THE WHITE HANDKERCHIEF

As seen on BBC Northern Ireland

Sunday January 30th, 2022 marked 50 years on from Bloody Sunday: a day carved into history, a day for many families that feels like just a moment ago.

The White Handkerchief was an impassioned, sensitive, reverent elegy; a major new drama premiering live across the world on Bloody Sunday’s 50th Anniversary.

Book and Lyrics by Liam Campbell. Music by Brian O’Doherty.

Directed by Kieran Griffiths. Produced by the Playhouse.

Watch the full BBC documentary of the making of The White Handkerchief on BBC iPlayer

Writer 

Dr. Liam Campbell was a lecturer in English, a Peacebuilding Project Coordinator, and an independent writer and scholar, who was published both creatively and academically. He gave many talks across Europe and America on Storytelling and the literature of the 20th Century. Liam’s debut full length play ‘The Harbinger’  was winner of the Greer Garson Theatre award and was shortlisted for best new play by an Irish author. Liam work, ‘The Bog Couple’ enjoyed a sold out run and standing ovations at The Playhouse in February 2018 and Millennium Frum in January 2019 and his play ‘The Monk, The Bird and The Priest’ was described as “Really really powerful” (BBC Radio Ulster) and “Harrowing, hard-hitting & heart-wrenching”. Liam passed away on 20th December 2021 and is sorely missed.

Director and Producer 

Kieran Griffiths is The Playhouse’s Director and Producer. Kieran joined our team in 2012 in preparation for Derry.Londonderry’s City of Culture year producing and directing 13 critically acclaimed productions in 2013. He has since gone on to implement The Playhouse’s legacy and digital strategy, creating and commissioning new work across theatre, education and community engagement

The Playhouse Music Theatre Academy

The Playhouse has developed a music theatre academy to train up those from the city who are strong music theatre performers and interested in world class training. This training will lead to them performing in the White Handkerchief.