Translations (2004)
by Brial Friel
Directed by Jay Michaels
Performances: 6th – 10th July 2004, Bell Theatre.
Contents
Introduction
It's August 1833 in Baile Baeg, an Irish-speaking community in County Donegal, and a newly arrived detachment of the Royal Engineers are to make the first Ordnance Survey: thus all the local Gaelic place names are to be Anglicised. A procedure which at first seems purely administrative proves, however, to have far reaching consequences for the whole community...
The fundamental question of preserving cultural identity, pride and tradition in a rapidly changing Europe is as relevant today as it would have been to people like the village folk of Baile Baeg two hundred years ago. How much can and should one sacrifice for progress? Is it a case of 'adapt or die'?
"Translations" was written in 1980 and came out of the Field Day Group, in which the playwright Brian Friel joined Stephen Rea, Seamus Heaney, Tom Paulin and others to revive Irish writing. Daily Telegraph hailed the play "a modern classic", while Sunday Times declared it to be "Brian Friel's finest play".
Cast
- Manus - Johnny Gunshenan
- Sarah - Sara Kirkpatrick
- Jimmy Jack - Peter Medd
- Maire - Daisy Horwell
- Doalty - Philip Gill
- Bridget - Anna York
- Hugh - Raymond Barrett
- Owen - Daniel Archard
- Lieutenant Yolland - John Watson
- Captain Lancey - Sean Gibson
Crew
- Composer - Jakob Kaye
- Assistant to the Director - Paula Kelly
- Stage Managers - Jane Moorhead & Matthew Lyne
- Assistant Stage Manager - Paula Kelly, Jack King & Linda East
- Lighting Design - Bob Callender & Anna York
- Lighting Operator - Roger Taylor
- Sound Design - Paul Hurley
- Sound Operator - Darien Graham-Smith
- Set Design - Jay Michaels & Philip Hinton
- Set Construction - Bob Callender, Anna York, Anton Krause, Paula Kelly, Jay Michaels & Dulce Mellor
- Costumes - Philip Hinton & Val Williams
- Props - Alan Buckman & Jane Moorhead
- Dialect Coach - Tony Emerson
- Prompt - Rosie Brunt
- Program - Dee Fancett
- Thanks: Mike Elliott, Emma Hillman, Jess Osorio, Bernie Bullbrook, Maggie Kruger, Abi Spooner, Chris Loft, Helen Davies.
- Special Acknowledgements to Muiris O'Scanaill for advice on correct Gaelic pronounciations, and Mary Upchurch and Mauve O'Conner for their input in dialect coaching.
Reviews
Some review quotes go here
Gallery
Photos by Mark Davies.
Reminiscences and Anecdotes
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See Also
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Or add anything that is related within this site. The author's page for instance or other plays with a similar theme.
