Friel, Field Day and the Fifth Province

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the passing of Ireland’s pre-eminent playwright, Brian Friel, we reflect on his life and work with the prolific Field Day Theatre Company, which he co-founded with Stephen Rea in 1980. Soon afterwards, Seamus Heaney, Tom Paulin, Seamus Deane, Thomas Kilroy and David Hammond joined its distinguished board of directors.

The landmark premiere of Field Day’s production of Translations, 45 years ago in Derry’s Guildhall on 23rd September 1980, symbolised the company’s aesthetic aspiration to cultivate a fifth province of the imagination and to peacefully probe deeply contested political and cultural issues of the time.

Let us revisit Ballybeg and dig into the soil and soul of the place it represents. Dr Mark Phelan will lead the discussion with actor Stephen Rea, revisiting the work of Field Day and the literary canon bequeathed to us by Brian Friel: an intensely private man who had so much to say in his work.

To round off this special evening, acclaimed actor Seamus O’Hara will read extracts of Friel’s work.

Entrance Fee