SHOPPERS in a bitingly cold Belfast city centre did a double-take yesterday when a civil rights march took place in Cornmarket.
The '1968 march', complete with banner and placards demanding 'jobs for all' and an end to discrimination, was held to publicise a new play marking the 50th’ anniversary of the first civil rights march in Northern Ireland.
We’ll Walk Hand In Hand, by Belfast playwright Martin Lynch, explores not only civil rights in the 1960s but half a century on in 2018, reflected by the fact that some of those marching – and who will appear alongside the professional cast when the play is performed at the Lyric theatre – were refugees and members of the LGBT community.
Also on the march were the playwright, Lyric Theatre director Jimmy Fay and the play's co-producer, QUB's Dr Michael Pierse, comic actor and writer Conor Grimes and leading Belfast actress, Maria Connolly.
:: We’ll Walk Hand In Hand is at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, March 22-31. For booking see lyrictheatre.co.uk
