New comedy touches on funny side of life at the Foyle Hospice

A new comedy play has been written to highlight the funny side of life at the Foyle Hospice.

Movers and Shakers drama group’s new play will challenge the misconceptions people have of the hospice and look at the lighter side of goings-on there.

Written by playwright Mary McLaughlin, 'Five Special Intentions and a Wee Novena' will be staged at the Waterside Theatre next April.

Mrs McLaughlin told the Derry News about the idea behind the play.

"This is the first time a play has been set in the Foyle Hospice," she said

"It's a comedy, but there is pathos as well. It covers a heavy topic but in a funny and non-threatening way.

"The majority of the play is set in the hospice with the middle being set in Tinney's Bar," said Mrs McLaughlin.

"It's kind of like 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'.

"It looks at characters who go to the day hospice for treatment and get together. One of their friends is dying and attends the terminal end of the hospice.

"They decide to have a night out and try and pull the wool over the medic's eyes by telling them they are going to a Novena."

Mrs McLaughlin explained where she got the inspiration for her play.

"There was a friend of mine who died in the hospice and when I went down to see her I felt very apprehensive because it was my first visit to the hospice.

"When I went down there was fun and frivolity and all the rest. She was involved in drama and I was in the course of writing a play at the time and one of the nurses said to me 'nobody ever writes about the hospice and it is a fun place to be'."

"That stuck with me. I came out of the hospice that day and I felt uplifted," said Mrs McLaughlin.

"I had so much craic and fun sharing stories with the nurses and with my friend.

"I couldn't believe it and I thought right, I think it's important to get it out there that people aren't afraid of the hospice.

"When you mention the hospice people kind of grimace or are frightened or shy away from it, so I went to see Donall Henderson the CEO and told him I had intentions of writing a play and asked him how he'd feel about it.

"He was very much in support of the idea and said he would like to get that attitude out there, that it is not a place to be afraid of."

The playwright put many of her own experiences into the play.

"I was a fly on the wall in the hospice for a while, I got permission to talk to some of the patients and get a feel for the place.

"The characters in the play are based on people that have been in my life. There are some very strong characters in it, and backstories to the characters.

"We've always had great support from Derry audiences and find they love a good backstory."

Mrs McLaughlin already has a cast in place for the production.

"It is a Movers and Shakers production, we also held auditions for actors who are new to the group.

"The majority of the cast are middle aged and older men but we have a diverse cast.”

Mrs McLaughlin is directing the play and is looking forward to seeing her creation come to life.

"Rehearsals are starting in January, as they say 'from the page to the stage' I can't wait to see it performed.”

She talked about the challenges the Movers and Shakers had in getting funding for the production.

"The Honourable The Irish Society have provided us with funding for this and we are very grateful.

"It is very difficult for us to get funding, our actors aren't paid and the only money we have is what we make at the box office.

"The Honourable The Irish Society were over the moon that the play was about the hospice and the cross-community element.

"We bring people from all over Derry to the Waterside Theatre for our productions.”

Mrs McLaughlin asked people to come and see the play and support the hospice.

"A portion of the proceeds from the box office will go to the Foyle Hospice and I'd encourage everyone to come out and see the play and show their support for the Foyle Hospice."