Amphitheaters: Creating a Context for the “C’s” to Occur

Londonderry is a unique area to study, considering the impact ‘The Troubles’ had on this place, and the conflict that is still present today. There is a clear division between the walled city and the bogside of town, which can be traced back to the 1600s. People’s identities are very much tied to their historical roots, and it could be argued that the past has been carried into the present.

While some may say the 1998 Good Friday (Belfast) agreement supposedly marked a new future for people to live into, the heart of the matter is that there is still a division among people today. There has never been a greater time to begin peace building than now. And in order to create and sustain peace, there must be:

Community. 

Conscious communication.

Collaboration.

Collective cooperation.

Conversation.

CONNECTIONS.

As you may have noticed, each of these words happen to start with the letter “C”. In my opinion, they are all crucial components for working towards a shared future. 

Yet there must be a designated space to cultivate connections across divides. 

Thus, the birth of the amphitheater, a shared public place where people can come together as one.

Rather than focus on a more traditional place such as Londonderry’s wall or its murals, I wanted to use this blog to highlight the amphitheater as a more abstract place at which people gather and have the ability to transform their identities. An amphitheater, much like the one pictured below, is a space where people of diverse beliefs and backgrounds can unite around a common interest. For example, in the case of Northern Ireland, Unionists and Nationalists can come together and share a meal, engage in dialogue, or play music.

I am fully aware that Northern Ireland has a complex history, and some could argue that amphitheaters make no difference in peacebuilding. Yet I choose to think optimistically and I believe amphitheaters have great potential. If amphitheaters are utilized with the intention of healing from the past, society will transform. People will form relationships despite their differences and this will ultimately lead to justice, peace, and reconciliation.