By Louise Doyle
AN Oscar winner who has Down Syndrome has praised the latest performance of a theatre group set up by a Letterkenny man for people with learning disabilities and autism as “brilliant”.
Pearse McCloskey, who hails from Kiltoy, founded Skyzdalimit in Omagh 13 years ago, with the aim of making theatre more diverse and attracting mainstream audiences to promote diversity and inclusion. It currently has 38 members and has a waiting list of avid actors and actresses wishing to join.
Oscar winner James Martin, who starred in ‘An Irish Goodbye’ was a very special guest at the group’s recent sell out performance of ‘Danny and Sandy – The Wedding’ in the MAC theatre in Belfast – and was blown away with their talent.
Fresh from his appearance in ‘An Irish Goodbye’, winner of the Best Live Action Short at the Academy Awards earlier this year, actor James was the guest of honour at the show earlier this month.
Hailing the group’s triumphant performance in a post-show speech, Mr Martin described the actors and actresses as ‘just brilliant’.
“You were just brilliant,” he said. “You brought the house down.
“I really enjoyed it. Very well done!”
Directed and produced by the Letterkenny man, the electric performance had the audience singing along to popular hits from both Grease and Mamma Mia.
James attended the show with girlfriend Barbara and said he was ‘honoured’ to have been asked.
“I really like the message they’re trying to get across to inspire others with a learning disability or autism to get on the stage, to enhance their lives and promote inclusion and diversity.
“I know that if there wasn’t a diverse drama group like Babosh in Belfast when I was growing up, I wouldn’t have an Oscar today.”
Pearse says James’ stardom has shown other actors with disabilities that it is possible for them to make the big time.
“We decided in 2019 to start touring our shows as we know how life-transforming performing is for our cast and families and we don’t want other disabled or autistic people and their families to miss out on an incredible opportunity to enhance their lives.
“At the same time if we can attract a mainstream audience to attend a diverse show for the first time we will be hopefully be starting to challenge societal perceptions and promoting inclusion in the long term.”
Pearse said he hopes Mr Martin’s Oscar success will be “the catalyst to change the public perception to diverse theatre, while inspiring learning disabled and autistic people to start new theatre groups around the country and produce more talent like James Martin”.
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