Major cross-border musical theatre project unites Buncrana and Derry

An exciting new cross-border musical theatre programme will bring performers and communities from Buncrana and Derry together in 2027, culminating in a major final production at the Millennium Forum Theatre in Derry.

Inish Theatre Group, Buncrana, and Londonderry Musical Society will join forces to deliver the ambitious project following the successful award of funding through PEACEPLUS and Pobal.

The project will consist of an intensive 10-week musical theatre programme, with participants taking part in workshops and rehearsals twice a week across Buncrana and Derry.

Through acting, singing, dance and performance workshops, the programme will bring together performers, volunteers, children, young people and members of the wider community, providing opportunities to develop new skills, build confidence and establish new friendships and connections across the border.

At the end of the 10-week programme, participants will come together for a major final musical theatre production at the Millennium Forum Theatre and Conference Centre in Derry.

The project will be jointly coordinated by Adrian McMyler of Inish Theatre Group and Judith O’Hare of Londonderry Musical Society.

The creative team will include Maureen Loughrey Tolley of Inish Theatre Group as Director, Leigh Chapman of Inish Theatre Group as Choreographer and Ryan Quinn of Londonderry Musical Society as Musical Director.

A joint cross-border project committee will also be established, with representatives from both organisations working together to plan, develop and deliver the programme.

Both organisations hope the project will create a lasting partnership between the two musical theatre groups while developing meaningful connections between participants and communities in Buncrana, the wider Inishowen area and Derry.

Speaking following confirmation of the funding, Joint Project Coordinator Adrian McMyler said: “After months of hard work, I am incredibly proud to see an idea I had for a major cross-border musical theatre project between Inish Theatre Group and Londonderry Musical Society become a reality.”

“I genuinely believe this project can have a really positive impact on people of all ages across Inishowen and Derry. It will give participants the opportunity to develop their skills, build confidence and form new friendships while bringing our communities together through musical theatre.”

Joint Project Coordinator Judith O’Hare added: “We are delighted to be partnering with Inish Theatre Group on this exciting cross-border project. Over the 10-week programme, participants from Buncrana, Derry and the surrounding areas will have the opportunity to come together regularly, share experiences and develop their musical theatre skills.”

“The relationships and friendships created through the programme are just as important as what happens on stage. We hope this will establish strong connections between our two organisations and our communities that will continue well beyond the final performance.”

Project Director Maureen Loughrey Tolley said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to bring performers from both communities together and create something really special.”

“As a director, I am particularly excited about the creative possibilities of bringing together performers with different experiences and backgrounds and seeing what we can achieve together.”