Centre Stage calls out for 'Half Timers' as part of youth summer drama project in east Belfast

Written by renowned Northern Ireland actor Roma Tomelty, ‘Half Timers’ tells the story of young people who worked half time in the linen mills and the other half at school.

As part of the production, young people will have the opportunity to work with professional theatre practitioners to rehearse and perform the production and develop skills including: acting, voice and movement.

No previous experience is required only lots of enthusiasm and commitment. Rehearsals will take place in Portview Trade Centre in east Belfast from August 7 - 12 with a performance on August 12.

Written 25 years ago, ‘Half Timers’ is not only part of Centre Stage’s 40th anniversary year but is part of the second Linen Biennale Northern Ireland, a celebration of the past, present and future of Europe’s oldest textile which this year explores the theme ‘revive and renew’.

It was last performed in 2007 but, notably performed in Wellbrook Mill in 1999, and Ulster Museum around1993. The 2023 production rehearsals will take place in Portview Trade Centre, which, during the early 20th Century, was a linen spinning mill.

Established in 1983 by Roma Tomelty and Colin Carnegie, Centre Stage Theatre Company is a professional theatre company committed to producing theatre of the highest quality to audiences in Northern Ireland and beyond.

Centre Stage took an innovative lead in establishing Northern Ireland’s first successful summer drama residential scheme for young people. Their youth-oriented work has been designed to engage young people to encourage involvement in the arts and history of Northern Ireland.

Director of ‘Half Timers’ Rachael Carnegie, from Centre Stage Theatre Company, said: “Centre Stage is delighted to ‘revive and renew’ our production of ‘Half Timers’ as part of our 40th anniversary year and our partnership with Linen Biennale Northern Ireland. It is a fantastic opportunity to engage young people in the history and heritage of the linen industry as well as provide them with access to some of Northern Ireland’s top theatre practitioners.

"It is particularly important to me, as not only did my mum (Roma Tomelty) write ’Half Timers’, but I performed in it myself many years ago. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Linen Biennale Northern Ireland and Portview Trade Centre for their support and look forward to working with the young people taking part in this project.”

Meadhbh McIlgorm, Programme Manager, Linen Biennale 2023, commented: “The Linen Biennale is excited to be collaborating with Centre Stage Drama. The theme for this year is ‘Revive and Renew’; and this collaboration work on so many levels: reviving a piece of work from a local playwright that relates to our linen heritage, performing it in a venue with that same heritage and finally, renewing life to that story with young performers and new audiences. A very special project indeed.”

There are no auditions for ‘Half Timers’ but spaces are limited to 20 people. Centre Stage summer drama fee is £125 visit www.summerdrama.co.uk or www.centrestageni.org for more details.