Stage Beyond dedicates its new show 'Available Light' to company founding member Catherine Campbell
Stage Beyond, the Derry-based theatre company led by adults with learning disabilities, supported by National Lottery funding through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, will perform its magical new production 'Available Light' in the Millennium Forum next Wednesday June 19th at 7.30pm.
Audiences are guaranteed an entertaining and poignant theatrical experience with 'Available Light' written and directed by renowned NI poet and playwright Damian Gorman specially for Stage Beyond Theatre Company.
An unmissable one-night performance is dedicated to the memory of Catherine 'Kitty' Campbell, a founding member of Stage Beyond from the Rosemount area of the city who died peacefully in Foyle Hospice on February 5th after a brief illness, aged 44.
Stage Beyond Theatre Company rehearsing in the Millennium Forum for AVAILABLE LIGHT
"Our shining star 'Kitty' will always be fondly remembered as a beautiful friend and true inspiration for others to realise their potential. I am immensely proud of our company members and creative team. Our performance of ‘Available Light’ in the Millennium Forum on June 19th will have added poignancy as we remember Catherine on stage with her family and friends watching proudly in the audience.”
Patricia Lavery, Head of Community and Education, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: "The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is proud to support Stage Beyond who offer company members the opportunity to benefit from sustained training in a wide range of disciplines, as well as offering audiences the chance to see and engage with theatre created by people with learning disabilities and other challenges.
"I would encourage everyone to go along and enjoy Stage Beyond’s exciting and inspirational new production 'Available Light' which is an important platform to shine the spotlight on the company's groundbreaking theatre work and contributes to the growth of arts in the community for new and existing audiences."
Damian Gorman, writer and director explained: "Available Light is a morality tale and the moral of the story is, don't judge a book by its cover which is the title of the final song in the last act of the show. The show concerns a TV production company, Available Light Productions, who want to follow up their (very bad) aliens documentary with one about Stage Beyond. It's an entirely cynical exercise as they essentially go looking for disability to entertain their audience, except all they find is ability and even a bit of magic - flight! This is Stage Beyond after all."
Dee Conaghan, Artistic Director, Stage Beyond, pictured in character for the company's upcoming production AVAILABLE LIGHT filming with Séan Coyle on the City Walls
Bernie Shiels, Chairperson of Stage Beyond's Board of Trustees and also a founding member, said they were looking forward to performing 'Available Light' in memory of their 'beautiful friend' Catherine Campbell. “Damian Gorman has written a brilliant play using comedy – which we all love – to make an impact and deliver important messages close to the hearts of our company members.”
Catherine's sister Be-Be Patton said she would be "overjoyed" that Stage Beyond thought so highly of her to dedicate their new show to her. Encouraging everyone to come and enjoy the show, she said: “Catherine’s association with Stage Beyond was everything to her, she loved the drama on and off-stage. Stage Beyond gave Catherine self-confidence and the ability to stand on stage and act and sing with her peers. There were many plays and showcases with the group, Catherine loved them all. Her life was so much better for having been part of such a positive and fabulous theatre company. Thank you Stage Beyond for making such a positive impact on her life."
'Available Light' will be performed in the Millennium Forum on Wednesday June 19th 2024 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at the Box Office, Tel. 02871 264455 or can be booked online at www.millenniumforum.co.uk