GATE CONVERSATIONS ANNOUNCEMENT

The Gate Theatre is pleased to announce a very special series of events to coincide with its run of the Lyric Theatre Belfast’s production of AGREEMENT by Owen McCafferty, directed by Charlotte Westenra. The events will take place following the performances on the 10th, 18th and 24th October. The panels are presented with the kind support of the BRITISH COUNCIL IRELAND and the BRITISH EMBASSY IN IRELAND.

AGREEMENT is set in April 1998 as the main political parties in Northern Ireland, the British government and the Irish government, all under the watchful eye of Senator George Mitchell, try to hammer out a deal that could pave the way for peace in Northern Ireland.

The production revisits the days leading up to the signing of the historic accord and features the main players involved in the discussions, including Mo Mowlam, Senator Mitchell, John Hume, Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern, Gerry Adams and David Trimble.

The three panel discussions, entitled BEFORE AGREEMENT, AGREEMENT and AFTER AGREEMENT, will examine the periods in the immediate run-up to the signing of the historic Belfast Agreement, the negotiations themselves, and its legacy today.

Tickets for AGREEMENT and the performances with Gate Conversations are now on sale. The panels will take place post-show, and admission is free for all ticketholders for the given performances.

On 10th October, OLIVIA O’LEARY will host BEFORE AGREEMENT. Examining the period in the run-up to the signing of the Belfast Agreement, the panel will include JIM GIBNEY, former political prisoner and journalist; STACEY GREGG, writer and playwright; and ALEX KANE, journalist and former director of communications of the Ulster Unionist Party.

On 18th October, CLAIRE BYRNE will host the AGREEMENT panel, which will look at the negotiations and events around the signing of the Belfast Agreement itself. The panel will include GERRY ADAMS, former leader of Sinn Féin; BERTIE AHERN, former Taoiseach and  leader of Fianna Fáil; and REG EMPEY, former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.

On 24th October, DEARBHAIL McDONALD will host AFTER AGREEMENT, which will look at the legacy of the Belfast Agreement and the current political and social landscape of Northern Ireland. This panel will include LINDA ERVINE, language rights activist and project leader of the ‘Turas’ Irish language project; DEIRDRE HARGEY, Sinn Féin MLA for Belfast South; and DEBORAH WATTERS, co-director and founder member of the community-based restorative justice organisation Northern Ireland Alternatives.