Bloody Sunday play to premiere at the Alley

The events of January 30 1972, a day forever etched in the minds as ‘Bloody Sunday’ will never be forgotten by the people of Derry.

Much about the slaughter of 13 innocents has been dedicated to stage, screen and the written word but now, for the first time, we will get the views of the women who lived through it in a new play.

‘4 Days in Derry’ is written by Derry playwright Bernadette McFarland and tells the story of the day from the female perspective. The show consists of a series of monologues written by Bernadette following extensive interviews with female family members of the victims.

Speaking of the production, Bernadette said, “It’s an extremely emotionally charged piece, documenting what happened on that fateful day, a march which I was actually on myself as a young teenager. We’ve heard so much surrounding Bloody Sunday but, to my knowledge, never anything from the women, so I set about identifying the right sources and interviewing women about their own experiences on the day and the aftermath. After conducting the interviews I sat down to write the piece, both laughing and crying along with my subjects as I put their words on the page on this phenomenal journey; the emotions are still as raw as they were over fifty years ago.

“We will have a series of actors, some of who have never been on a stage before, reading aloud the monologues and since rehearsals began in late August last year, they’ve been amazing to a woman. There’s a Strabane connection with former journalist Bernie Mullen, known to many in Strabane and Derry, taking on one of the roles and Jenny Patton also on board. Bernie came in at a late stage to replace someone and she’s been amazing, having learned her entire piece in just one night!”

Bernadette has praised the people of Strabane for their interest in the play, as a one-night stint turned into two such was the demand for tickets. She is dedicating the play to two huge influences in her writing care; Pat Mulkeen and Eddie Kerr.

Bernadette remarked, “These two wonderful people were my inspiration for writing and I have appeared in one of Pat’s own plays ‘Just Another Sunday’. Sadly, neither is with us anymore but I couldn’t have done it without them!”

‘4 Days in Derry’ will play at the Alley Theatre on February 15 & 16 at 8pm. Tickets are priced at £12.