During the 1970s and 1980s, the names Kevin and Sadie were ubiquitous in Northern Ireland. They were the leading characters in a series of novels written for young people by Joan Lingard.
The stories transplant Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to Troubles-afflicted Belfast. Kevin, a Catholic, falls in love with Sadie, a Protestant. The couple endure enormous hostility for being in love with someone from ‘the other side’.
The BBC is acknowledging Joan Lingard's legacy (1932-2022) – and a major documentary on Lingard in general and on the Kevin and Sadie novels in particular will be broadcast nationally on BBC Radio 4 and available globally as a podcast in perpetuity.
Ulster University academic, Dr Kevin De Ornellas, both worked as a consultant for the documentary and appears as an expert commentator.
Professor Tom Maguire, the Head of School of Arts and Humanities at Ulster University, explains the significance of Lingard's novels:
“While following in a long tradition of adapting Shakespeare to explore contemporary issues, Lingard was one of the first writers to invoke the Romeo and Juliet narrative in relation to the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Doing so exposed the human tragedy at the heart of a divided society.”
Reading the stories was a cathartic experience for young people negotiating the dark days of ‘the troubles’ - and the novels did much to explain the complexities of the human cost of the conflict to readers outside of Northern Ireland.
As Dr Frank Ferguson, the Research Director for English Language and Literature at Ulster University, says:
"It is fantastic to hear that the impact and writing of Joan Lingard will be marked by this Radio 4 production. Few writers achieved the level of success as Lingard in her lifetime, or did so much in their work to further mutual understanding, peace and reconciliation.
“I am delighted that Dr Kevin De Ornellas has acted as consultant and interviewee in this programme. His great expertise in Lingard's novels alongside his incisive and sensitive approach to his subject make him the perfect contributor to this significant documentary."
Tune in:
You can listen to the programme live on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday 21 October at 4pm.
The programme will be available shortly after broadcast at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002l355
Photo caption:
Photographed during the production of the programme are Dr Kevin De Ornellas, Lecturer in English at Ulster University; Camellia Sinclair, BBC Radio 4 producer, and Chris Page, BBC Ireland Correspondent.
