The West Awakes
Premiered on the 7th April 2010. The West Awakes is a walking tour through the history of West Belfast, incorporating five short dramatic performances set in five different historical periods at five different locations along the way. Set on The Falls Road, West Belfast in the 19th century, the early 20th century, the 1970s and the present day (2010).
Cast & Crew
Playwrights: Jimmy McAleavey, Laurence McKeown, Kieron Magee and Rosemary Walsh.
Director: Paula McFetridge
Costume Designer: Rosie Moore
Production Manager: Monica McNally
Cast: Gerard Jordan and Antoinette Morelli
“The West Awakes provokes a response from its audience, forcing conversation and ultimately a greater understanding of our own collaborative identity.” – Irish Theatre Magazine
Building on the success of the existing political tours of West Belfast, Kabosh commissioned four playwrights, each choosing a location along the historic Falls Road beginning at St. Comgall’s School, and taking in Conway Mill, An Chultúrlann, the City Cemetery and Milltown Cemetery.
Featuring West Belfast actors Antoinette Morelli and Gerard Jordan, each play brings to life the rich history and vibrant heritage of this unique area of the city of Belfast, enhancing these already hugely popular tours of West Belfast.
The four playwrights, Laurence McKeown, Rosaleen Walsh, Jimmy McAleavy and Kieron Magee, focus on the men and women who have played key roles in the life of the West. From news reporters at St Comgalls, workers in Conway Mill, the bi-lingual ghosts of the Presbyterian Church at An Chultúrlann to the dead of Milltown Cemetery, The West Awakes celebrates the complex and vibrant contribution to the life of Belfast by the people of the West.
