Laurence McKeown
Laurence is a writer, playwright, and filmmaker, though he sees those roles within the broader context of political activism and academia. His involvement in creative works, political education and academia began during his period of incarceration as a political prisoner (1976-1992). Following his release Laurence completed a doctoral thesis at Queen’s University, Belfast.
In the late 1990s he co-wrote a feature film, H3, based on the 1981 hunger strike which he participated in for 70 days. Laurence then began to work as a playwright, using theatre to explore issues concerning the legacy of the conflict in the North of Ireland. His plays with Kabosh include Before you go, Those You Pass On The Street, Johanna Monahan, It’s in the Streets, Two Roads West, and Reports from War-torn West Belfast / Winnie and William both part of The West Awakes. His other plays include Cherish all the Children of the Nation Equally (TÍ Chulainn); The Official Version, A Cold House and Laughter of our Children (Dubbeljoint). He was coordinator of the Aftermath project (www.aftermath-ireland.com) in which he used the arts (film, photography, and music) to engage with victims/survivors and persons displaced by the conflict in Ireland and internationally.
Paula McFetridge
From Belfast, Paula has been Artistic Director of Kabosh since 2006. She commissions, dramaturgs and directs the company’s annual programme of socially engaged theatre. She is a fellow of Salzburg Global Seminar Session 532 ‘Peacebuilding Through the Arts’, was made Belfast Ambassador in recognition of utilising the arts to tackle difficult issues and won the Northern Ireland Tourism Board ‘Hero’ award for her work in cultural tourism.
Prior to Kabosh she was Artistic Director of the Lyric Theatre in Belfast for 6 years.
Vincent Higgins
Vincent is an actor and writer from Co Antrim. He previously worked with Kabosh on Reunion, Those You Pass On The Street, Inventors, 1 in 5, Titans, Carnival and Two Roads West. His other theatre credits include The Freedom of the City (Abbey Theatre & Lincoln Centre); Hamlet (Abbey Theatre/Lyric Theatre); Shibboleth and As the Beast Sleeps (Abbey Theatre); Ohio Impromptu (Happy Days International Beckett Festival, Enniskillen, Liverpool and Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris); Lally the Scut and convictions (Tinderbox); Lish and Jerry at the Shrine (Windsor Park and Stormont); Hold Your Tongue, Hold Your Dead (Global Arts Corps, Boston); Juno and The Paycock, John Bull’s Other Island, Conversations on a Homecoming, Animal Farm and Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme (Lyric Theatre); Binlids, Working Class Heroes and A Cold House (Dubbeljoint); The Crock of Gold (Storytellers); The Scarlet Web, Bog People, Cuchulain and To Hell with Faust (Big Telly).
Vincent is an acclaimed radio and voice-over artist. His film and television credits include Mickeybo and Me (Working Title Films); Life after Life and Lá Choronaithe (BBC NI); Soldier (Underdog Media); Family Fortunes – De Valera’s Irish Press (Mint Productions); Trespasses (NI Screen); Eoin O’Duffy – the making of a Fascist and Eoin MacNeill – the forgotten man of 1916 (Doubleband Films). Vincent is also a renowned playwright with multiple stage and radio credits.
James Doran
James is from Belfast and trained at Manchester Poly School of Theatre. He has previously worked with Kabosh on Silent Trade, Before You Go, The Ballad of Reading Gaol, Ghosts of Drumglass, Be Our Guest, The Enemy Within and Henry and Harriet. His other theatre credits include Carson and the Lady (Theatre at the Mill); The Belfast Tempest (Terra Nova); Smiley, 1974 – the end of the year show, The Weir, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, Macbeth, Hidden Curriculum, and Dockers (Lyric Theatre); The Lantern Man (Powerstone); Pumpgirl (Bush Theatre, London); Joyriders (Sheffield Crucible); Juno and The Paycock (Contact Theatre, Manchester); Brothers in Arms, That Woman at Rathard (Waterfront Hall); Titanic Boys, Chronicles of Long Kesh (Opera House); Meeting at Menin Gate (The Mac); The Country Boy (Riverside Theatre); The Evangelist and Stags & Hens (Arts Theatre); DES, Binlids, Laughter Of Our Children, Forced upon us, Working Class Heroes, and Black Taxi (Dubblejoint).
James’ many television and film credits include Pulling Moves, Best His Mother’s Son, Holy Cross and Blue Lights (BBC); The Widower (Octagon Films); Saved (Garden Productions); Game of Thrones (HBO); the Oscar-nominated and Seattle International Film Festival winner 2005 Everything in this country must (Six Mile); H3 (Metropolitan Films) and Nothing Personal (Littlebird).
