BLOOD RED LINES DOCUMENTARY 2025

Funded through Reconciliation funding – Department of Foreign Affairs Ireland

Written by Robert Rae using verbatim testimony from the performers, Blood Red Lines continues its success and relevance.  With the upcoming final report into state collusion in some of the bloodiest atrocities on the border in Northern Ireland, it’s place as part of the peace process is stronger than ever.   We are delighted to receive further funding to document the testimonies in the play for posterity.

Dear Robert ……. Importantly I wanted to formally thank you, the cast and everyone who made the performances of Blood Red Lines such a success in London. It is not an understatement to say that the play had a huge and positive impact on each member of my Kenova team. The feedback that I have received from everyone has been exceptional and without exception each member of Kenova making positive comments, including such remarks that the play was immensely moving, emotional, full of humility and hugely motivating.

Several of the team referenced the bravery of each cast member in taking to the stage to tell their story. Many felt that the play should be performed to all of those commentators and politicians who feel legacy victims need to move on.

Blood Red Lines is a fabulous educational piece about the Troubles. It deserves to be seen and heard by a much wider audience. Each member of the cast, Tommy Sands with his fabulous music, you and your team should be very proud of what you have achieved. I am sure the play provides an important form of therapy for those telling their stories, however it is equally important that others hear their accounts so that such tragedies can be learned from, the victim not forgotten and to ensure such events do not happen again. The stories in BRL need to be told.

I was delighted that the play was performed to full houses and received standing ovations for each performance. In some small way such recognition might help the cast and assure them that people are interested and care about what happened to them. You and the cast should not underestimate what you have achieved. Those who watched BRL will not forget what they saw and what they heard. It is a unique and incredibly special piece of theatre and its story telling should form part of the history of the Troubles.  Jon Boutcher, Head of Kenova Inquiry.