PROJECT SHAKESPEARE

Teaches Kids About The Theatre And Each Other

"This has been the best year of my life," says Aine. "I have made so many friends - although she and Ricky come from different neighbourhoods - they still keep in touch. Their parents make sure of that.

The teenagers were not privileged children or high achievers with bright futures. They were just regular kids growing up in tough Belfast neighbourhoods. Half the children were Protestant and the other half were Catholic. The teenagers studied Hamlet-in their separate schools.

When the time came, they got together to fly to London for their whirlwind day It started off with a private meeting with Kenneth Branagh himself. He regaled them with stories of his childhood in Belfast and inspired them with his love of the theatre. When the teenagers finally sat down to see the four-and-a-half- hour (!) matinee of Hamlet, they were enthralled. "Not a murmur from them," says Monica Culbert, co-ordinator of Project Shakespeare. Shortly after the show, they rushed to the airport for one of the last planes to Belfast.

Sharing such an exhilarating experience gave these teenagers a special bond. "We were strangers at the start and twelve happy tired friends coming home," says Monica. It went so well that the following year-with help again from Kenneth Branagh-Monica took twelve more kids and decided to stay overnight. The kids saw Sir Derek Jacobi in Macbeth. Again, the Protestants and Catholics got along fantastically They talked \with each other well into the night-much too excited to sleep or care about differences.

Project Shakespeare is still going strong-in large part because of Kenneth Branagh's continued patronage. He still guarantees good seats and private meetings with the actors. "This is an excellent venture which I've had the privilege to bc associated with in a small way," Branagh says, modestly underestimating his role. "Its tireless workers and its laudable aims deserve the support of all who believe in peace, co-operation and the future of the children." Things are going so well that the outing has been stretched to two days in London and includes follow-up reunions for the kids-and their parents!

The last outing was a little different; they didn't see a Shakespearean play but the old bard's presence was still felt. Here's how Monica Culbert describes the trip: "We went to Stratford-upon-Avon, the home of Shakespeare, to see The Lion, The Witch and Wardrobe by CS. Lewis. To celebrate the centenary of CS. Lewis, The Royal Shakespeare company, performed Lewis's beautiful children's fairytale. CS. Lewis was born in Belfast so it was great that we shared in the celebrations. We decided to take slightly younger children this year-10 to 12 years old-so they would have the opportunity to go to America together in the summer. The show itself was totally amazing. And then to the delight of all of us, the stars of the show joined us for tea! What a day! That night we sat around and talked about it and the children really bonded. There was more fun the next day as we toured Warwick Castle and then flew home. All I can do is echo the words of Ricky Armstrong, one of the children, "It was a magical weekend."

A few months later, most of the children did go to America. Two of the kids, Aine McVeigh and Ricky Armstrong stayed with the same host family! When the kids returned from America there were more get-togethers. "This has been the best year of my life," says Aine. "I have made so many friends". Although she and Ricky come from very different neighbourhoods -she's Catholic and he's Protestant-they still keep in touch. Their parents make sure of that.

On Wednesday, September 6, 1995, four chaperones, Sally & Jack Brennan and Monica & Michael Culbert, took twelve young adults from Inner City Belfast to see Henry V at the Barbicon Theatre, London.

The group consisted of five Protestant and seven Catholics (4 boys and 8 girls). They came from five schools and one training centre, Springvale. The two girls from Springvale were Anne Marie Weir, age 20, from a tough loyalist area called the Shankill and Breige Cahill, age 18, from a Catholic area called Ardoyne. Michael Culbert is their tutor. These two girls are doing courses at Springvale and only met because of Project Shakespeare. They were an asset, looking after the younger ones and becoming fast friends.

We left home at 5:45 PM on Wednesday and arrived at the London Hotel by 9 PM. It was lashing rain but, undeterred, the 16 of us ventured out to see London. Each chaperone was in charge of 3 teenagers. Picadilly at 10:30 PM was a sight to be seen. Outside Planet Hollywood who did we see but Tom Hanks. He was there after the premiere of Apollo 13. Did we hear squalls of delight from the girls!! On the way back to the hotel, we passed the Colombian Football Team who had just played a soccer match against England. We got autographs and photographs and there was no angering the group.

Mrs. Culbert and Mrs. Brennan did bedtime patrol. The girls all ended up in one room, talking the night away. Religion and polities meant nothing-they had a great night.

On Thursday September 7 at 9 AM we headed off for the theatre where we had a backstage tour, a talk with two education officers, a workshop and finally an interview with Ian Glenn, the star of the play. After lunch, we watched the play which lasted three hours. Not a word was spoken by anyone in the group as they watched this highly powered, fully explosive show of war.

Some comments by the teenagers;

George Mellon-"I never saw anything like it in my life."

Andrea McDonald-"The play became alive, I loved everything."

Susan Doherty, Sarene McDonell, Karen McGinley-"We had a great time, especially everyone talking last night, all the girls were so nice, we made good friends."

Ann Marie Weir-"If the peace process works at home, we could always be like this."

As usual, the trip was a success. We saw a wonderful play but more importantly, 12 teenagers became friends as they mixed, talked, and made some lovely memories. This is our third year. We have touched 36 families and slowly, we hope, we are helping young people to see how much alike all of us living here are and what good friends we can be.

January 1996 - We have met our Summer Interns, our Project Shakespeare group, and our Pilot Scheme children again and the friendships they made are still intact and giving.

Hope reigns!!

Monica Culbert