WHY I WROTE A PLAY ABOUT THE 7/7 BOMBINGS - by Damien Tracey

As we all celebrated getting through our first preview last Tuesday night, I spotted an audience member out of the corner of my eye. We had spoken after the show and he congratulated me on the script and everyone's performances. We chatted for a few moments before he made his way outside and sat at one of the tables. Now as he sat there I couldn't help but notice a sadness in his demeanour. I thought no more of it and continued the first night debrief in the bar with our director Jenny Eastop. I found out from a mutual friend of our cast who had spoken to this chap that he had in fact been on the train directly behind one of the trains that blew up that day and hadn't talked about it since.

That is why I wrote the play. Too often in our media-driven 'what's the next big story world' the news cycle quickly moves on and we move with it. However there are people left behind who would give anything to simply move forward but they can't. They now find themselves waking up with an empty space in the bed that was only a week or so ago filled by the person they loved. Others are doing their best to adapt to a radically transformed life as a result of their injuries. For these brave people July 7th 2005 isn't something they pause to remember every time the anniversary rolls round, it's something they deal with daily.

The real catalyst for the play was implanted at the memorial service held in Trafalgar Square the week after the bombings. "We must forgive, we must not let the terrorists beat us. We mustn't be broken by this, we move forward because that's what we do in London." As I stood there and heard these phrases being uttered from the platform I couldn't help but wonder what if you couldn't move on? If I lost someone I loved in such a barbaric way I'm not sure I could simply keep going. To me it seemed like an incredibly big ask.

My hope with Warde Street is by showing the devastating ricochet effect of unforgiveness that the audience will appreciate even more the bravery, strength and courage needed in order to keep going and not seek revenge.

Warde Street plays at Park 90 Park Theatre until October 26th, for more details and to book tickets please visit the shows website www.wardestreet.com.

Warde Street marks Damien's ninth play to be professionally produced. Previous writing credits include: Faster Higher Stronger Straighter (Dominion Studio, Dominion Theatre) Oísín and Tir Na Nóg (Irish Tour), The Princess and The Dragon Wizard (Bunratty Castle), Chú Chullain (Irish Tour), Son of Derry Ruler of None (Cork Arts Theatre), Fionn Mac Cumhaill (Irish Tour), Why I Didn't Kill Myself - A Comedy (Cork Arts Theatre) and Deidre Of Sorrows (Irish Tour).