Project
The Official Version was commissioned by Dubbeljoint Theatre as part of the 25 th Anniversary of the hunger strikes in 1981. The hunger strikes were the culmination of 5 years of protest by Republican prisoners who objected to the British policy of criminalising Republican political activists and 10 prisoners died during the protest, including the most well-known of the strikers, Bobby Sands. The play, written by a former hunger striker Laurence McKeown, explores two narratives associated with the Long Kesh/Maze prison in Belfast. One stream of the plot follows Robert, a former governor of the prison who is showing Julie, a university researcher, around the grounds of the now derelict prison. He refers to the prisoners and their daily routine using the language that was common in 'official' policy documents and procedures surrounding the running of the prison. As Julie begins to show an interest in the 'criminals' who were housed in the prison, Robert becomes agitated and cannot understand why she would want to speak to 'them.' At the same time, the mother and sister of a former prisoner are also showing themselves around the prison recounting the political and educational activities that took place within its walls amongst the prisoners. In this version of the narrative, the prison is reconstructed as a site of revolutionary activity that changed the course of Northern Irish history. Both plot lines, as well as the two names given to the prison, reflect the sectarian divides that continue to affect Northern Irish politics and policy.
Dubbeljoint Theatre Company specialises in theatre and arts productions for the local community in west Belfast. They see this community as under-represented within the cultural landscape of Belfast and seek to redress that balance. They particularly encourage the development of critical, serious progressive and enjoyable arts in west Belfast. They have produced a number of plays related to the conflict including a production called Bin Lids that explores the role of women in the conflict. Bin Lids also toured in New York. They have also produced Remnants of Fear (written by Gary Mitchell) which is a coming of age story about a young man faced with minimal job prospects, a climate of fear and pressure to join the violent Unionist UDA. Unfortunately, as of February 2008, Dubbeljoint is in the process of going bankrupt and is unable to secure further funding. Many people protested and the theatre is sorely missed.
