Northern Ireland’s only remaining operational picturehouse, Strand Arts Centre, hosted a sold-out anniversary screening of the iconic Northern Irish drama-comedy, Mickybo & Me on Thursday 08 February.
The evening began with a drinks reception sponsored by east Belfast’s Boundary Brewery, before award-winning novelist Glenn Patterson led a Q&A panel with Academy-award nominated actor, Ciarán Hinds (Jonjo’s dad in the film), Niall Wright (Jonjo), John Joe McNeill (Mickybo), director, Terry Loane and producer, Mark Huffam.
The audience listened as the cast and crew reflected on their time working on the production, which was filmed over 20 years ago in Northern Ireland. Mickybo & Me tells a heart-warming story of two boys, Jonjo and Mickybo, who come from different sides of the community at the start of Northern Ireland’s Troubles in 1970. Amidst the conflict and devastation that’s taking place around them, they strike up a friendship from a shared obsession with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and come up with a plan to escape Belfast and move to Australia for a better life.
This anniversary screening represents one of several fundraising events to support the Strand Arts Centre’s transformational £6.5M redevelopment project, which is scheduled to begin in spring 2024, and will see the Strand close its doors until 2025. On completion, the Strand will be completely reimagined into a new state-of-the-art venue, honouring its rich history and heritage, while creating an arts centre fit for audiences of the future.
For anyone who missed the anniversary screening and Q&A, the Strand will screen Mickybo & Me on Sunday 18th February for a second screening, and will also show last night’s Q&A with cast and crew before the film.
To find out more about how you can support the Strand, visit www.strandartscentre.com. Connect with the Strand Arts Centre on Facebook or Instagram @StrandArtsCentre.
