Translations by Brian Friel

30/06/24

Our November play by the highly regarded Irish playwright of Dancing at Lughnasa and Philadelphia Here I Come!

 Seen here:  Captain Lancey played by Richard Hulse, with Lieutenent George Yolland played by Matthew Miller 

Synopsis:

Translations, regarded as Brian Friel’s finest play, gives us an insight into Ireland in 1833, a time when the English army were mapping the island.  National schools, ordered by Parliament, were made compulsory, with lessons taught in English only. 

In Baile Beag, a rural village in Donegal, English soldiers are anglicising Irish place names with some local help.  This brings an opening up to friendship and understanding.  But a brief romantic assignation arouses anger and tension on both sides – a tension which develops into violent action.