Download Press Release

Derry~Londonderry welcomes back its patron saint and
founder Colmcille in the UK’s most ambitious outdoor
spectacle of 2013
A large-scale extravaganza to take place on 7th and 8th June as part of the City of
Culture festivities, from Frank Cottrell Boyce, the writer of the Olympic opening
ceremony, outdoor art experts Walk the Plank and Donegal-based theatre company
LUXe
This June, the streets and walls of Derry~Londonderry and the River Foyle will become the stage for
a unique series of events, The Return of Colmcille, specially commissioned to celebrate the UK’s first
City of Culture. Taking place on the 7th and 8th June, this two day spectacle will see London 2012
Opening Ceremony writer Frank Cottrell Boyce celebrate the iconic patron saint, Colmcille (Columba),
and the city of Derry~Londonderry.
Through a series of events played out in chapters, The Return of Colmcille welcomes the mysterious
Irish abbot back to the very city he founded, to his people, and the remarkable tales that he missed
whilst he was away. With an 800 strong cast, made up of crew and local volunteers, the culmination
of performances will be an unforgettable showdown on the River Foyle where a monstrous foe lies in
wait. Expect storytelling on a grand scale, music, art, comedy, procession, performance and fireworks
for this once in a lifetime weekend.
The story starts on the tiny island of Iona, where Saint Colmcille founded his most famous monastery,
and from where he and his followers produced mesmerisingly beautiful manuscripts and spread not
only Christianity but ideas about literacy, peace-making and nation-building. From there on the 24th
May, the Colmcille Curragh, a 40 foot canvas traditional boat, and her crew of 13 rowers will set off on
an epic journey mirroring that made by Colmcille and his followers almost fourteen hundred years
ago.
Their arrival in Derry~Londonderry on the evening of the 7th June marks the beginning of the
weekend events. Accompanied on the final leg of their journey by an evocative soundtrack by
Scottish composer Jim Sutherland, commissioned as a gift from Scotland, the Curragh will be
followed by a barge carrying a large mysterious crate. This precious cargo is dramatically craned onto
the Quayside and ceremonially processed to take pride of place in the Guildhall Square.
The next day, Saturday 8th June, at 2pm the contents of the box are revealed to the curious crowds
gathered in Guildhall Square. Entertainment and performances follow at locations across the city
throughout the afternoon.
At 9pm the People’s Procession will make its way over the Peace Bridge and through the city before
finally coming to a stop on Queens Quay. Celebrating some of the unique chapters and characters
that have been forged to form the identity of the city, the people of Derry~Londonderry come down o
the River to support the returning Colmcille.
Frank Cottrell Boyce said: “Colmcille is a colossal figure, a monastic superhero and his love for Derry
is well documented in poetry and literature. Coming back to his home town he’ll want to hear all the
stories he’s missed over the last 1500 years – from the shirt factories, to the Undertones, from Dopey
Dick to the U-boat surrender on the Foyle and then of course there are suggestions that an old
enemy might be afoot in the shape of Colmcille’s nemesis The Loch Ness Monster. The city of
Derry~Londonderry is going to be completely transformed for two days and we want everyone to
come along and take part.”
At 10:30pm the final chapter begins when strange sounds are heard from up the River. Tension
builds as at last Colmcille’s nemesis is sighted. Seeking revenge for being crushed by Colmcille the
magnificent Loch Ness Monster approaches. As the people join together to defend their saint and
their city an epic showdown unfolds in an explosive finale – a new moment is made in the history of
the city.
Culture Company Chief Executive Shona McCarthy said: “The Return of Colmcille will be one of the
most iconic events to take place in the city during the City of Culture Celebrations in 2013 and the
plans that Walk the Plank and Frank Cottrell Boyce have in place to celebrate the return of the city’s
patron saint are amazing. It’s hard to explain the size and scale of events without giving too much
away, you really have to come to Derry~Londonderry to experience it. Our city is fizzing with
excitement and I can’t wait for all the surprises and the drama to unfold.”
A full programme of events and a map of the city and activity taking place on the Friday and Saturday
is now available to download. See links below.
For more information contact Harriet Fitzgerald, [email protected], 020 7010
0828 or Muireann Kyeyune, [email protected] 028 7136 0886.
Notes to editors:
Timings:
• Friday 24th May, Dusk, ‘The Departure’, Iona, Scotland
• Friday 7th June, 19:30, ‘The Arrival’ event; Quayside & Guildhall Square, 1 hour approx.
• Friday 7th June, 19:30, ‘The Arrival’ event; Quayside & Guildhall Square, 1 hour approx.
• Saturday 8th June, 14:00, ‘What’s in the box?’ Guildhall Square.
• Saturday 8th June, 14:30, ‘Welcome to Colmville, Street Theatre, locations city wide.
• Saturday 8th June, 21:00 ‘People’s Procession’, Harbour Square, Strand Road and Queens Quay.
• Saturday 8th June, 22:30 ‘Showdown on the Foyle’, Queens Quay.
Derry~Londonderry City of Culture 2013 is a year-long cultural feast of music, dance, theatre, art
and much more on the banks of the River Foyle. The City of Culture initiative was announced by the
UK Government in 2009, building on Liverpool’s success as European Capital of Culture in 2008,
inviting cities to compete for the first UK City of Culture title in 2013. Derry~Londonderry is the winner
of the title for 2013. The other shortlisted cities were Birmingham, Norwich and Sheffield.
Derry~Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 is funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
of the Northern Ireland Executive, with core funding from Derry City Council, and capital infrastructure
delivered by Ilex, Urban Regeneration Company. The cultural programme is also funded by the Arts
Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Council of England, the British Council and others.
With the support of Principal Partner: B`t
Media partners: BBC, UTV, Derry Journal, Londonderry Sentinel
Partners: Diageo, NIE, JTI, Tesco, Great Wall Motors, Coca-Cola, Foyleside, Firstsource Solutions,
Eventserv, Derry Credit Union Limited, Seagate, Translink, Crown Paints, Etihad Airways, Parkes
Hire, Culture Northern Ireland.
Walk the Plank are outdoor arts experts, who create powerful events with mass appeal. From
international stage to village square, our team of experts develop remarkable moments that enrich the
lives of our audience through shared experience - encouraging a sense of place, a feeling of pride,
and well-being. We empower artists and communities through creative development, transforming
people and the places in which they live through opportunities to engage with accessible, artistic
excellence.
To create and deliver this unique event the company have brought some of the finest artists and
professionals working in the field of outdoor arts from Donegal to Sydney, Dublin to Glasgow to work
together with wealth of local creative talent. www.walktheplank.co.uk
Frank Cottrell Boyce is a children's novelist and film writer. He won the Carnegie Medal in 2005 for
his novel Millions, which was made into a film by Danny Boyle. Last year he won the Guardian
Children's Fiction prize for The Unforgotten Coat. His films include the Oscar-nominated Hilary and
Jackie and the cult classic 24 Hour Party People. He was the writer of the London 2012 Olympic
Games Opening Ceremony.
Funding has also been provided by the Northern Irish Tourist Board. NITB is responsible for the
development of tourism and the marketing of Northern Ireland as a tourist destination to visitors within
Northern Ireland and from the Republic of Ireland.
LUXe – Creative Partners The Departure & The Arrival
Mark Hill and Mandy Blinco, founders of LUXe, a processional and landscape theatre company have
over 20 years experience of making theatre, sculpture and costume commissions. From their
workshops in Donegal (on the mountain overlooking Derry), they design and create beautifully
detailed and decorative illuminated costumes.
They specialise in producing mechanical and inflatable sculpture aerial and elevated performances
and also do light, sound and fire work. Mark and Mandy engage with a variety of performers, dancers
and musicians to create their unique spectacles.
LUXe are known for their distinctive decorative style and bringing sensory multi layered illuminated
and processional spectacle to streets and landscapes throughout Ireland and internationally.
Recently, they launched ‘The Gathering’ in the large illuminated New Year’s Procession in Dublin
2013 and took 40 performers and a tonne and a half of processional sculpture to Hong Kong to
celebrate the Chinese New Year.
Conflux – creative partners for The Departure and The Arrival events
Conflux is a project developing a voice for Scottish-based artists working in the field of Physical
Performance (incorporating street arts, physical theatre and circus). Conflux creates opportunities for
the development of both fully professional and emergent artists The work of these professional and
emergent artists is showcased at Conflux’s annual festival SURGE. SURGE 2013 will take place this
July with eyes firmly fixed on building towards the Commonwealth Games year in 2014.