Creative Coast

Creative Coast was a 12-week community arts project produced by c21 Theatre Company in partnership with The Old Church Centre, Cushendun, and residents of The Glens of Antrim.

Between January – May 2024, participants engaged in creative writing, reminiscence, storytelling, theatre, mindfulness and music workshops, exploring their personal connections to The Glens, to produce some vividly illustrative poetry, prose and song.

Creative Coast culminated in two events programmed as part of The Big Arts Weekend, Cushendun.

The Creative Coast sound installation by sound artist Fionnuala Fagan-Thiébot, showcases the community’s newly composed spoken word poetry, using authentic field recordings of locations from The Glens. This work complemented, Big Arts, a community landscape exhibition curated by project participant, Bridgit Scally-Millar, at Glenmona House, Cushendun, 4th – 5th May 2024.

You can listen to the Creative Coast playlist by clicking the links below:

The Creative Coast live performance was directed by Stephen Kelly, with performances by Bridgit Scally-Millar, David Carr, Carole O’Hara, Brian O’Kelly, Mary Rose Black and Glenn Simpson, video design by Katy English, choreography by Philip Johnston and sound design by Fionnuala Fagan-Thiébot. This showcase event launched at The Old Church Centre, Cushendun, 6th May 2024, and was followed by an informal audience story-telling circle, facilitated by Liz Weir.

Participant Quotes

“This kind of project is a Social Prescription.”

“Creativity was facilitated, demonstrated and nurtured. Participants were empowered and empowering.”

“The positive energy was so good for all of us, and the community at large. This was shown by the large audience in attendance at the live event.”

Audience Quotes

“It was an absolute pleasure to attend such a lovely, heartfelt evening. I was amazed by the creativity discovered and expressed by the community participants within such a short project timeframe. Well done c21 Theatre Company!”

“Beautiful celebration of this glorious part of the world.”

“Fantastic to hear stories, poems and songs told and composed by talented people from the Glens location and beyond.”

Showcase May 2024