CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE WHITE HANDKERCHIEF
CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE WHITE HANDKERCHIEF
The critically acclaimed stage production, The White Handkerchief, will return to the city later this month for ten exclusive performances at the Millennium Forum to coincide with the anniversary of Bloody Sunday and to kickstart the theatre’s 25th anniversary year.
Rehearsals are already underway with director, Kieran Griffiths, guiding the cast of young performers (many the same age as those who were shot on Bloody Sunday on 30th January 1972) to produce what will, undoubtedly, be one of the most astounding pieces of theatre audiences are likely to see in 2026.
Leading the cast is local actor, Warren McCook, who is returning to The White Handkerchief as William McKinney. Warren portrayed William in the first production at the Guildhall in 2022. Indeed, many of the original cast are reprising their roles for this Millennium Forum revival.
Since graduating in Performing Arts at the North West Regional College in 2017, Warren has continued to work professionally in Film and Theatre. Most recently, Warren has appeared in several TV series including Channel 4’s In Flight and Acorn TV’s Art Detectives. Warren has also recently completed filming for BBC’s Shakespeare & Hathaway. His recent theatre credits include GBL’s The Chronicles of Long Kesh which toured nationally before a one week run at the Grand Opera House; followed by a tour of Bruisers production of Wasted, which is also set to return this year; and most recently I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change in the Hawkswell Theatre Sligo.
Joining Warren is Barry Keenan in the role of Fr Edward Daly whose blood soaked white handkerchief has been the iconic symbol of the day’s horrendous events in 1972 in images that were broadcast around the world. Barry’s theatre credits include: Theodore Roosevelt in the original London cast of Disney’s Newsies (Troubadour, Wembley Park), Jacob Marley in Alan Menken’s A Christmas Carol (The Lowry), Father Edward Daly in The White Handkerchief (Guildhall, Derry), Jack “The Flash” Goodman in Soho Dreams (The Other Palace), Long John Silver in Treasure Island (The Helix) Mr Reece/John in The Clockmaker’s Daughter (Cadogan Hall), Mr Smyth in A Christmas Carol (The Lyceum), Mack And Mabel (Hackney Empire), The Genie in Aladdin (Cork Opera House) and Rooster Hannigan in Annie (The Olympia), Sweeney in Seagulls Dance (The Driocht).
Limavady actor, Orla Mullan, reprises her role as Peggy Deery in the Forum’s production. Orla has most recently appeared in Series 3 of BAFTA-winning BBC Primetime Drama, Blue Lights and on stage in Northern Ireland Opera’s acclaimed production of Follies at The Grand Opera House. Other theatre credits include: Little Shop of Horrors, Hume: Beyond Belief, The White Handkerchief (Playhouse); Rapunzel (Waterfront, GBL); The Threepenny Opera (Lyric/NI Opera); Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (UK Productions, No.1 UK Tour & Malta); The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole (Aged 13 3/4) (Bruiser, The MAC & Irish Tour); The Secret Garden (West Yorkshire Playhouse); TitanicDance (KSR Productions, Ireland & China Tour); A Christmas Carol (Blixten, Stockholm); Into the Woods (Landor, London); Cinderella (GBL); An Evening with Bette Midler (Playhouse, Irish Tour); Pits and Perverts (Sole Purpose, UK Tour); Cinderella (Lyric); William Caulfield’s Our Jimmy (David Hull Promotions, NI Tour); Long Gone Lonesome Cowgirls, Fly me to the Moon, The London Vertigo, The Country Boy (Balor Rep); Josef Locke, A Grand Adventure (Playhouse, NI Tour); The Comedy of Errors (Ulster Theatre Company); Chezzie’s Chance (Millennium Forum), Fly me to the Moon (Balor Rep); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sense and Sensibility (UK/Cyprus Tour); Denizen (Creggan Enterprises); Bastien and Bastienne (Welsh National Opera), The Karaoke Musical (Pleasance, Edinburgh Fringe).
Conor O’Kane from Co Derry is returning as Tom O’Gara. Conor’s previous theatre work includes: Polly: A 21st Century Love Story (Old Diorama, London); A Kept Man (Harrogate Theatre); In The Midst of Plenty (Irish national tour); Hume: Beyond Belief (The Guildhall, Derry); Snow White (Crossroads Live); Faust & Maggie (RADA studios, London); The White Handkerchief (The Guildhall, Derry); The Freedom of the City (Arts Over Borders, FrielFest); Good Gracious Good Friday (The White Bear Theatre, London); Chezzie’s Chance (The Millennium Forum, Derry); Refuge (Theatre Royal Bury St. Edmunds & Dance East); Miss Nightingale (U.K. tour & The Vaults, London - Off West End Award nominee for ‘Best Male in a Musical’ 2017).
Conor’s film and TV credits include: Trespasses (Channel 4 / Wildgaze Films); Skintown (Cyprus Avenue Films - in post production); Captured (in post production); The Talk (Winner of ‘Best In Show’ - Boston Wicked Queer Film Festival & Winner of ‘Audience Award’ - Clones International Film Festival); Death of The Primate (Winner of ‘Best Short’ - Nottingham International Film Festival).
Sharon Duffy as Elizabeth, Steven Calvert as Lance Corporal, Brendan Quinn as LC Wilford, Sacha Koplewsky as Alfie, Francis Harkin as Michael Kelly, Cáilum Carragher as Paddy Doherty, Patrick McBrearty as Barney McGuigan, Rachel Harley as Alana Burke, Aodhan Kehoe as Jackie Duddy, Conan Hamilton as Joe Mahon, Dylan Reid as Michael McDaid, Jonny Everett as Willam Nash, Keith Lynch as IRA Man and Pat Lynch as John Johnston complete the lead cast.
Tori Messenger, Grace Doherty, Molly Duffy, Conor White, Patrick Gill, Dara Bradley, Shea Devine and Aidan McLaughlin will join the Ensemble whilst Ariana McLaughlin, Thora Hutton, Eadaoin Pike and Gabriella Lafferty will alternate as Peggy’s Daughter. The Youth Ensemble will consist of Ellie Smith, Iona Park, Shelley Diamond, Eilidh Wild and Kaelah Mellon whilst Conor Walters, Jensen Rihie and Oscar Doherty complete the Junior Ensemble.
Now remounted to open the 25th anniversary year of the Millennium Forum and central to this year’s Bloody Sunday commemorations, The White Handkerchief continues its powerful journey – not only as an artistic achievement but as a profound act of communal courage.
David McLaughlin, Chief Executive of the Millennium Forum, said:
“I am delighted to be working with local director, Kieran Griffiths, and composer, Brian O’Doherty, to bring Liam Campbell’s poignant story to life on our stage for the very first time. I hope that this new production depicting such a dark time in our city’s history will help be a guiding light for our citizens and future generations.”
This new revival features original music from Brian O’Doherty, set design by Ciaran Bagnell, costumes by Amy Roddy and associate choreography by Michael McEvoy.
The White Handkerchief performs at the Millennium Forum from Fri 23rd Jan until Sun 1st Feb (no performances on 26th/27th Jan). Tickets are now available from the Box Office. Telephone 71 264455 (option 1) or visit millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.
This project is supported by the Change Makers Peace Plus Programme, funded by the European Union, the UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government under the PEACEPLUS Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Garfield Weston Foundation and the Reconciliation Fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
ENDS