Looking for Bang-Bang was scripted, based on the verbatim of people in the Dublin area and was originally performed as a work in progress in 2001 as part of the Bealtaine festival. The piece was the result of a six month residency at the Therapeutic Unit, Department of Psychiatry of Old Age, James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Dublin.
During the project Shadowbox worked with a group of participants from the unit exploring creative writing, storywork and reminiscence through their Recall and Imagine programme.It was from this work that we came across the character Bang-Bang, who was an old Dublin character who used to travel on the buses, he was a great favourite to the group and known of by all of them. Some members of the group recalled seeing him for the first time; often they described what he wore, how he spoke and where they would have seen him. Another character that came up was a well-known guard called 1,2,3 or ‘the shadow’, he was renowned for giving summonses to the children, for mitching school and playing football in the streets. Many of the group knew of him and all knew of summonses for one thing or another, and had been affected by being sent away as children or their siblings being sent away as the result of summonses.
Looking for Bang Bang was first performed at Draíocht Arts Centre, the audience included all the original contributors to the piece.
Original Looking for Bang-Bang Collaborators
Frieda Hand Facilitator/Shadowbox
Gemma Gallagher Facilitator/shadowbox
Rose Coyle Head of Unit
Liz Greene Actor
Simon Keogh Actor
Shelagh Wright - Producer
This Project was supported by The Arts Council’s Artist in Community Scheme and
Fingal County Council Community and Culture Department.
The production was further commissioned to tour Nursing Homes and Hospitals in Ireland, culminating in performances in the Civic Theatre in Tallaght.
Funded by HSE
Looking for Bang-Bang was redeveloped in 2018 for a once off performance as part of the International Literature Festival Dublin.
Shadowbox was invited to redevelop Looking for Bang-Bang as part of the Stories from the City programme at the International Theatre Festival Dublin 2018. Looking for Bang-Bang celebrates our work in verbatim theatre a cherished piece that is timeless in it's content and style, created as a celebration of the spoken word and the stories of Older citizens living in Dublin.
Looking for Bang-Bang is a play based on and inspired by true writings and stories, interwoven by Shadowbox’s particular theatre style. During the play the actors switch between playing adults and children and take us on a journey of memories and discovery.
Looking for Bang- Bang was created as a celebration of traditional storytelling, born from the Shadowbox ‘Recall and Imagine’ a programme working with older people encouraging remembering, imagining and reimagining through Theatre, storytelling and creative writing.
Looking for Bang-Bang is a thought provoking production, a celebration of an oral culture, that despite technology, still exists.
Shadowbox, first started 20 years ago on a drive to put voice to authentic voices and create theatre reflecting lived experiences.
Original production developed from the stories of older people in and around Dublin. Touring within Nursing homes, Day Hospitals, active retirement settings and traditional theatre venues. Supported by HSE South Eastern Region
A theatre production developed by Shadowbox from the stories and writings of older people from Dublin and surrounding areas. After piloting in 2004 the production was recast, further re-worked and commissioned by HSE south western area health promotion dept for 5 Theatre performances and 5 health settings for older people performed during May 2005.
Production Aims
To present oral history in an engaging entertaining way, accessible to audiences of all ages but particularly older people.
To explore new ways to present the traditional story