Julia Addy lined up for harrowing new Bateman play

Award winning novelist and screenwriter Colin Bateman’s second stage play asks the question, can forgiveness overcome the want for revenge in 21st century Northern Ireland?

Directed by Kieran Griffiths, and commissioned by The Playhouse for the Londonderry Legacy Fund, this powerful and captivating play is laced with the blackest of humour, and received a hugely successful script in hand reading at the Open House Festival in Bangor, 2015.

Julie Addy, best known for her role as Christina Callan in the BBC 2 Series ‘The Fall’, will take the lead role in the world premiere of the new commission, which will run at The Playhouse from Tuesday 5 to Saturday 9 April.

Colin Bateman has published over twenty books, his novel Murphy’s Law was adapted a BBC TV series (2001–2007) starring James Nesbitt, and his 1998 screenplay Divorcing Jack was filmed starring David Thewlis and Robert Lyndsey.

His latest screenplay The Journey, which tells the story of the unlikely friendship between the late Rev Ian Paisley and ex-IRA commander Martin McGuinness, starring Timothy Spall and Colm Meaney is currently being filmed.

“This really is a harrowing piece, strange, potent and poetic,” Director Kieran Griffiths said.

“Colin asks what are we to make of the men of violence whose time has been and gone, and who have settled into both civil and civilian life? What if we see them on Facebook? Or Twitter? How can we cope? How can we forgive?”

The Derry Legacy Fund is jointly funded by Derry City & Strabane District Council and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

The Playhouse production of ‘Bag for Life’ by Colin Bateman will run from Tuesday 5 to Saturday 9 April at 8pm. Tickets are just £10 (Preview night Tuesday 5 April, all tickets are just £5). Book with The Playhouse on (028)71268027 or online at www.derryplayhouse.co.uk.