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Masque 2009
Hannastown Community Centre’s Women create their visual stories
Hannahstown is a wee community, part of Belfast, but very much set on its own on the mountainside, to the extent that on a rainy day it disappears into the clouds.
Adjacent to St Joseph’s Chapel stands Hannahstown Community Centre, a Grand Design that Kevin McCloud would show more than a passing interest in, and it was here that our own Chelley McClure started a series of taster sessions with the women’s group in creative writing, reminiscing about the area’s colourful past.
The centre came on board as one of our core groups in November as the women followed up on earlier work by translating their stories into visual images, working with artist Anne Quail to create a painted banner and felted piece. Both artworks are to be hung pride of place in the centre, marking the contrast between the modern new building and the Hannahstown they remember from the past.
Gay and Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland in performance
One late November morning, 5 rather nervous looking youngsters stood outside Clifton House, some smoking a last cigarette, others clutching a cup of coffee for warmth and comfort…. all for the sake of art. These famous five were the core group of a drama project set up between Gay and Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland (GLYNI) New Belfast tutor Rachel McCabe, and were about to give the performance of their lives!
Originally the idea was to explore through drama and role play the day to day experiences of young LGBT people in a fun and creative way. Encouraged by group leader, Liam, the participants decided to use one of the scenarios they devised to illustrate the mother of all issues, “coming out”, at a conference hosted by the Eastern Health and Social Services Board on health needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. His reasoning was that young people deserved to have their voices heard, and that a drama presentation would have more impact than the other factual based items expected. Hence that morning in November….
After a few hours of pretty in depth analytical discussion, GLYNI made their way to the front of the room and took the audience by storm. It was hard to keep a serious face when James, playing the suicidal brother who finally came out, announced with a toss of his head “Depressed! Of course I’m depressed! I’m sitting here drinking straight vodka through a curly straw!” The story did have a fairytale happy ending, unlike many real life experiences, and led the way to many an animated discussion amongst health care professionals over the ensuing lunch break.
Conference organiser Anne McGlade, Equality Manager for the EHSSB, was delighted with the presentation itself and the impact it had on the other delegates;
“Increasingly I am becoming more impressed and excited by the value of drama and the contribution that it can make in getting across sensitive messages in both a creative and imaginative way".
A further spin off from the project came when the group were approached by a PIPS (Public Initiative for the Prevention of Suicide and Self-Harm) suicide prevention trainer asking to include the role play dialogue as part of her future training!
