Anna Cunningham's short play charts a journey from Cavan, Ireland to Coventry
As part of the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the Coventry Blitz this month, we’re delighted to be streaming Anna Cunningham‘s short play The Journey Home from 14 November.
Inspired by the real-life events of November 1940, this online play imagines a world where video calling technology was as readily available then as it is today. The story follows a woman called Mary and her efforts to reunite her family as she travels from her home in Cavan, Ireland to Coventry, UK.
While bombs drop, a husband and wife and their teenage son express their anger and surprise as the play explores themes of familial love, career and life choices.
The show is produced by Ten Page Productions (10PP), a contemporary, Lagos-based theatre company focused on showcasing the work of emerging writers and providing performance opportunities for veteran theatre professionals and emerging theatre artists.
Following the lockdown restrictions put in place during the pandemic, the co-producing team of Aduke Gomez and Ladi Dawodu realised the necessity for stories to still be told and the theatre tradition kept alive in a new medium. Accordingly, the play has been acted entirely on Zoom by actors in Ireland, led by a director in Lagos. It is an example of borderless collaboration and highlights the possibility for cross-cultural exchanges.
The Journey Home is directed by Bisi Adigun and stars Michael McCabe, Caitriona Ni Threasaigh and Sean Egan. It will be available to watch below from 1pm on Sat 14 Nov.