Our evening with the original Derry Girl as she launches her new mid-life mystery…

After achieving astronomical success with her hysterical teenage sitcom[1] inspired by her real-life experience growing up in 1990s Derry, Lisa McGee's ready for a change of scene...

76.8 miles down the A6 motorway.

Setting her sights on Belfast, she's exploring how to get to heaven from the Northern Irish city with the help of a stellar cast, including the likes of Saoirse-Monica Jackson[2], MobLand's Emmett J. Scanlan[3], Unforgotten's[4] Sinead Keenan[5] and Industry[6] star Caoilfhionn Dunne.

Taking over the BFI Southbank on a rainy Tuesday evening, the cast filled the London-based cinema with an electric energy that had us all giggling along with them as they mesmerised us with their infectious Irish charm. Here's a look behind the scenes at the premiere and special screening, which featured a hilarious Q&A...

(C) Getty ImagesThe three leads - Sinead Keenan, Caoilfhionn Dunne and Roisin GallagherWhat was it like being on the red carpet?

Lucy: A carpet like no other, staying true to the wonderfully chaotic nature of the series, the press line was relaxed and buzzy with cast members eager to chat and gush over Lisa's latest project, which they were overjoyed to be a part of.

Sharing behind-the-scenes secrets from set, we had so much fun hearing about the filming of the show and what it was like working with so many of the stars' fellow Irish actors.

It was on the intimate side, with only a small cohort of press invited, so that made it even more special as we got the chance to pick the creator and cast's brains before the series was released into the wild.

Iona: Upon arrival, we had a glorious view of the Southbank behind us, while the brightly coloured posters of the show made the atmosphere more vibrant.

When the cast arrived, they moved very quickly, so it was fortunate that we had all our questions prepared. One aspect of the red carpet I particularly enjoyed was hearing the appreciation for female comedy, on this occasion with an Irish twist. I always find it empowering to see so many rising faces on the red carpet, especially when the majority are women.

Some of the interviews we did...

What was it like meeting the writer of Derry Girls?

Iona: Lisa McGee was a joy to interview, and it was an honour to speak with the comedy genius behind Derry Girls. The 45-year-old possessed a calm, warm, and cheerful aura. She seemed genuinely excited to have reunited previous Derry Girls cast members alongside new faces.

Her work is a masterclass in contemporary comedy, and having written scripts myself, I found it heartening to discover she is just as lovely in person!

(C) Getty ImagesLisa McGee is the mastermind behind Derry Girls

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What did the cast say about female friendships?

Iona: In my conversation with Lisa, I asked why emphasising friendships in our 30s is just as important as those in our 20s. She replied that they "know you better than anybody and have seen every version of you." The theme of friendship was a driving force behind the show, with Lisa noting: "I wanted to write this show to consider the relationship between who you are now and the younger version of yourself.

Would they be proud of you, or disappointed?" This message is relevant to everyone, and having watched the first episode, I can see it clearly coming across. Caoilfhionn Dunne, who plays Dara, offered a slightly different take, suggesting that these friendships are "harder to maintain; they take a lot of work, and that is evident in this".

I could discuss female friendships all day, so it was a fascinating conversation to have! Lucy: If there was one clear theme that weaved its way into every element of the evening - and the new show - it was the power of female friendship, no matter your stage of life. The three leading ladies were only too happy to share what making friends in later life and holding onto the ones you already have meant to them.

Sinead - who plays Robyn - told us about her two best friends she still has from her days at Loreto High School Beaufort in Dublin and said: "If you're lucky enough to have found those people at that age [school], they just keep you grounded and it's really good to touch base with those friends, keep them going and touch base with your 15 / 16 year-old self and ask are you doing her proud, are you where you she'd thought you'd be now?"

(C) Getty ImagesA full cast picture moment!How was it being on set?

Lucy: From what we gathered, being on set was a bundle of laughs and just plain, old-school fun. Director Michael Lennox was also Lisa's pick to run the set on Derry Girls. He stopped to chat with us and revealed that a lot of the crew who worked on the sitcom starring Nicola Coughlan[7] returned to work on the new Netflix[8] show, so it was somewhat of a family reunion behind the scenes.

Sinead revealed the main cast did a lot of their own stunts, and during the Q&A, Caoilfhinn - who plays Dara - explained that she loved filming scenes in the white Range Rover as it was a time when she could speak candidly with her fellow castmates and essentially, "have the chats".

Iona: When chatting with Lisa, I asked if she had learned anything from her experience on Derry Girls that she could apply to the set of this new show.

Lisa emphasised that lessons in communicating with actors were vital. She also noted that changing lines on set was a key takeaway, making the production feel very hands-on and highlighting how delicately the writing is considered. There is a Derry Girls feel to the show, with Lisa even remarking that they had the exact same production team behind the camera and it felt like they were "getting the gang back together."

Will the Irish humour translate to a global audience?

Lucy: Of course, one of the things that makes Lisa McGee projects so special is her witty, Irish humour that's so authentic you feel as if you're sitting around a dinner table with your own bonkers family.

But how does she translate that cultural quirk for a global audience? We asked the cast, and Matilda Freeman - who plays the daughter of Greta's husband (Emmett J. Scanlan) - explained that two versions had to be made so that the American audience could understand the dark Irish humour laced throughout the episodes.

Caoilfhionn also revealed to us that the amount of swear words included in the script had to be toned down.

However, the innate warmth associated with Ireland emulated from the episodes and the carpet, as I got chatting with Sinead about our home (Dublin) and felt almost as if I was catching up with an old neighbour as we discussed different areas in the city - a memorable moment from the press line that reminded me why my accent sometimes comes in handy at these things!

Did we meet any Derry Girls?

Lucy: In terms of Derry Girl spotting, we managed to grab a few moments with the original Derry Girl herself, the show's writer and creator, Lisa. It was also very cool to see Saoirse-Monica Jackson in the flesh, although she was harder to grab for a few questions as she was whisked away for press photographs with her new husband, Scottish DJ Denis Sulta.

(C) Getty ImagesDenis Sulta and Saoirse-Monica Jackson made an appearance togetherAre the cast like the characters in real-life?

Iona: Watching the cast during the Q&A after the screening, it is clear that Sinead Keenan is very similar to her character and full of feist. When answering questions about driving on set, Sinead immediately became dramatic while talking to her co-star Caoilfhionn Dunne, just as her character Robyn would.

I would say Caoilfhionn and Roisin are a little more reserved than their larger-than-life characters, but as a trio, you can see they really gel together. They shared a sweet story about how, after their screen test together in a room with plastic chairs shaped like a car, Caoilfhionn knew they had the roles secured because everyone was already laughing at them. To be in that room must have been magic.

What did we think of the first episode?

Iona: The opening scene reminded me so much of my mother in the car when my brother asks non-stop questions.

That is why Lisa's writing hits the mark. The comedy mirrors our chaotic real lives, rather than a perfected version of TV. Coming from a Scottish family, I find the humour similar in its sarcasm and unique language.

I will be binge-watching this over the weekend because the murder plot has me hooked, and as Lucy and I noted, we really could not see where it was going.

We even watched the first episode and listened to the cast's Q&AWhat shows is it similar to?

Iona: One show that instantly springs to mind is the BBC [9]comedy Motherland[10]. If you enjoy this new series, Motherland is also a great watch. It follows Julia (Anna Maxwell-Martin[11]) as she attempts to juggle the demands of being a working mother.

The similarities lie in the fact that all the women are of a similar age.

There is a refreshing realness in watching a show that makes you think, "That is literally what I do."

How to Get to Heaven From Belfast is available to stream on Netflix now.

References

1. ^ hysterical teenage sitcom (www.hellomagazine.com)
2. ^ Saoirse-Monica Jackson (www.hellomagazine.com)
3. ^ Emmett J.

   Scanlan (www.hellomagazine.com)

4. ^ Unforgotten's (www.hellomagazine.com)
5. ^ Sinead Keenan (www.hellomagazine.com)
6. ^ Industry (www.hellomagazine.com)
7. ^ Nicola Coughlan (www.google.com)
8. ^ Netflix (www.hellomagazine.com)
9. ^ BBC (www.hellomagazine.com)
10. ^ Motherland (www.hellomagazine.com)
11. ^ Anna Maxwell-Martin (www.hellomagazine.com)