Stage Beyond Theatre Company

06/10/2026

06/10/2026

💚 WEAR GREEN FOR WORLD CP DAY! 💚

Today, Stage Beyond added a splash of green to our drama and dance workshops - and where better to take our photos than the aptly named Green Room! 💚🎭💃

We’re proudly wearing green in solidarity with our wonderful company member Bernadette Foley, who couldn’t be with us in person today but was absolutely there with us in spirit. 🫶

Bernadette lives life to the max with cerebral palsy, bringing her own unique energy, determination, creativity and personality to everything she does. We miss having you with us today, Bernadette - but we’ll see you back in the Studio next week! ✨

Unique AND United. 💚

Every person with cerebral palsy has their own story, experiences, priorities and ideas about what needs to change. Today is about bringing those individual voices together - celebrating what makes each person unique while recognising the strength that comes from standing together.

Different experiences. Different voices. One united call for a more inclusive world. 🌍💚

We’re unique. We’re united. And we’re here to make a difference.

Happy World CP Day from all of us at Stage Beyond! 💚

06/10/2026

💚 CEREBRAL PALSY AWARENESS DAY 2026 💚
Tuesday 6 October |

Today, Stage Beyond Theatre Company is delighted to celebrate Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day 2026 and, in particular, one very special member of our Stage Beyond family - our wonderful Bernadette Foley. 💚

This year’s global theme, , celebrates the individuality of people with cerebral palsy while recognising the strength that comes from coming together, sharing experiences and advocating for a more inclusive world.

And there is perhaps no better person for us to celebrate today than Bernadette. 💚

Bernadette is so much more than a great performer. Over the years, she has taken on many memorable roles in Stage Beyond productions, but she is also an inspirational company member, wonderful supporter and a fantastic ambassador for Stage Beyond.

She brings her own unique personality, talent, and perspective to everything she does and we are incredibly proud to have her as part of our company.

And only two days ago, Bernadette was doing what she does so brilliantly - performing on stage at The MAC in Belfast as the Narrator in our adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s 'The Caucasian Chalk Circle', as part of BOUNCE Arts Festival 2026.🎭

Bernadette was fabulous as always! 🌟

Although Bernadette isn't able to join us in person today as planned, we were lucky enough to record a special message from her at The MAC on Sunday - and we're delighted to share it with you today.

So, as we celebrate Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, let's celebrate Bernadette - her talent, her determination, her individuality, her contribution and everything she brings to Stage Beyond.

💚 Unique in who we are.
💚 United in what we can achieve.
💚 Proud of every individual voice.
💚 Stronger together.

Happy Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, Bernadette - and thank you for being such an important part of the Stage Beyond family. 💚🎭

And of course… watch this space! 👀

We'll be sharing another special post later today featuring our Stage Beyond company members and staff, who will also be getting together and wearing green to mark the occasion.

Because today, and every day, we celebrate . 💚





Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Good Causes Western Health and Social Care Trust Millennium Forum Theatre & Conference Centre

05/10/2026

🎭 WHAT. A. DAY! 🎭✨

Yesterday, Stage Beyond Theatre Company took our adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s 'The Caucasian Chalk Circle' to The MAC Belfast as part of BOUNCE Arts Festival 2026, directed by the amazing Kate Guelke! 🎉

From arriving at The MAC to taking our final bow - and then heading straight into a fantastic Q&A panel discussion with our audience - it was such a special day. ❤️

A huge THANK YOU to everyone at The MAC who looked after us so brilliantly, especially Julie, Silvia, Siobhan (Box Office), Gavin and the Café Bar team, and Ian and AnneMarie for technical support plus also ensuring all our audience were seated comfortably for the event - it ran like clockwork! 👏

And to our fabulous audience - thank you for spending your Sunday afternoon with us! 🥰

We loved having the opportunity after the performance to chat about Stage Beyond and the production. Our company members and Kate were, as always, absolutely outstanding. 🤩

🌟 OUR No. 1s! 🌟

We could not be prouder of every one of our amazing company members - whether you performed in Belfast or were part of our pre-recorded scenes filmed at the Millennium Forum Theatre & Conference Centre You were ALL part of this excellent production plus our brilliant creative team, carers and volunteers. 🫶

And behind the scenes… WHAT A TEAM! 👏

💛 Dee Conaghan - Artistic Director
🎩 Kate Guelke - Director
🎭 Fiona Harkin - Freelance Stage Manager
✨ Maddie Nicholl - Assistant Stage Manager
🤗 Thomas Burnett - Support Worker
🎬 Chris Thompson - Filming
🎶 Neil Burns - Musical Director
💻 Fidelma McDermott - Office Administrator
📱 Bernie Mullen - Communications Officer

Thank you all for the creativity, technical magic, organisation, props, music, filming and sheer hard work that helped make this production happen, following the success of our recent tour Playhouse Derry An Grianan Theatre Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo
with our brilliant associate director and weekly drama facilitator Nora Kavanagh also at the helm. 🎭

Thank you to the wonderful Edel Murphy, up until recently CEO of University of Atypical for Arts and Disability for inviting us to be part of BOUNCE, and to Gilly Campbell (Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Grainne Close (Praxis Care), Emma Harte and Maeve O' Lynn (Mencap in Northern Ireland) for joining us and supporting our work together with our amazing family support network, friends and Board members. 💖

An extra special thank you to Mal Houston and Easilink Community Transport for getting us safely from Derry to Belfast and back again. 🚌❤️

What a team. What a production. What a day. 🎭❤️

Stage Beyond - we did it! 👏✨

04/10/2026

🎭 3pm today at The MAC! Looking forward to performing our adaptation of ‘The Caucasian Chalk Circle’ as part of Bounce Arts Festival 2026. ✨ ⭕️

03/10/2026

🎭 Tomorrow! Sunday 4 October at 3pm 🎭

Our Stage Beyond Theatre Company member Bernadette, who takes on the role of the Narrator, has a message for you… 👀

Come along to The MAC, Belfast tomorrow afternoon for our performance of Bertolt Brecht’s 'The Caucasian Chalk Circle'.

Expect a powerful story of love, justice, sacrifice and the choices we make when the world is turned upside down.

📅 Sunday 4 October
⏰ 3pm
📍 The MAC, Belfast

🎟️ Book your tickets now and come support Stage Beyond!

https://themaclive.com/event/the-caucasian-chalk-circle

We’d love to see you there! ❤️🎭

01/10/2026

🎭 “Come and see us at The MAC!” 🎭

Our inspirational Chairperson Bernie Shiels, who plays Grusha in Stage Beyond’s production of Bertolt Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle, has a special invitation for you! ❤️

🎬 Watch Bernie’s message - then join us this Sunday!

📅 Sunday 4 October
🕒 3pm
📍 The MAC Belfast
🎪 Bounce Arts Festival 2026

Come and experience our award-winning company bringing this powerful, funny and moving story to the stage. 🌟

🎟️ BOOK NOW:
https://themaclive.com/event/the-caucasian-chalk-circle

We’ll see you at The MAC! 🎭❤️



Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Good Causes The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland Western Health and Social Care Trust The MAC University of Atypical for Arts and Disability

29/09/2026

A very special moment for Stage Beyond Theatre Company at the Millennium Forum’s 25th Anniversary Gala. ❤️

As the Forum’s in-house resident theatre company for adults with learning disabilities, we are incredibly proud of the unique relationship we have built with this wonderful venue over the years.🎭

The Millennium Forum Theatre & Conference Centre has been so much more than a place to perform - it has been a home, a creative hub and a place where our company members have grown, developed their skills, made friendships and shared their talents with audiences. 🫶

We were delighted to have representatives from Stage Beyond called onto the stage during the recent gala celebration to mark our place in the Forum family. 🎉

Here’s a little clip from that very special moment. 🎭✨

25 years of the Millennium Forum - and we’re proud to have been part of the story. 🤩



Arts Council of Northern Ireland
National Lottery Good Causes
Western Health and Social Care Trust
Derry Credit Union Limited The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland HERE for Arts & Culture Derry City & Strabane District Council

28/09/2026

🔥🎭 THE COUNTDOWN IS ON! 🎭🔥

THIS SUNDAY. 3PM. THE MAC. 👀

We’re getting close now to Stage Beyond Theatre Company’s exciting adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE - and rehearsals are 🔥🔥🔥!

Here’s a sneak peek from today’s rehearsal at our home base in the Studio at the Millennium Forum. 🎥🎭

The cast are ready. The energy is building. And we’re getting set to bring this extraordinary story of love, justice, courage and compassion to the Studio at The MAC as part of the Bounce Arts Festival 2026.

📅 SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER
⏰ 3PM (50 mins)
📍 THE MAC THEATRE, BELFAST

🎟️ DON’T MISS IT - BOOK NOW! 👇

👉 https://themaclive.com/event/the-caucasian-chalk-circle

Come and see what all the rehearsal-room buzz is about! 🎭💥

We’ll see you at The MAC!

Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Good Causes The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland Western Health and Social Care Trust Millennium Forum Theatre & Conference Centre University of Atypical for Arts and Disability

11/09/2026

🎭✨ Another productive week! ✨🎭

There’s always something special happening at Stage Beyond and this week was no exception!

🎭 REHEARSALS CONTINUE!

Company members and our creative team are busy preparing for our upcoming adaptation of The Caucasian Chalk Circle at The MAC, Belfast, on Sunday 4 October.⭕🚌

The work continues, the performances are taking shape and the excitement is building! 🎬👏

💃 CONTEMPORARY DANCE & HEALTH

This week also saw the beginning of a fantastic new 6-week Contemporary Dance & Health Project, co-produced with our participants and facilitated by Dr Jenny Elliott OBE.

And what a start!

Jenny encouraged everyone to explore connection, imagination and movement in a safe and supportive space. As Jenny reminded us, “One of the best things is the gift of imagination.” ❤️

Our company members loved this new workshop and we can't wait to see where the next five weeks take us!🙌

🎂 DOUBLE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

This week we celebrated two birthdays - the fabulous Marie and Aoife 💖

🎭 SHARING THE STAGE BEYOND STORY

We were also delighted to have the opportunity to highlight the amazing work of Stage Beyond during an online meeting with the Social Work Forum, including a performance of The A-Z of Stage Beyond.🎩

So, as we wrap up another busy week, a huge WELL DONE to Team Stage Beyond! 👏👏👏

Rehearsals ✔️
Dance & movement ✔️
Creativity ✔️
Connection ✔️
Friendship ✔️
Birthdays ✔️
Sharing our story ✔️

Now it’s time for a well-earned break!☺️

Wishing everyone a relaxing and enjoyable weekend. 🫶

See you on Monday back at the Studio for more fantastic drama, friendship, creativity, laughter and lots more Stage Beyond magic! 🎭✨