Life in the vision impaired lane can be a little dramatic from time to time. Walking into a pole, missing a step or kerb, occasionally colliding with a toddler; something which is usually followed by much not so harmonious wailing. Why do young children insist on being so small and so vociferous? Really.

A few years ago I decided to inject a little additional drama into my humble existence by joining a group with the slightly aggressive title of Smashing Barriers (SB). SB is a drama collective with a difference. It consists entirely of people who are either impaired or disabled, physical and mental.

The name of the group refers to the barriers that are faced by disabled and impaired people when it comes to the whole business of daily living. The barrier of accessing a building with no ramp, for someone in a wheelchair. The barrier of safely crossing a street, for someone who is blind. The barrier of attitude towards those of us who are a little different.

The goal of SB is to break down these obstacles by demonstrating through drama that those of us with impairments and disabilities are not all that different from the able bodied populace. A little different, yes, but not hugely so.

The group was founded by a very determined young lady by the name of Maureen Mc Govern. One of the many strings to Maureen’s bow is that she is a wheelchair user.

The group is managed by another very determined young lady, Kate Harris. It was Kate’s job to bring together a disparate group of impaired and disabled people with a view to putting on stage a full length play. Daunting challenge.Rather her than me.

SB started in 2016. It met for weekly workshops in Ballyfermot, a Southside Dublin suburb. Initially quite a large group of approximately 25, it whittled down to a hardcore of around 15.

Slowly, and sometimes not so surely, we started to work well together as a group. A series of sketches were developed and successfully performed at the Scene and Heard festival in Smock Alley theatre in 2017. It was a great thrill for the group to perform live on stage.

Then came the small matter of developing a full length play. No picnic. Not even a walk in the park. Ideas from within the group were tossed back and forth, up and down, hither and thither, until a story was settled upon.

The play eventually acquired the title ‘Dead or alive’, as in ‘Wanted; dead or alive’. It concerns a group of disabled and impaired people who take it on themselves to relieve their local credit union of some coloured pieces of paper with a view to escaping the clutches of the Health authorities, who are intent on shipping the group off to some sort of purpose built village in the heart of Connemara. Nothing against the good folk of Connemara and the very beautiful west of Ireland; it’s just that our gang didn’t fancy it.

Additional help was enlisted for music, video, voice projection and movement. A professional approach. Doc was our music maestro, guiding us through the three songs in the play and providing some atmospheric piano playing. Jordan was our voice coach, ensuring we were heard all the way from Ballyfermot to Ballydehob. Jenny had us moving better than Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Jasko was our tech wizard. George Lucas, eat your heart out.

The play has been performed on three occasions. Each time to standing ovations. The fact that the audience each time consisted mostly of family and friends may have had something to do with the rapturous reception. I prefer to think we were just brill.

Subject to confirmation of funding, (the dreaded money thing), ‘Dead or alive’ is going on tour to Tallaght and Ballymun in Dublin, in November and December, and one other venue to be confirmed. Miss it if you dare.

Broadway here we come!