'All the world is a stage' - for Ulster-Scots

by Vanessa Wilson, Director of Culture, Ulster-Scots Agency

Ulster-Scots culture is continuing to grow at an ever-increasing pace. It is clear to the casual observer that community groups are being increasingly innovative in devising new ways of expressing their cultural identity. As I looked over a few projects recently, I noted many groups have started to explore their creative traits through drama, re-enactment and living history projects.

At  the Cairncastle Festival on July 27-30, the Ulster-Scots Historical Re-enactment Society performed for an enthralled crowd. York Island Arts and Heritage Association are well-seasoned players in the drama genre. They have already re-created many historical events from the past, on many occasions.

Indeed, this year, at their Liberty Days Festival, which ran on August 17-19, they have meticulously planned a new historical drama - written and directed by Vivien Hewitt and inspired by living folk memories about the 1798 Rebellion.

This ground-breaking theatrical piece contains Ulster-Scots dialogue and places events in their actual historical context.

The Ulster-Scots Agency have themselves been involved in promoting new drama and have worked closely with the Valhalla Players in Newtownards. The Agency have organised several cultural festivals this year, for the first time. We organised two festivals, one in Donaghadee on May 25 and the latest one in Greyabbey on July 29.

Capacity crowds have enjoyed watching the Valhalla Player's new play - 'Eighteen Miles to Freedom,' dealing with a time 400 years ago - the  arrival of  more than 10,000 pioneering lowland Scots  with James Hamilton and Hugh Montgomery. This is termed the 'Dawn of the Ulster-Scots'.

I believe drama and living history projects are a very worthwhile expression of the arts. In my previous career as a teacher, it was amazing to see young people act on the stage and how they developed a diverse range of creative skills. Many of these high-level skills were not evident in day-to-day classroom activities, but at annual concerts and plays, children were given an opportunity to shine at putting on a performance.

The children developed many varied skills including making scenery, costumes and hats, working with others in a team, developing  confidence, building up their own self-esteem, not to mention how to develop stagecraft and voice projection.

If you asked a child at the end of the school year, what was the most enjoyable part of their education, often their initial comments were about their enjoyment at being involved in drama, when mum, dad and grandparents towed along to watch them on stage. Proud parents have these images of their budding thespian on the stage, etched into their memory.

In the Ulster-Scots community, many groups are already well-versed in drama and its merits such as Tullyvallen Community Association, Crimson Players' Drama Group, Burnside Ulster-Scots Society, Schomberg Society, (Kilkeel), Border Minority Group, Lower Iveagh Living History and York Island Arts and Heritage Association, to name but a few.

This autumn and into next year, the Ulster-Scots Agency aims to encourage the  further development of living history / drama as a way of preserving Ulster-Scots cultural heritage. Living history techniques are excellently positioned to educate people about their history as they provide an holistic, vivid and most entertaining method of illustrating the potential of drama. We also want groups to explore the possibility of  writing and performing new Ulster-Scots drama.

A conference will be organised to this end, in the Autumn. This conference is open to all, both existing groups and new drama groups who intend to get started. Further details of this conference will be provided at a later date.

Ulster-Scots people are certainly in no danger of letting their history and culture die. In the groups I work with, I am continually inspired by their commitment to promoting  vibrant and wide ranging Ulster-Scots culture through music, dance, song, literature, history/genealogy and drama.

Folk volunteer to work with great ardour, in organising their own local events and projects. Why do they do this? Well it is probably because they enjoy pushing the boundaries and being particularly innovative.

In the modern world we often get caught up with the humdrum routine of mundane daily activities. We need the opportunity to express our own understanding and emotional interpretation of life, its unfolding events, human relationships and how we deal with them.

Drama is a great way to unite people in striving to achieve a common goal. Drama is fun, it is inclusive, non-threatening and it also engenders equality and respect. Drama  galvanises and empowers a community.

Perhaps, noted American actress Stella Adler sums up how drama cultivates ebullient qualities within an individual. She states "When you stand on the stage you must have a sense that you are addressing the whole world, and that what you say is so important, that the whole world must listen."

Acting has been likened to a sport on stage. You must be ready to move like a tennis player on his toes. Your concentration must be keen, your reflexes sharp, your body and mind are in top gear, and the chase is on. Acting is energy!

Maybe you too will soon be "bitten by the acting bug" and will experience renewed purpose and "joie de vivre."