Plans for the future

'Johnny Delaney' by Iola Ynyr

Theatre in Education project for Year 10 pupils (KS4)

Touring:  5 October - 30 November 2007

Set: Gwyn Eiddior Parry

Music: Osian Gwynedd

During the research process for the primary project ‘The Journey’, the company came across the extremely tragic story surrounding the death of a 15 year old Traveller, called Johnny Delaney.  He was killed in 2003, on the outskirts of Ellesmere Port, when two young men reacted to his Irish accent and attacked him. Witnesses heard them calling him a ‘Gypo’, even though Johnny was an Irish Traveller, who are by rights, an recognised ethnic minority group. The two young men were sentenced to four and a half years for manslaughter rather than murder, with no accusation of enticing racial hatred made against them.

Our aim is to raise awareness of prejudice towards the Travelling community as an ethnic minority group, and to discuss racism in its wider sense with 14 – 16 year olds. We also want to utilise this project to raise awareness in regards to Johnny’s tragic story, but also to highlight the injustices suffered by his family and particularly how they were failed by the legal system.

The project is especially poignant as Johnny spent part of his childhood based in Wrexham, attending St Mary’s Primary Catholic School and St Joseph’s Secondary School.

The company is in close contact with the Delaney family, along with the Cheshire Police Force and Liverpool City Council with regards to this project.  We are also in discussion with the Commission for Racial Equality on ways which we can collaborate with the project.

Further to the performances held at Gwynedd, Anglesey and Conwy secondary schools, the company will perform special performances at Liverpool and Wrexham. We will also hold an evening performance in the Caernarfon area so that the wider community may have an opportunity to see the production.

National Eisteddfod of Wales, Mold and surrounding area 2007

During this year’s Eisteddfod, the company will host a special session which will discuss the project’s derivation and creative stimulus, and will be held at Pabell y Theatrau on 9 August 2007 at 1.30 p.m.

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