TRP show a positive light on recovery and wellbeing
By Mary Dennehy
A CELEBRATION of recovery through drama, poetry and music was staged by Tallaght Rehabilitation Project – with the event shining a positive spotlight on recovery and wellbeing.
For the past seven weeks, the clients and staff of Tallaght Rehabilitation Project (TRP), have been working together to develop the show, which was presented to a 300-strong, sold out crowd in The Civic last week.
Members of TRP at the show in the civic
A visit by actor John Connor and the Civic’s Niamh Honer to the project earlier this year proved to be the catalyst for the show, which saw 18 clients and staff join forces to produce an original and relevant piece of theatre.
Last year, the project introduced drama onto its day programme, with the module led by tutor Thomas O’Reilly – who helped clients write and construct a drama piece.
A number of poems were also written by clients, with staff getting involved in the musical aspect of the production.
Speaking with The Echo after the show, Pat Daly, Manager of TRP, said: “It was a celebration of recovery through drama and poetry and music… and it was a great success.
“We could have sold the show out twice.”
He added: “If you had of seen some of our clients last year and said they were to stand in front of 300 people they would have ran a mile.
“However, we had 18 clients up on that stage in front of 300 plus people putting on a drama.
“The impact of that alone on their self-esteem and self-confidence will push them on miles in their recovery.”
Alongside stressing the significance of the night for clients, Pat noted the importance of the show for the wider community.
“This was a joint effort by all of the staff and all of the clients in partnership with the Civic, which gave us the venue for free”, Pat said.
“However, we felt on the night that it was a community thing, there was politicians, other local projects and groups, members of the public there… it was great to see.
“This was a celebration of recovery… we wanted to show the other side of recovery.
“There can be a lot of negativity around recovery but there is a positive side, people do get better and can get well.”
Hosted by Dublin comedian Willa White, the show also included music by rock/blues outfit QED, which were accompanied by Pat on the bass, and Jobstown trad band, The Foxy Devils.
With the Civic offering the space for free, all money raised, after paying for lighting and sound, is going back into the project.
For further details, visit Tallaght Rehab Project.
