A Feast of Friel

A living legend, Brian Friel’s masterful evocation of the evolution of Irish society has won him international acclaim. This “Feast of Friel” is the opportunity to celebrate the playwright’s 80th birthday in his presence and to savour the words and drama of his work.

Thursday 4 June 09

19.00 Festival launched by Joe Mulholland, director of the MacGill Summer School

Homage to Brian Friel by Laurent Terzieff

The award-winning actor Laurent Terzieff will read an extract from Brian Friel’s Molly Sweeney (1993).

20.00: Launch of Brian Friel : Œuvres complètes

by L’avant-scène théâtre
by H.E. Anne Anderson
with the participation of Brian Friel
Launch of five new French translations of Brian Friel’s plays by publishers L’avant-scène théâtre.

20.30 : Homage to Brian Friel - Tom Kilroy

Homage to Brian Friel by well-known playwright and novelist Tom Kilroy who co-founded Field Day and is Professor Emeritus of English at University College Galway.

Friday 5 June 09

19.30 : Martin Mansergh

Historian and government minister Martin Mansergh TD provides an overview of Brian Friel’s artistic achievement.

Ouroboros presents extracts from:
Philadelphia, Here I Come! (1964)
Translations (1980)
The Enemy Within (1962)
The Gentle Island (1971)
Aristocrats (1979)
The Freedom of the City (1973)
These extracts from Brian Friel’s plays will be performed in different parts of the building (performance: 75 mins approx.).

Director: Geoff Gould
Artistic director: Denis Conway
Actors: Cathy Belton, Denis Foley, Colm Gormley, Sarah Greene, Mark Lambert, Philip O’Sullivan
Producer: Ouroboros
Production Manager: Mick Lonergan
Stage Manager: Shane Ward
Costume designer: Olivia Monaghan
Sound designer: Niall Toner
Company manager: Cathal Courtney
For more information on the company Ouroboros Theatre Ireland: www.ouroboros.ie

Saturday 6 June 09

14.30 : Screening of Brian Friel

Seamus Heaney, Frank McGuinness, Stephen Rea and Tom Murphy took part in this documentary on Brian Friel, directed by Sinead O’Brien in 2000 and produced by Noel Pearson (Ferndale Films).

16.00 : Round table discussion on the work of Brian Friel led by three specialists:

Redmond O’Hanlon, author and critic, former lecturer at the School of English, Drama and Film, University College Dublin
Martine Pelletier, French specialist on the work of Brian Friel, University of Tours
Emilie Pine, lecturer in the School of English, Drama and Film, University College Dublin

19.30 : Fintan O’Toole

The esteemed literary critic, historical writer and assistant editor for The Irish Times, Fintan O’Toole, provides a personal and acute critique of Friel the playwright. [Fintan O'Toole]

Ouroboros presents extracts from:
Philadelphia, Here I Come! (1964)
Translations (1980)
The Enemy Within (1962)
The Gentle Island (1971)
Aristocrats (1979)
The Freedom of the City (1973)
These extracts from Brian Friel’s plays will be performed in different parts of the building (performance: 75 mins approx.).

Sunday 7 June 09

15.00 Director Geoff Gould will discuss the choice and staging of the extracts.

Ouroboros presents extracts from:
Philadelphia, Here I Come! (1964)
Translations (1980)
The Enemy Within (1962)
The Gentle Island (1971)
Aristocrats (1979)
The Freedom of the City (1973)
These extracts from Brian Friel’s plays will be performed in different parts of the building (performance: 75 mins approx.).