Brian Friel's Translations inspires new wokshop series at Flowerfield Arts Centre

The workshops have been developed by the Friel Reimagined project team at Queen's University Belfast, which aims to preserve the heritage and legacy of Friel’s writings while bringing his work to new audiences, in partnership with Bruiser Theatre Company.

Friel was one of Ireland’s leading playwrights during his lifetime and one of the greatest dramatists of his generation. Translation is considered to be one of, if not the finest, of his works.

The workshops will offer engaging and rewarding sessions of reading, creating and performing. Bruiser's approach involves everyone, so you do not need any acting experience or prior knowledge of Friel's plays to take part.

Led by actor and facilitator Rob Crawford of Bruiser Theatre Company, you will learn about the play and try your hand at performing in Bruiser's signature physical theatre style. You'll have the chance to explore the key themes, scenes and characters.

A hedge school set in 1833, in the townland of Baile Beag, Co Donegal, provides the setting for Translations. Progress is coming and tensions are growing. There are plans for a new English-speaking national school and a group of Royal Engineers have arrived to create the first Ordnance Survey of the area; local Gaelic place names have to be recorded and translated into English. At first sight this is a purely administrative action; but Friel reveals and investigates its far reaching personal and cultural implications in the course of the play, an extraordinary exploration of language, power, history and identity.

For more information visit www.flowerfield.org.