The Pitch

Sports-mad brother and sister Robbie and Melissa, have lived in East Belfast their whole lives. When they meet Gaelic football player Deren by chance, on a disused football pitch currently being redeveloped into a GAA ground, an uneasy friendship is formed.

Robbie hates Gaelic football. He sees it as anti-British, and despises the refurbishment plans. Deren has played the sport since he was a kid – he’s always wanted a pitch closer to home. Melissa, unfazed by local divisions, begins playing Gaelic football, causing tension between her and her brother.

With the prospect of a United Ireland Referendum on the horizon, this unlikely trio will continually crash into each other’s lives and discuss everything that affects Northern Ireland’s young generation from British/Irish identity, Unionism vs Nationalism, Tayto Crisps, Van Morrison and whether their country has truly moved on from The Troubles, 25+ years since it supposedly ended.

‘The Pitch’ began its life at Theatre 503 as a 10 minute short play back in 2023 when we all first met and our company was born. Since then Co. Antrim born playwright Philip Catherwood has developed the piece we have today, with the original cast and company continuing the journey alongside the play.
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Philip Catherwood is a writer for theatre, screen and audio. Originally from Northern Ireland, his plays deal with a ‘post-conflict’ society, reflecting a generation following the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

His debut play ‘Good Gracious, Good Friday’ ran for three sell-out nights at The White Bear Theatre in 2019. His follow up piece ‘Zig Zag’ was performed digitally by The Space during the 2021 Lockdown. He is thrilled to be collaborating with The Space once more, with his third play, this time on-stage, and in-person.

Philip is also the writer/producer of The Dial-Up Fiction Podcast, an award nominated, time-travel adventure, which peaked at number 20 on the Apple Podcasts UK Fiction Charts.

He currently works freelance as a TV/Film script reader, and was most recently a personal assistant to BAFTA Award winning producer Paul Webster.
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After training as an actor at RADA and Royal Welsh, Scottish theatre director Thea Mayeux began directing in 2022. Her work includes; Assistant Director, ‘The Effect’, by Lucy Prebble, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Director, ‘Bluewater’, by Grace Quiqley, The Kings Head Theatre and Gilded Balloon. Director, ‘Ned’, by Lola Shaw, The Old Red Lion Theatre. Director, ‘The Pitch’ (short play, and rehearsed reading) by Philip Catherwood, Theatre 503.

Thea’s work as a director focuses on collaboration, playfulness and trust. Her work is always driven by energy and connection.

Thea is also the co-founder and Creative Director of Band of Sisters Theatre, a female led theatre company which focuses on creating original, expressive and comedic work which supports new and emerging female identifying artists. Their latest production, ‘Knives and Forks, by Danielle James, premiered this summer at Riverside Studios before a run at Gilded Balloon at Edinburgh Fringe.