The Context
Clanmil Housing provide high quality, affordable homes for rent throughout Northern Ireland and help facilitate home ownership for people who are not in a position to purchase a home outright. They believe that housing is about people and want to make a positive difference to their tenants' lives.
Prime Cut Productions, based in Belfast, is one of Ireland’s leading independent theatre companies. Established in 1992, the company has produced some of the island’s more memorable and thought provoking theatre; Prime Cut are dedicated to the creation of high quality theatre, but equally to the promotion of diversity and inclusivity in making art with community partners.
Prime Cut and Clanmil first developed a relationship in 2015 when they worked together to create the film “This is Bawnmore-Longlands” - the connection between the two was a natural one, founded on a mutual interest in furthering social conscience.
As part of their commitment to community focus, in 2019 these partners wanted to collaborate on a project which would effect real societal change…
The Solution
Prime Cut have a strong track record in tackling social issues through drama and community engagement. Putting their talent to work, they came up with a production entitled “Removed” by Fionnuala Kennedy: a funny, moving and shocking insight into the experiences of a young man sharing his story of living within the state care system.
The partners wanted to tour “Removed” with a variety of ancillary outreach activities based on the issues explored in the play. The involvement of Clanmil, coupled with funding from Arts & Business NI, saw the project grow into an extensive and innovative outreach campaign, exploring, highlighting and examining the issues dealt with in the play. From an initial single collaboration, supported by Arts and Business NI, the partnership grew and evolved embracing input from a wide variety of service advisors and delivery organisations including Barnardo’s NI, Home For Good, TUSLA and VOYPIC.
Clanmil wanted to engage in a more meaningful way with their clients and within their sector. Prime Cut wanted to deliver a touring project that would definitively prove the impact that art can have on society. VOYPIC, Barnardos and HFG all wanted to raise awareness of the issues currently around fostering and the Care System.
The project employed 15 artists, had 435 workshop participants and 1670 individuals attended performances as audience members. The campaign drove awareness Ireland-wide, with its workshops, talks, discussions and scaled down performances in venues as widely diverse as church halls to universities.
“We really wanted to directly touch and engage with the people affected by the issues explored in the play. The support and encouragement of Clanmil, Barnardos and Home For Good made this a reality. From working with us to devise workshops and resources, providing venues and access to audiences and participants, to actively engaging in the performances, this has been a true partnership and collaboration. We could not have done it without them, we could not have done it without Arts and Business NI.”
Una NicEoin: Executive Producer Prime Cut Productions
“At Clanmil we believe that everyone should have a good home where they feel safe and valued. We know that for some people that may be with a loving foster family who can provide the stability and support they need to thrive.
By telling the story of young people in care, the ‘Removed’ play provides a window to their experiences that can help more people understand the difference that fostering and adoption can make in someone’s life. We also hope that the performances and workshops make people think seriously about whether they could offer a home to a young person who needs one.”
Clare McCarty, Group Chief Executive at Clanmil Housing
