The Learning Age Project the WEA programme of learning for the over 50’s is proud to present two of its premiere drama groups in a production of Same Old Moon.

This is a joint production between Top Women from the Top of the Hill and The Happy Go Luckies from Creggan. Top Women formed in 2008 and have worked on two devised presentations using stories and memories from their own lives. They have also performed at conferences and at the WEA’s AGM.

The Happy Go Luckies were formed in 2009 and presented “One hundred Pounds to A Penny” – a true story of smuggling and intrigue from the war years, presented to the group by Josie McLaughlin one of the Happy’s members. They have also performed at open days in the community.

Mary Duddy WEA Tutor directs the dress rehearsal of Same Old Moon.

The two companies worked together as part of the Spring Chickens Project last year to great response and presented a joint project for Culture Night last September. They also co-presented an intergenerational project with First Act Youth Theatre. The two groups so enjoyed working together that they decided that they would like to do a joint scripted production. The group explored “Same Old Moon” and decided that with some work it would be the perfect vehicle for them.

They are also joined by members of First Act Youth Theatre both on stage and as stage crew and it is wonderful to see this intergenerational involvement continue in the LAP programme.

The play tells the story of a young girl; Brenda Barnes as she tries to follow her aspirations of becoming a writer. The story spans from the 40’s, through to the 60’s and the attitude to the young girl’s hopes and dreams clearly reflects the times. She is constantly put down by the members of her family and in particular by her father who remarks; “Who do you think you are?” Another family member tells her to “settle” herself.

“Become a typist. A job where you sit down all day – sure wouldn’t it be heaven”. Brenda longs to have a proper father /daughter relationship but back then men did not show their emotions readily as modern day fathers do now. Nor did they give women the respect that they were due and this is shown in the relationship with the mother as well as the daughter. All Brenda wants is a hug and a pat on the back from her father. All she gets is a constant stream of mental abuse. The mother is given “a hard time” by the father – even when he passes away; she remains psychologically trapped by him, unable to move forward.

The story follows them to London, retelling the hardship of the Irish trying to find work and finding out that more often than enough that the Irish were not even welcome. In the end Brenda does succeed not in her own home country but abroad becoming a respected dramatist. The play finishes in the 1980’s and by the end, she realises that she is actually very like her own father in some ways. However, the play is not all doom and gloom and uses comedy for the characters to get through even the most difficult situations. There are some hilarious moments with unforgettable characters like Café Daphne and Bella Rafferty.

Mary Duddy, the director, noted

“Both companies have really risen to the challenge of presenting a full length scripted piece and have also to the challenge of presenting the piece not in the usual proscenium arch style but in traverse. This is a difficult arrangement and demands so much of even professional actors. I have really witnessed the development of both groups over the past couple of years and am so proud to present this new production.

Learning Age Project Development Officer Sinead Devine noted:

"As we begin to approach 2013 and the City of Culture where the world will be asking us to reveal to them; “Who we think we are”, we can say with confidence; that as we grow older we can still be artists, musicians, dancers, writers, and actors etc. We can be anything we want to be as long as we have self belief and value our own contributions to our own culture no matter how large or small"

The play will be presented in the Millennium Forum Studios on Thursday 5^th and Friday 6^th of May at 7.30pm sharp. For tickets, please contact Sinead Devine on 028 71 369947. Places are limited and will be offered on a first come/first served basis.

As we begin to approach 2013 and the City of Culture where the world will be asking us to reveal to them; “Who we think we are”, we can say with confidence; we are artists, musicians, dancers, writers, and actors etc. In other words we can be anything we want to be as long as we have self belief and value our own contributions to our own culture no matter how large or small.

I would like to thank Mary for all her hard work and for once again involving her youth theatre First Act both on stage and back stage. It is wonderful to see this intergenerational involvement in arts and culture in the city. So relax, sit back and enjoy the show and thank you for your support