Talented Derg girls star in advertising campaign

TWO Castlederg girls who are making their mark in the world of acting are also helping to raise awareness of the scourge of domestic violence.

Meaghan McKee, aged 11 and 18-year-old Grace O’Carolan are currently starring in a Crimestoppers advertisement highlighting the effects of domestic violence.

Both girls are students at the Derg-based Much Ado Stage School run by Rois Kelly-Lynch.

Overwhelmingly proud of her charges Rois explained both girls had excelled themselves.

She explained, “Both Meaghan and Grace are drama, singing and dance students of mine. Last year we got funding to produce a video raising awareness of bullying. When we were making that we worked with Niall Carlin from Double Jump Films, and he was very impressed with the Much Ado students and commented on how directable they were.

“He was comissioned to make this advertisement for Crimestoppers and requested that Much Ado students could take part in casting for the child and teenager roles. We were more than happy to do so and we organised socially distanced auditions where 45 of our pupils were able to audition.

“There was a really high standard at the auditions and fortunately  Meaghan and Grace were chosen for their parts,” Rois said.

“There was a very tight schedule as filming was the week after the auditions, but both the girls did amazingly, and we are very proud of them.

“Meaghan, who goes to St Patrick’s PS, has gone for some professional auditions, but this is her first time to successfully secure a part.

“Grace has starred in our Much Ado videos and has played the lead in some of our shows, she is currently at Sacred Heart College in Omagh but plans to study theatre.

“Domestic abuse is  an important subject and both girls managed to get the tone just right,” Rois explained.

“They were brilliant, I’m so impressed by them in fact they gave me goosebumps when I watched them.”

The advertisement is currently running on  billboards across the North and in an online campaign for Crimestoppers.