is being staged at The Central Library (2pm, Tuesday 30th July), Fountain Street Community Centre, Strabane (7pm, Tuesday 30th July), Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership (11am, Thursday 1st August) and New Gate Arts Centre (8pm, Friday 2nd August).