Passion for life on the streets of Ballyfermot
THE streets of Cherry Orchard and Ballyfermot will play host to a cast of local actors and performers this April, who will be performing a modern interpretation of life in Ballyfermot which is influenced by the narrative of the Passion of Christ.
The Passion Project is a partnership between Dublin’s Culture Connects, Dublin City Council and Ballyfermot Community Civic Centre, with Feidlim Cannon and Gary Keegan from the Brokentalkers theatre company helping to develop the script with the local community.
The two-day performance will see Ballyfermot and Cherry Orchard become the backdrop to the non-religious performance, featuring a colourful parade through the streets of Ballyfermot to the Civic Centre and a visit to the Equine Centre in Cherry Orchard.
The fictionalised representation of Ballyfermot that will be presented during the performance will see the area being taken over by the private sector, and the homelessness issues that ensue.
Gary Keegan from Brokentalkers told The Echo: “The play is a version of the narrative of the The Passion that’s framed by life in Clondalkin and Cherry Orchard, which looks at themes like community activism and homelessness.”
Three professional actors will be performing in The Passion, bolstered by a large cast of performers from the community.
Members of the community have been working on the script with Gary, and he said: “The main feedback we got as we began to write the script was about the Resurrection moment.
“It was because the destiny of a community is not preordained, and change is possible with people power.”
Gary added that the whole community is invited to get involved in and watch the performance, saying: “We hope people will take part and watch the performance, and then become part of the spectacle.
“They can join in with the chanting and the singing, so they’ll be audience and spectator, in a way.”
The Passion Project will take place on April 8 and 9, and more information is available from the project’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thepassionprojectd10.
