Derry based Stage Beyond Theatre Company is celebrating the arrival of an award for their innovative lockdown theatre production.
Stage Beyond received the 2021 New York Festivals Radio Awards trophy for Best Digital Drama aired by RTÉ Radio 1.
RTÉ Drama on One collaborated with Derry’s theatre company for adults with learning disabilities, to produce a remote recording of ‘Hamlet, Prince of Derry’, adapted by Colin Murphy, directed by Conall Morrison, and scored by Si Schroeder.
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The original stage production of ‘Hamlet, Prince of Derry’ was postponed because of Covid-19, and when RTÉ stepped into the breach to commission it as a digital drama, radio showed its vital role in enabling cultural work even under the most severe restrictions.
With theatres shutdown during lockdown and everyone required to stay safe at home, the actors at Stage Beyond recorded lines on their smartphones.
The New York Festivals Radio Awards trophy recently winged its way across the Atlantic via RTÉ in Dublin for special delivery to the Millennium Forum’s renowned resident theatre company for adults with learning disabilities.
Speaking about the award, Dee Conaghan, Artistic Director of Stage Beyond, said there was great excitement when the impressive trophy arrived ‘home’.
She said: “The much-anticipated arrival of the New York Festivals Radio Award was met with great excitement by everyone at Stage Beyond. We are immensely proud of this highly prestigious international recognition. On behalf of the members and Board of Trustees, I would like to extend a huge thank-you once again to the entire team involved in ‘Hamlet, Prince of Derry’ and a special message of appreciation to Kevin Brew, producer at RTÉ Drama on One for all his support.”
“Stage Beyond is privileged to work with some of the top industry professionals in the country and we are forever grateful to our good friend Conall Morrison, the esteemed Shakespearian director who also worked with us on our award-winning contemporary adaptation of the most famous play in the English language.”
‘Hamlet, Prince of Derry’, which also featured acclaimed actor Patrick O’Kane and UTV presenter Paul Clark, was aired on RTÉ Drama on One in July 2020 and again earlier this year.
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