An interactive play exploring the concept of what shared housing means was the highlight of Clanmil’s programme of events for Good Relations Week.  

More than 400 people attended the performance of Shared? between Tuesday 20th and Friday 23rd September at a big top style marquee in Ormeau Park, Belfast.  

Clanmil worked in partnership with Partisan Productions to present Shared?, a thought-provoking, moving and at times surprisingly funny exploration of contemporary housing issues and the human lives behind the social housing statistics and stereotypes. 

The play was commissioned as part of Clanmil’s good relations work in the south Belfast area, where it manages two shared housing developments.  

During 2021 and 2022, Philip Whyte of Clanmil’s Community Cohesion Team facilitated conversations between Partisan and some of the people who live in Clanmil homes, along with members of the local community and other stakeholders during the script writing process. 

Shared?’s playwright, Fintan Brady said: 

“We wanted the storylines to genuinely reflect the experiences, issues and aspirations of people who live in or alongside areas of shared housing. Of course, people mentioned emblems and differing traditions, but a lot of the concerns were about social housing in general. Whether it’s real, perceived, or rumoured, we gathered a lot of ideas and beliefs about the housing selection process, who lives in social housing, class differences and gentrification’. 

The play was produced in a 'Forum' theatre style, where members of the audience are invited to join in and contribute to the performances.  

Fintan Brady describes the format as ‘encouraging candid discussion of societal issues; this time about shared social housing.  Audiences watch the scripted play once; then it is performed again whilst audience members attempt to change the course or outcome of the drama. Spectators can become “spect-actors”, make suggestions or they can simply watch and enjoy the show. When a few people do participate it becomes a very lively event’. 

Jennifer Cuthbert, Clanmil’s Community Investment Manager said there are plans to bring the play to a wider audience in the coming months: 

“We were delighted to be able to offer such an innovative approach to improving community relations which we hope will help influence future housing policy in relation to shared neighbourhoods and in general. The play is expected to develop over time and we hope to tour it, taking in the other locations where we manage shared housing, such as Banbridge, Crossgar, Dundrum, Newcastle and Newtownabbey.”  

Other events that Clanmil’s Community Cohesion team held during Good Relations Week were the launch of a book about a Banbridge-born explorer by secondary school children and music and craft workshops for people living in Felden and Glendun/Glenwhirry in Newtownabbey. 

Clanmil manages seven shared housing developments across Northern Ireland and is currently promoting a further two.  

Clanmil’s shared schemes are supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Executive’s “Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme.  The programme has its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society.  

Good Relations Week 2022 took place from Tuesday 20th to Monday 26th September 2022. 
The theme for this year’s celebration was ‘‘Change Starts With Us’ , focussing on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to highlight the political, social, economic, and environmental challenges we face as a region. 

For information about the Together: Building a United Community, visit: The Executive Office - Together: Building a United Community . For more information about the Shared Housing Programme, visit: Department for Communities - Shared Housing Programme