A Derry -based theatre company for adults with learning disabilities has recently reached a milestone in welcoming its first drama graduate intern.
Niamh McCarron hails from Glasgow but she has close family ties in Derry. Her dad John McCarron is a native of the Bishop Street area of the city.
Niamh, who has been working with the renowned Citizens Theatre in Glasgow, is delighted to be now also gaining valuable experience during her temporary internship at Stage Beyond, based in the Millennium Forum.
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Niamh, 23, is leading a six-week ‘Happiness Project’ alongside weekly workshops for the Stage Beyond upcoming production, ‘The Great Dictator’, with visiting director Kate Guelke and Jean Dunn, lead drama facilitator with the local theatre company.
Niamh said: “Dee Conaghan, Stage Beyond’s Artistic Director, has been so supportive and open to my ideas. I hadn’t worked with adults with learning difficulties previously and everyone has been so lovely, welcoming me with open arms.
“Stage Beyond are very committed to their theatre work and they really are a family too. If somebody is having a bad day, they look out for each other and they made me feel part of that family from day one.”
“It has been exciting for them to explore the new material that Kate is writing for their production in June. They have been busy rehearsing in workshops, and it will be very exciting to see everything coming together on the main stage at the Forum over the next few months.”
Explaining the concept behind the ‘Happiness Project’ with Stage Beyond members, Niamh said: “The project is devised to celebrate what makes them happy.
“The material in their next production is quite heavy and, after the pandemic, it is nice to remember the things going on in the world that are good, and the smaller things that we are hopefully also grateful for.”
Dee Conaghan, Artistic Director with Stage Beyond, said the company was delighted to welcome their talented new intern. “Niamh has been a breath of fresh air since joining us in January.
“She has totally immersed herself in all the creative aspects of our theatre work, both at the Forum and our Centre Stage and Beyond outreach programme based at the Hub at Culmore Community Partnership as well as our Monday night Film Club, React Review.
“Niamh recently created a six-week ‘Happiness Project’ for us which is already up and running and our members are thoroughly enjoying this new workshop.
“She is also working on our forthcoming production, ‘The Great Dictator’ which will be staged at the Millennium Forum on June 15.
“We are delighted to have Niamh as part of the Stage Beyond team and hope that she will also find this internship to be a rewarding experience in her theatrical career.”
Niamh is also enjoying having more time to explore her dad’s native city which she was accustomed to visiting several times a year on family holidays.
“I have been coming and going to Derry and Donegal my whole life to visit my relatives and it has been so nice to spend time here walking through the historic Walled City and all it has to offer for both locals and as a visitor destination. There is such a strong sense of community and local culture.”
More information about Stage Beyond can be found here.
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