The Troubles viewed through a child’s eyes

The play Mojo Mickybo deals with some major issues: the Troubles, the root of hatred, friendship and of course Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Set in Belfast in the 1970s the drama is scheduled to come to the Ramor Theatre in Virginia next week.

Starring actors John Travers, and Conor Quinn Mojo Mickybo tells the story of the school holidays of two nine year old boys, called Mojo and Mickybo who come from different sides of the community divide. While initially their friendship is immune to the polarising conflict around them, it is something they are ultimately unable to avoid.

John, who plays the role of Mojo, grew up in North Belfast at a time when the burgeoning peace began to take root.

“I can relate a lot to what is being said in the play, by listening to my parents and from my own experiences of growing up in the ‘90s and ‘00s.

“I was born in 1989. I was nine when the Good Friday Agreement was signed, so I got the tail end of the Troubles. I can still remember a few things from before it was signed, as well as the aftermath. We’ve come a long way, but life isn’t perfect up here and that’s why the play still resonates today. It’s a credit to Eoin McCafferty and his writing that it is still relevant.”

Over the course of touring with the play, both actors noticed audience reactions differed when it was performed in front of venues either side of the border.

“It was really interesting we started the tour in the north,” said Connor who plays Mickybo and comes from Banbridge in County Down. “We assumed that everybody knew what was happening, and was getting all the references.

“Once we got across the border I got the feeling that we are sharing these stories with people who may not necessarily have known what happened.”

Connor says it is important that people on both sides of the border continue to build on the progress of the last 25 years and learn about each other.

“It’s been a privilege to bring the play and its lessons to so many new people. It’s important to spread this message, because there’s a lot to do here to make sure it’s a better place for everyone to live and work.

“Instead of both sets of people living in our bubble people in the south have a responsibility to know what’s happening in the North and vice versa.”

While the conflict looms large over the storyline, there are other aspects at play, as John explains: “The Troubles is a backdrop. The story shows other important aspects such as the death of innocence and how hatred is a learned thing - it’s not something we are born with.

“It also showcases how a friendship can develop as, Mojo is very reserved, while Mickybo is the opposite, they complement each other well. This can be very relatable as it exhibits how people come into your lives and how there can be both good and bad experiences from each friendship. There are parts of it that, told through the eyes of an older Mojo, who is reflecting on the past, will resonate with a lot of people. It could be set anywhere in the world, and it would still go down well, because the lessons in it are universal.”

Performing the play is not without it’s challenges, says John, especially since the two adults take on child roles.

“It was great to be able to play a nine-year-old, we were able to get in touch with our inner child,” John said. “We were able to really have fun with it. It’s funny that we spend our childhoods wanting to be adults and when we’re grown up we want to be kids again!”

They also have an intense touring schedule, which Connor says is challenging but there are some saving graces that make it a lot easier.

“We’re doing a lot of touring, but we’re lucky myself and John get on quite well together.

“We had three weeks of rehearsals and then we were out on the road together. We’ll do 28 performances in five weeks but we’re really enjoying it.”