Theatre Peace Building Academy

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NWPRC will work in partnership with HT, TD and QU to programme a range of internationally based artists, with significant experience of using arts activity in conflict areas / areas of social breakdown throughout the world. These artists will use theatre to promote healing and reconciliation, over a 2.5 year period, throughout N Ireland / Border Counties. Outputs are: 4 x scoping / research & development studies. 4 x six month National / International Residencies. 8 x three week Local Projects. 1 x concluding Arts & Peace Building Public Conference. The project will target those people and communities most affected by the conflict. Scoping studies are proposed with representatives from interface & highly segregated areas (e.g. Tigers Bay, Belfast), historical atrocities (e.g. Monaghan Bombings), victims and survivors (e.g. relatives of The Disappeared) and public sector (e.g. PSNI). Partner HT has significant experience in delivering community relations work throughout Ireland / Border Counties and will assist with participants identification and selection, and advise on community relations issues. The project will reach 8 local artists and estimated 76 cross community participants, and deliver an estimated 2,200 hours of collaborative working time. 4 touring Multi Media Theatre productions will be created (through the National / International Residencies) and 8 non-touring Multi Media Theatre productions (through the Local Projects). The project will use Theatre as a tool to explore community relations issues in a safe, accessible environment. It will facilitate significant cross community interaction amongst participants from diverse backgrounds who will work collaboratively towards common goals. The project will result in meaningful, purposeful and sustained contact between persons from different communities that will promote positive community relations attitudinal and behavioural change. The project contributes to the creation of a positive shared future. We will facilitate art that allows reflection, active dialogue on consequences of conflict, and techniques to engage with painful memories in a liberating, healing and transformative way. The project draws on previous work delivered by NWPRC; in particular the Theatre of Witness project, funded by EU Peace III, that demonstrated that the type of theatre techniques proposed by this application are a catalyst for the formation of close working relationships and the development of enduring friendships amongst people from significantly diverse backgrounds. “It’s unbelievable for me that I’ve sat in the room with, worked with, laughed with, had fun with, cried with, been emotional with a Presbyterian, a Protestant from the Shankhill and a cop...” An estimated 4,000 people will attend the Multi Media Theatre productions created by the project.

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