Jeremy Deller, with Rufus Norris
On 1 July 2016, thousands of volunteers took part in a modern memorial to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.
we’re here because we’re here was a UK-wide event commissioned by 14-18 NOW, conceived and created by Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller in collaboration with Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre.
It was produced by a nationwide team led by Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the National Theatre, in collaboration with 26 organisations.
we’re here because we’re here was a unique and new approach to what we understand commemoration to be.
As Artistic Advisor to 14-18 NOW, Cian Smyth advised Jeremy and his producing team on how to successfully deliver the project in Northern Ireland – a place that had not seen uniformed soldiers on its streets since the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.
Led by two of Northern Ireland’s leading theatres – The Playhouse in Derry-Londonderry and the Lyric Theatre in Belfast – the project offered people from all communities an opportunity to reflect collectively on the contribution and devastating loss of Irish soldiers at the Battle of the Somme.
