THE CRACK IN EVERYTHING

Six families, who’ve experienced the killing of a child within their family, share their stories and experiences. These narratives, spanning the years 1971 – 1981 relate a complex and remarkable interweaving of events. 

Over twenty people have taken part in one-to-one interviews with writer Jo Egan;  family members, friends of the children, school teachers, neighbours, peace activists and specialists in trauma. 

This presentation, brught to Parliament Buildings at Westminster in June 2022 related their stories of despair, love, anger, bravery and sheer will.

These narratives were originally performed in 2018 for The Playhouse Theatre and Peacebuilding Academy, an initiative using arts as a tool to explore community relations issues in a safe and accessible environment.

The stories shared

Damien Harkin, 8 years old, was killed by a British Army lorry in the Bogside, Derry-Londonderry on July 24, 1971. His death is officially recorded as a traffic accident and Damien is not listed as a victim of the conflict.
 

Annette McGavigan, a 14 year old girl, fatally wounded when the British Army fired into a crowd of bystanders at a riot in the Bogside on September 6, 1971, almost one month after Internment was introduced. Annette was the 100th civilian to be killed.
 

Julie Livingstone, a 14 year old teenager who died from injuries sustained after she was hit by a plastic bullet fired by the British Army on May 12, 1981, the same day hunger-striker Francis Hughes died.
 

Kathryn Eakin, 8 years old, was cleaning the windows of her family's shop in Claudy when the first of the three bombs exploded on 31 July 1972. The Claudy bombings were carried out by the IRA.
 

Kathleen Feeney, 14 years old, was shot and killed on November 14 1973 when a  young IRA sniper fired at a British Army checkpoint and killed Kathleen. The IRA now accepts responsibility for her death and issued a public apology to the Feeney Family.
 

Henry Cunningham, 16 years old, was in a van bringing Protestant and Catholic workmen home to Carndonagh from building work in Glengormley on August 9, 1973. As the van travelled along the M2, UVF gunmen shot into the van from an overhead footbridge killing Henry instantly.

Macha Productions

MACHA is a professional theatre company founded in 2015 by Jo Egan and Fionnuala Kennnedy, that makes theatre with voices and communities that are largely absent from the cultural landscape. MACHA presents, promotes and produces professional performance with community collaboration; with marginalised voices and exceptional artists – locally and internationally. MACHA uses ground-breaking theatre to challenge the current structures existing in society which dominate, repress and block development of communities and individuals.  Through its work, MACHA aims to democratise cultural expression by smashing barriers to participation.
 

The Playhouse Theatre and Peacebuilding Academy 2018- 2020

Art that allows reflection, active dialogue on consequences of conflict, and techniques to engage with painful memories...
This cross-border programme worked with representatives from interface and highly segregated areas, historical atrocities, victims and survivors and public sector. A range of artforms were used as a tool to explore community relations issues in a safe and accessible environment, promoting healing and reconciliation in a liberating, healing and transformative way. The Playhouse worked in partnership with Holywell Trust, Thomas D’Arcy McGee Foundation and Queens University Belfast to deliver The Playhouse Theatre Peace Building Academy.The PEACE IV Programme is an EU funded Programme designed to support peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border region.  It is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Match-funding for the project was provided by the Executive Office and the Department for Rural and Community Development.

Press

Read about The Crack in Everything in The Guardian, The Belfast Telegraph, Derry Now, Irish News, Times Radio

Audience Feedback

“Blown away by your performances- so powerful & moving (cried throughout). Knowing how close to home this was for the cast made it all the more significant. It was a privilege to watch the performance. Thank you!! Wish every Tory MP could have been there ahead of tomorrow”

“This was/ is an incredible moving performance- very human stories across mixed communities and border communities (I’m from Candondagh and remember the Cunningham Family tragedy as a young child). There is a story here for everyone to relate to/ can relate to on a human and universal level on what it means to be ‘human’. The wider context!”

“Brings children to life- poignant but a sharp reminder of what a waste of human life”

“Very moving and should be seen widely. It would be good to have a little historical background on the events mentioned/ the troubles in the programme.”

“Uncomfortable, painful and yet so so necessary for all of us to hear these stories. These experiences are so relevant to each and every one of us and cannot be seen as ‘over there’. We are all accountable to this, both historically and in relation to the awful legislation that is currently being pushed through.”

“Greatly powerful. I was very moved by hearing these stories. Wonderful performance”

“Really important and effective performance, especially bringing out the characters of the children lost. Great performance, which made the messages very immediate”

“Growing up in Derry at the end of the troubles & beginning of the ceasefire you are painfully aware of the loss of life & yet equally desensitised to it. Tonight broke my heart & my temper in equal measure”

“Very moving, so tragic. It was very hard to listen to these stories, these young lives that were brutally ended. I’m not well informed about the troubles in Ireland but I am about the corruption within this country. Heads should roll!!”

“Powerful/ never to forget. Sad. Upsetting. Lack of justice”

“Why was this tragedy ever allowed to happen in such a beautiful country?”

“No justice”

“Its so important that these experiences are shared widely. In witnessing the tragedy + legacy of trauma that these killings have caused- we are taken into a really important sphere. It's a very powerful piece of storytelling. It shines a light on a past that is blurred, that is closed, that didn’t care for victim's family. More people need to have the opportunity to bear witness to these important stories.”

“Gets through all the defenses straight to the pain and suffering experienced by anyone who has lost a child. The path to finding resolution must not be denied these families, they have suffered enough!”

“It puts the human, flesh, blood, heart and soul into the name that flashes across the news”

“This should be on prime time viewing on all TV channels! I am shocked at the strength of my emotional response to what you have created!”

“Extremely moving and heartbreaking. Sad. Really should be seen by everyone with an interest in Ireland and why peace is so important”

“A powerful series of stories highlighting the long lasting effects of the incidents and the strive for truth”

“Powerful piece exposing painful messy accidental deaths as a result of the chaos of the troubles and the very long legacy of that. Truth, authenticity and recognition of the stories being heard, witnessed and listened to is part of the healing”