Northern Ireland

Impact of Belfast housing shortage told in new hard-hitting drama

The play shines a light on the private rental market in the city

Housing in Belfast
The play is based on issued in the private housing market in Belfast (Getty Images)
By Suzanne McGonagle

The impact of the housing shortage in Belfast on ordinary people is being told in a new hard-hitting drama.

The play, Three Pay Days, aims to shine a light on the private rental market in the city with people struggling to find homes, deposits or having to look to family for help.

The drama, from theatre company Kabosh, was written by New York Times award-winning young playwright Alice Malseed and will be performed at the EastSide Arts Festival in Belfast later this month.

Alice Malseed (Writer), Rachel Kennedy (EastSide Arts), Gilly Campbell (Arts Council of Northern Ireland) and Paula McFetridge (Director) at the launch of Three Pay Days, which premieres at the EastSide Arts Festival on July 31. Photo by Johnny Frazer
Writer Alice Malseed, Rachel Kennedy of EastSide Arts, Gilly Campbell from Arts Council of NI and Kabosh director Paula McFetridge at the launch of Three Pay Days, which premieres at the EastSide Arts Festival on July 31. PICTURE: JOHNNY FRAZER

The play follows a young woman who is trying to find a suitable place to live and bring up her nine-year-old daughter, while juggling a job working in an upscale café.

Paula McFetridge, Kabosh artistic director, says housing is “a microcosm of all that is wrong in society, trapping the poor in poverty while the rich grow richer”.

Alice Malseed said: ”It’s been a real honour to be working in east Belfast, connecting with women’s groups and The Larder community food hub staff and users.

“Through these moving and activating conversations, I’ve been able to get an insight into the everyday human impact of austerity and the housing crisis in east Belfast.

“Through writing ‘Three Pay Days’, I’ve tried to give a human voice to the cost-of-surviving crisis that has perpetuated in our community.

“I want audiences to realise that we are all part of this: but through action, we can choose to be part of the problem, or part of the solution.”

The play was commissioned by EastSide Arts with funding from the Arts Council National Lottery Commissioning Programme.

After premiering in Belfast on July 31, the play will transfer to Féile an Phobhail on August 2 and the Playhouse, Derry on August 3.