Jo Egan
Having worked as a playwright and director in the community theatre sector in Dublin, Jo relocated to Belfast in 1996. In the following eighteen years she worked in and with communities that experienced the worst of the Troubles - not only creating theatre but also facilitating drama and creative writing workshops, as well as creating accredited training programmes for community, health and education workers interested in using arts practice in their work.
Having worked as a playwright and director in the community theatre sector in Dublin, Jo relocated to Belfast in 1996. In the following eighteen years she worked in and with communities that experienced the worst of the Troubles - not only creating theatre but also facilitating drama and creative writing workshops, as well as creating accredited training programmes for community, health and education workers interested in using arts practice in their work.
Access, Authorship, Participation and Ownership Community Arts Forum, Belfast 1994 – 2011
In evaluating past work Jo discovered that a process of exploring, recognising and valuing what participants know often leads to a clearer understanding and valuing of their own knowledge and creativity. When this confident voice - married with an artistic practice - is applied to the deconstruction, reassessment and rebuilding of narratives, it often explodes long held perspectives, permitting new insights and meanings to break through.
In evaluating past work Jo discovered that a process of exploring, recognising and valuing what participants know often leads to a clearer understanding and valuing of their own knowledge and creativity. When this confident voice - married with an artistic practice - is applied to the deconstruction, reassessment and rebuilding of narratives, it often explodes long held perspectives, permitting new insights and meanings to break through.
Rachel Nicholson, Matthew McElhinny Image John Dougan
Crimea Square (2013)
This large-scale production charts the amazing story of the Shankill Rd from 1912 to the present day. Based on real stories, written with local people, Crimea Square covers major events from the signing of the Ulster Covenant up to and beyond the Shankill bomb in 1993. Combining a commissioned sound-scape and film backdrop with the script, the Shankill of yesterday and today is stunningly recreated. Using a mix of professional and community actors this play was the hit of Belfast Festival 2013.
Alison Jeffers, Manchester University. is currently researching and compiling a study on Crimea Square which will form a chapter in a forthcoming book on Applied Theatre, edited by Helen Nicholson.
Image: Prime Cut Productions
Ritual of Life (2010)
Jo was commissioned by Castlereagh Council to create a play from interviews with nine older women from Protestant communities in Ballybeen and Lisburn. Ritual of Life was the result of this powerful process. Delivered by professional actors for events such as Holocaust Memorial Day and Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar studying Conflict Transformation.
Jo was commissioned by Castlereagh Council to create a play from interviews with nine older women from Protestant communities in Ballybeen and Lisburn. Ritual of Life was the result of this powerful process. Delivered by professional actors for events such as Holocaust Memorial Day and Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar studying Conflict Transformation.
Bernadette Brown, Mary O'Conner, Bernie Pauley. Image: Mervyn Smyth, Belfast Exposed
Time After Time (2003)
by Kate Muldoon
Blue Flax Women's Theatre Company
Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Belfast 2003
Abbey Theatre 100, Samuel Beckett Theatre, Dublin 2004.
Time After Time charted six decades, (1950-2010) of Belfast women's history using song and performance.
by Kate Muldoon
Blue Flax Women's Theatre Company
Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Belfast 2003
Abbey Theatre 100, Samuel Beckett Theatre, Dublin 2004.
Time After Time charted six decades, (1950-2010) of Belfast women's history using song and performance.
Pat Bowen & Maureen Harkens. Image: Belfast Exposed Archive
The Wedding Community Play (1999)
by Marie Jones, Martin Lynch & the Company
Artistic Director and Concept: Jo Egan
"Its the wedding day of Damien Todd and Nicola Marshall...and while everyone's misgivings might only be spoken behind closed doors, we have joined the cast behind those doors...As each of the scenes unroll we hear noises off - a shout, a thundering of feet. Only when we've been ushered to another room, another scene do all the noises of the house fit together. Nowhere in Belfast is off stage" Luke Clancy, The Times.
by Marie Jones, Martin Lynch & the Company
Artistic Director and Concept: Jo Egan
"Its the wedding day of Damien Todd and Nicola Marshall...and while everyone's misgivings might only be spoken behind closed doors, we have joined the cast behind those doors...As each of the scenes unroll we hear noises off - a shout, a thundering of feet. Only when we've been ushered to another room, another scene do all the noises of the house fit together. Nowhere in Belfast is off stage" Luke Clancy, The Times.
Actor, Laura Hughes. Image: Leon Litvack
The Community Writing:
Reading & Writing for Peace
Lyric Theatre Belfast: Polish Playwrights Project
Impossible Dreams, Playhouse Theatre Derry
Mount Vernon: More than Just a Mural
Prison Arts Foundation
CEO: The Creative Writers Network. 2002 - 2003
Oral Archives
Cornerstone, Springfield Road
Wedding Play Research Interviews
Belfast Jewish Community
Castlereagh Ballybeen & Lisburn Women's Oral History Archive Project
KABOSH Productions, Shankill Road Archive
Crimea Square Oral Archive Project
Voice Coach, Ross Anderson working with the cast of Crimea Square. Image: John Dougan
Training for community and education workers
Drama: A Basic Toolkit
Course Design & Delivery. Created in collaboration with Gerri Moriarty, this course was created and delivered for and with community, youth, health and education workers wishing to use drama and story-telling workshop techniques in their work. Delivered on behalf of the Community Arts Forum, Belfast.