Inside The Wire: Hillsborough: One Boys Story of a Tragedy

In just four weeks, the play I’ve been working on for months will grace the stage at the capstone theatre. The rehearsal process has been both unusual and incredibly rewarding. We're delving into a project deeply rooted in the hearts of Liverpool's people, inspired by Shaun Millea's children's book, "When Will Dad Be Home." Profits from this production will be dedicated to spreading awareness about Hillsborough across schools in Merseyside. For us, the cast and production team, this project holds immense significance.

We aim to honour the victims and their families, crafting a narrative that respects their memory and brings attention to their plight. It was important to us to give an accurate narrative of what happened on 15th April 1989, so we included witness testimonies of a survivor of Hillsborough. Through Shaun's fictional family, now adapted for the stage, we invite audiences on an emotional journey of grief, acceptance, and unity in the face of adversity.

As a freelance director for over a decade, my approach typically involves refining scripts throughout rehearsals to achieve a polished final product. However, adapting Shaun Millea's work presented unique challenges. While the original children's book is a fantastic work, adapting it to the stage felt like uncharted territory. Our task was not only to expand a short story into a full-length play but also to ensure its appeal to adult audiences. Thus, I opted for a collaborative approach, devising new scenes with the actors that remained true to Shaun's characters while enhancing the narrative's depth and beauty. Witnessing the dedication of Shaun, Kevin, and the entire cast has been truly inspiring.

While there have been many previous plays about Hillsborough, such as "Beyond Hillsborough" and "Bottleneck," “those two weeks” & “97+," Our production “Hillsborough: One Boys Story of a Tragedy” offers a distinct perspective. We delve into the lives of a regular family, allowing audiences to intimately connect with them before tragedy strikes. As they navigate the complexities of grief, viewers witness the profound impact on both family and friends, emphasizing the importance of mutual support in times of loss. No matter if you're a football fanatic or clueless about Hillsborough, our ultimate wish is for every audience member to exit the theater pondering their own experiences with grief, holding their loved ones a little tighter, and cherishing every moment together.

Written by, Zara Marie Brown