The Cast | Ballyearl Photos
Mon Act 1 | Mon Act 2 | Tue
Act 1 | Tue Act 2
Waterfront Photos | Report
| Family connections
Consider yourself one of the family
The Waterfront Hall, Belfast was the venue for a very special occasion on May 16, 2006.
Fortwilliam Youth Group joined forces with a chorus of more than 500 local schoolchildren from 15 schools for a one-night special performance of Oliver!
The schools came from north Belfast, Antrim, Ballymena and Ballycastle. They had spent several weeks learning the chorus numbers that they would perform from their seats that surrounded the stage on three sides.
The famous 2,000-seater auditorium was virtually sold out, with an audience comprised largely of family and friends of the on and off-stage performers.
The family connection was a strong theme in this venture. Michael and Christopher Long played Oliver and the Artful Dodger in the first act.
Clodagh Corry, who played Oliver in the second act, was joined by her sister Maeve.
Sara Donnelly played the Artful Dodger in the second act, alongside her cousins Anna and Eily.
Barry O’Kelly was menacing as Bill Sykes, playing opposite his sister Sinead, who was equally impressive as Fagin. Younger brothers Aidan & Tom were both orphans. We were fortunate that their mum kindly co-ordinated the team of parents who helped chaperone the children backstage during the rehearsals and the performance.
Andrew Terrington was part of the production team and co-ordinated the stage crew. His wife, Rosemary O’Connor co-ordinated & gathered together the props.
Other family connections included:
The largest family contingent was the Laverty / Cush clan.
The event was conceived by Joanne Laverty, who worked tirelessly for many months to organise, fundraise, promote, sell, and direct the show – even finding the time to direct the sound and lighting crew from the wings throughout the performance.
The musical director was her brother Mark, who enlisted another brother, Hugh, to play double bass, and nephew and niece Tim and Emma Cush to play violin (along with Mark G. Laverty – no relation!)
The stage crew included the remaining brothers, Niall and Austin, and Austin’s wife, Ciara. Niall had taken photos during the 4-night run in Ballyearl’s Courtyard Theatre the previous month, which were displayed in the Waterfront’s foyer.
Niall & Austin were up early the day before the show and were at the Waterfront Hall to put together the set for the show – it’s amazing just how much work goes on behind the scenes!
Joanne’s sister and brother-in-law, Catherine and Hilary Cush, brought children from their respective schools (Mercy Primary School, Belfast and St. Comgall’s Primary School, Antrim) to sing in the chorus and to swell the audience. They were joined by a group of German schoolchildren on an exchange visit to St. Comgall’s.
There were many proud parents in the audience, but the proudest person in the building must have been Mrs. Oona Laverty, as she watched her children, grandchildren and in-laws contribute to a memorable night for so many.