Alley Theatre to host powerful reflection on the impact of flooding
30 April 2025
On the 8th and 9th of May, the Alley Theatre will host a special installation piece reflecting the devastating impact of flooding on local communities.
‘In at Midnight and Away by Morning: The Uninvited Guest’, is a powerful sound and light installation from the BluePrint Project, capturing the lived experience of communities facing the reality of flooding and their ongoing adaptation to the impacts of climate change.
The BluePrint Project, which is funded by Creative Ireland, led by University College Cork with support from The Playhouse, Derry City and Strabane District Council, and Mayo County Council, involved a co-creation process with flood-affected communities in Eglinton and Newtownstewart, and an All-Island learning exchange with Mayo.
The poetic piece features the sonification of historic and predicted rainfall data and has been shaped through the voices and creativity of flood-affected communities in Eglinton and Newtownstewart. It was created in collaboration with artist Sara Walmsley, and this immersive work explores resilience, community action and hope in the face of an uncertain climate future.
On May 8th the Sound and Light Installation will be shared at a special event in the Alley Theatre attended by the Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, the Director of Creative Ireland, government representatives, researchers, artists and community organisations.
Looking ahead to the event, Mayor Barr said: “The Blueprint Project is a call to action and we must respond to this climate emergency with a renewed sense of urgency. The fight against climate change requires all of us to play our part, the simple changes we can all make in our everyday life can have a collective impact. It’s time for us to step up as a community.”
The evening will also mark the launch of the BluePrint Toolkit, a resource capturing insights from this co-creation process and all-island exchange with Mayo. Designed to support government and community actors, the Toolkit offers guidance and inspiration for climate adaptation and flood resilience efforts across Ireland.
‘In at Midnight and Away by Morning: The Uninvited Guest’, will be open to the public from 10am to 3pm on the 9th of May at the Alley Theatre.