As the evening started to set on the Day of Reflection Hugh Odling-Smee (FilmHub NI) reminded us all of the role of the arts in dealing with our difficult past. He said “Art is constantly investigating the past, trauma and healing and it is important that we in the arts take our place, given the importance of art in creating open spaces for dialogue grounded in mutual respect.”

He was hosting Healing Through Remembering’s evening of readings and music in No Alibis Bookstore on Botanic Avenue. Four artists delivered performances which explored and questioned the interlinked issues of how we deal with personal trauma, the legacy of the recent conflict in this society, the global context of man’s inhumanity to man and our hopes for ‘never again’. Each piece offered us all perspectives to reflect on these difficult issues.

Belfast folk singer Gerry Creen started off the evening, before actress and writer Charlotte McCurry read from her upcoming play Julie, about teenager Julie Livingstone, who was fatally shot by a plastic bullet in 1981. Actor and playwright Ruairi Conaghan then read from his play Lies Where it Falls, which “explores the impact of trauma of the past, the complications of living with the past and the journey to something like recovery.” South African born poet and storyteller Nandi Jola concluded the readings with some of her work about the complexities of belonging and cultural identity, from her collection Home is Neither Here Nor There. One last song by Gerry Creen closed the evening’s performances. Warm credits and thanks are due to David Torrans and his team at No Alibis.

Lies Where It Falls will be at the Lyric Theatre from June 24-29.
Julie is produced by Kabosh Theatre Company and will be on tour in August.
Healing Through Remembering warmly supports both shows.