GREEN & BLUE

Written By: Laurence McKeown
Directed By: Paula McFetridge
Production Premiere: 1st October 2016

An officer from the Royal Ulster Constabulary in his green uniform and Eddie from An Garda Síochána, resplendent in blue, communicate via crackly radios until an explosive incident forces them to meet across a field only farmers know the location of.

Green & Blue explores the painful and humorous realities faced by the individuals who patrolled the border during the height of the conflict.

Focusing on what it’s like to be hunted when you’re protecting a man-made line on the ground, the play looks at the societal and human cost of borders.

Green & Blue was inspired by Voices from the Vault: oral histories from former Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and An Garda Síochána officers who recorded their experiences as police officers during the Irish conflict.

In its supremely quiet way, it represents an indictment of the current situation so searing that it’s difficult not to weep, as the action moves towards its tragic and thoughtful conclusion.

‘A drama of substantial insight and revelation… a life affirming celebration of the end of the dark days of a hard border…’

SCOTSMAN 4* REVIEW
‘A drama of substantial insight and revelation… a life affirming celebration of the end of the dark days of a hard border…’

REVIEWS HUB
‘A highly moving piece of social theatre…this accounting of the reality of people’s experience has depth and intelligence, as well as a stark dramatic impact’

IRISH INDEPENDENT
‘…strong, well-judged performances…..the script skilfully and open-heartedly walks in another’s shoes.’ 4*

IRISH TIMES
Higgins and Doran give engaging performances as the men unable to cross a line that only wise men and farmers can see. It’s a simple but effective way of exploring two sides of one conflict.

BELFAST TELEGRAPH

CREATIVE TEAM

Cast:
James Doran & Vincent Higgins

Technical Stage Manager: 
Stephen Quinn

Film Maker:
Conan McIvor

Designer:
Stuart Marshall

Costume Designer: Liz Cullinane

Movement Director:  Sandy Cuthbert

Dialect Coach: Brendan Gunn

Producers:
Zoe Fox & Dominic Montague (2016 – 2019)
Andrew Hume & Lizzie Howard (2022 – 2025)

Additional crew support over the years:

Damian Cox, Chris Fitzpatrick, Caitlín Hunter, James Kennedy and Megan Magill.

PAST PERFORMANCES

A Church, 419 D Street, Salida, Colorado, 14th September
The Old Church, 8th & Harrison, Leadville, Colorado, 13th September
United Irish Cultural Center, San Francisco, 7th September
Historic Alberta House, Hosted by Corrib, Portland, Oregon, 28th – 29th August
Irish American Heritage Centre, Chicago, 23rd – 25th August
Milwaukee Irish Festival, 17th – 18th August
Féile an Phobail, Black Mountain Shared Space, Belfast, 6th August
St Brigid’s Center for the Arts, Ottawa, Canada, 22 - 23 November
Heaney: Afterlives Conference, Boston College, 18 November
New York Irish Centre, NYC , 15 – 16 November
City Theatre, Pittsburgh, 9 – 11 November
Emory University, Atlanta, 2 – 3 November
Liverpool Irish Festival, Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool, 26 – 28 October
Chester Lane Library, St Helens, England, 25 October
MAC Birmingham, England, 24 October
Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick
20 October
The Court House, Bangor, 18 October
Shorts Sports & Recreation Club, East Belfast, 17 October
The Court House, Antrim, 14 October
Project Arts Centre, Dublin,
30 May – 02 June
London Irish Centre, Camden,
19 – 20 May
Ranfurley House, Dungannon, 13 May
The Old Church Centre, Cushendun, 11 May
Galway Theatre Festival, Mick Lally Theatre, 4 – 6 May
Roch Hall, Ballyshannon, Donegal, 11th December
Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, 10th October
Prague Fringe Festival, Divaldo Inspirace, Prague, 27th September - 1st October
The Old Church Centre, Cushendun, 22nd September
The Market Place Theatre, Armagh,
21st September
Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, 20th September
Lyric Theatre, Belfast, 14th – 18th September
Build Peace, Ulster University, Belfast, 29th October
International Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Summer Hall Edinburgh
2nd – 25th August
Hudson Bay Hotel, Athlone, 16th June
Bozar, Brussels, 13th February
Barcroft Community Centre, Newry, 9th February
Tommy Makem Arts Centre, Keady, Armagh, 8th February
Craic Theatre, Coalisland, 7th February
Black Box, Build Peace Conference, Belfast 29th October
Fermanagh Live, Southwest College, Enniskillen, 4th October
Irish Cultural Centre, London,
13th –14th October
Across the Lines IFI Programme, Kiltyclogher Community Centre,
13th February
Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris, 8th February
Brian Friel Theatre, Belfast, 19th - 20th October
Crumlin Rd Jail, Belfast, IFI, 19th October
HomePlace, Bellaghy, 17th October
Féile an Phobail, The Felons, Belfast, 8th – 9th August
Fit Up Festival, West Cork: Bank House, Whiddy Island; Community Hall, Kilcrohane; Community Centre, Timoleague; Parish Hall, Goleen; Lecture Theatre (Camp Church), Rerrin Bere Island; Community Hall, Ballydehob,
31st July – 7th August
John Hewitt International Summer School, Market Place Theatre, Armagh 25th July
Gaoth Dobhair, 20th July
An Grianán, Letterkenny , 19th July
Arts Festival, Colgan Hall, Carndonagh 18th July
SCENE: EUROPA Festival, Societaets Theater, Dresden, 9th June
East Belfast Network Centre, Belfast, 20th February
Ti Chulainn, Mullaghbawn, 19th February
Longstone GAA, Newry, 18th February
Short Strand Community Centre, Belfast, 17th February
Duncairn Centre for Arts, Belfast , 16th February
Irish Secretariat, Belfast, 15th February
Fit-Up Festival, East Cork, 7th - 12th February
The Playhouse, Derry, 5th November
Mullagh Community Hall, Cavan, 4th November
Táin, Dundalk, 3th November
Alley Theatre, Strabane, 2nd November
Civic Theatre, Dublin, 29th October
Ards Arts Centre, Newtownards, 28th October
Garage Theatre, Monaghan, 27th October
Strule Arts Centre, Omagh 26th October
Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry, 25th October
RUC Social Club, Belfast, 24th October
Belfast International Festival, Girdwood Community Hub, Belfast
21st - 22nd October