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‘The Bench’ (2006/2007) emerged directly from Gerri's experience of being with her mother,
father and uncle as they moved towards death. It was commissioned through the
Arts for Older People Network in Northern Ireland
and was a play made with 30 people aged over 70, living in sheltered accommodation in Ballysillan in Belfast and in
Ballycastle. The play has toured older people’s centres, local community centres and been used as a 'think piece' at
conferences.
Audience quote ‘This play was excellent. It wasn’t a performance.
It was a chance to eavesdrop on a group of friends. It was wonderful’
2. Space (2006/2007) This
project is a multidisciplinary arts project, which came about when Gerri was approached by Upper North Belfast Community
Empowerment Programme. This agency works in the area surrounding the former Crumlin
Road Courthouse and Gaol and Girdwood Army Barracks; an area earmarked for large-scale physical regeneration in the next few
years. The Community Empowerment Programme were concerned that the needs of young people were not being considered within
that process. The project helped young people from the area to explore and articulate their ideas and dreams for the area,
working with a music producer, an architect, a cartoonist and a filmmaker. For
the final event of the first phase, two of the red buses which are now used to take tourists round Belfast were hired
and ran an alternative bus tour of North Belfast, for policy makers, community and youth workers and parents, with
the young people as the tour guides.
Audience quote 'It made me feel sad- young people look at
what is provided for them and think that this is all they are worth…….it made me smile…. These young people
are so full of fun, energy and creativity. They deserve so much……………’
