Translations by Brian Friel
Rathfarnham Theatre Group
Presents
Mill Theatre Mill Theatre
DundrumDundrum 23rd to 27th November 23rd to 27th November
Directed byDirected by
Carmel CullenCarmel Cullen
(By kind permission of Samuel French Ltd.) (By kind permission of Samuel French Ltd.)
.
Programme €2
THE YELLOW HOUSE
Lounge, Bars and Function Room
Presents Morrilles Bistro
Simple Classical Elegant Dining
Wilbrook Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. Tel: 01- 4932994/01- 4942441
Fax: 01- 4942554
Lounge Carvery Lunch 12:30 - 2:30
Bar food menu served 2:30 - 9:00 (Monday to Thursday including Sunday)
Friday & Saturday till 8:00
Restaurant Open from 5:30 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday & Saturday also. On Sundays we serve lunch and a La Carte
From 12:30 to 9:00
Wishing everyone involved with the production a great success
A Message from the Chairman
Welcome to Rathfarnham Theatre group’s production of
Translations by Brian Friel.
Brian Friel is one of Ireland’s prominent playwrights and has
received many awards for his work.
Translations is considered Friel’s masterpiece, it is dense,
lyrical and infused with Gaelic culture.
Friel wrote Translations at the height of the troubles in
Northern Ireland and his own despair and anger can be felt in every fibre of the
piece.
This is our 8th show in the Mill Theatre and we are delighted to be back again.
R.T.G. was founded in 1991, since then we have staged over 40 full length
productions and numerous workshops. We have received a number of awards
throughout the years.
Our aim is to provide good quality theatre and we are always looking for new talent..
We have regular workshops in St. Mary’s Boys’ National School, Rathfarnham.
I know the amount of work that has been put into this production and I would like to
take this opportunity to thank everyone who has made this show possible. I would
like to thank the staff at the Mill Theatre and Mr. Tom Mullins, St.Mary’s BNS for
their support.
Finally, I would like to thank our patrons and you our audience.
I know you will enjoy a wonderful show.
Maria Burke King
Chairman
Patrons Rathfarnham Theatre Group is very thankful to our patrons:
Campbell Packaging Ltd, Ciaran and Fiona Clancy, Kevin Kelly & Eva O’Carroll,
Paul A McMullan, Dermot & Renee O’Dwyer, Colm Jenkinson, Maureen Taylor,
Joan Connolly, Helen Leahy, Joe Clancy, Peggy Sheehan, Frank Gaynor, Betty &
Peter Carroll, Domhnall McCullough, Norma and Eugene Hiney, Richard & Marie
Hickey, Patrick Dwyer, Sinead Tynan, Sean O’Byrne & Jill Davis.
Honorary Patrons: George King, Jim Molloy and Dr Anne Mc Gough.
If you would like to become a patron for Rathfarnham Theatre Group please contact
our patron secretary Anne O’Connell: [email protected].
Rathfarnham Theatre Group Website: www.rathfarnhamtheatre.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Address: Rathfarnham Theatre Group
℅ St. Mary’s BNS, Rathfarnham. Dublin 14
The Play Translations was premiered in 1980 at the Guildhall, Derry by the Field Day
Theatre Company with Stephen Rea, Liam Neeson and Ray Mac Anally. Set in
1833, it is a play about language, the meeting of British and Irish cultures, the
looming potato famine, the coming of a free national school system that will
eliminate the traditional hedge schools, the English expedition to convert all Irish
place names into English and the crossed love between an Irish woman who speaks
no English and an English soldier who speaks no Irish. Yet it was an instant success
because of the play’s deft ability to reference the Troubles and English-Irish
relations without condemning or idealising any side. The innovative conceit of the
play is to stage two language communities ( Gaelic and the English ) which have
few and very limited ways to speak to each other, for the English know no Irish,
while only a few of the Irish know English. Translations has gone on to be one of
the most translated and staged of all post World War II plays.
Manus Eugene Duffy
Sarah Maria Rath
Jimmy Jack Darach Connolly
Maire Emma Coogan
Doalty Gerry McMahon
Bridget Laura Pomphrett
Hugh Eamonn Cullen
Owen Alan Mc Mahon
Captain Lancey Noel Young
Lieutenant Yolland Arthur Williams
The Cast
The action takes place in a hedge-school in the townland of Baile Beag/Ballybeg, an
Irish-speaking community in County Donegal.
ACT ONE An afternoon in late August 1833
ACT TWO A few days later
ACT THREE The evening of the following day
Interval – between the two scenes in Act Two
The Crew
Director Carmel Cullen
Producer Phil Fitzpatrick
Co-producer Columb Casey
Stage Director Sheila O’Kelly
Assistant Stage Director Audrey McLoughlin
Assistant Stage Managers Anne O’Connell and Lauren Dwyer
Set Design Carmel Cullen
Set Construction Bobby White
Lighting Barry Donaldson
Sound Brian O’Connor and Nollaigh de Siuin
Costume Design and Wardrobe Rachel Murray
Props RTG team
PR Maria King
Programme Maria Burke King and Noel Young
Best Wishes to
Rathfarnham Theatre Group
on their production of
Translations
Director’s Note Friel's innovative genius almost distracts us from being aware of another
unacknowledged "Translation". Apart from occasional eruptions in Greek and Latin
most of the characters in Ballybeg know and speak only in Irish; we, however,
watching and listening hear them only in our "humble" English.
I have thoroughly enjoyed directing this fine company of actors who have worked
hard over the last few months. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all
who have helped and contributed to this production and all our friends in the Mill
Theatre.
Now sit back and enjoy our production of Brian Friel's masterpiece, "Translations".
Carmel Cullen
Eugene Duffy - Manus Eugene started with Moore and Clonfad Drama Society as Liam Scuab in
Sive. He also played John Joe Moran in A Crucial week in the life of a
grocer’s assistant with the Toronto Irish Players. This will be his third
outing with RTG which included playing Ned in Philadelphia, here I come
Maria Rath - Sarah Maria first became involved in drama while in secondary school where she
attended the Gaiety School of Acting for 5 yrs, was a member of Trinity
Players while at University and went on to do an acting course in Central
School of Drama in London after graduating. Joined RTG last year, and
partook in Winter workshop playing Salome in excerpt from Oscar Wilde's
Salome. Maria played Rose in this year’s production of Dancing at
Lughnasa in the Mill Theatre.
Darach Connolly - Jimmy Jack Darach has been a member of RTG since it began in 1991. He has been
active both on and off stage (mostly on) for more than sixty years. He has
acted in nine of our major productions and has directed six of the others. He
describes his involvement in theatre as a disease for which there is no
antidote.
Emma Coogan - Maire This is Emma's sixth appearance at The Mill Theatre with Rathfarnham
Theatre Group. Previous roles include Christina in Dancing at Lughnasa,
Helen in Living Quarters, Elvira in Blithe Spirit, Miss Forsythe in Death of
a Salesman and Pegeen Mike in The Playboy of the Western World. Emma
runs a speech and drama school for children, young people and adults
Gerry McMahon - Doalty Gerry is a new member of the R.T.G. As a member of the Taney Group he
played Mr. Ingram in 'The Loves of Cass Maguire', the Irregular Mobiliser
in 'Juno and the Paycock' and Desmondo in 'Desmondo's Speakeasy'. Prior
to this, with the Walkinstown Group, he played Gunther in 'Canaries' and
Detective Porterhouse in 'Run For Your Wife'. Gerry's first venture into the
drama world was playing Christy Mahon in the Playboy of the Western
World. By day, Gerry works as a lecturer\consultant in H.R.M. at the D.I.T.
Carmel Cullen - Director Carmel's theatre work with RTG includes title roles in: Big Maggie; Juno
and the Paycock; The Loves of Cass Maguire and The Gingerbread Lady.
Carmel has also appeared in: The Odd Couple; The Plough and the Stars;
Drama at Inish; Chapter Two; The House of Barnarda Alba; The Plough
and the Stars; Sieve; Dancing at Lughnasa; The Beauty Queen of Leenane;
All my Sons; Ghost Writer; Death of a Salesman; Blith Spirit; Philadelphia
Here I Come and The Way you Look Tonight in which she recieved an
award for Best Actress in the All Ireland Drama Festival. Her directorial
work includes: Ill Met by Moonlight; The Field; Playboy of the Western
World and Living Quarters.
Laura Pomphrett - Bridget Laura has been doing drama and plays from a young age. In her teens
Laura was a member of Anne Kavanagh's Young People's Theatre
where she played principle roles in 'A Pocket Full of Broadway', 'The
Boyfriend', and 'Fiddler on the Roof'. As an adult Laura was a member
of the IT Tallaght Drama Society where she directed 'Suckin Dublin'
by Enda Walsh and she also played the lead role of Little Lamb in the
play. 'Suckin Dublin' played for three nights in the Civic Theatre in
Tallaght in February 2005. Her role as Bridget in 'Translations' is
Laura's first production with The Rathfarnham Theatre Group and she
hopes to be part of many more.
Eamonn Cullen - Hugh Eamonn has been with RTG for more than a decade and has appeared
in many of their productions including : Philadelphia Here I Come;
Sive; The Importance of being Earnest; Dancing at Lughnasa; The
Plough and the Stars; The Beauty Queen of Leenane; The Playboy of
the Western World; The Field; Ghost Writer; Someone Who'll Watch
Over Me; Death of a Salesman; Blithe Spirit; Living Quarters and The
Way You Look Tonight in which he received " best actor" award at
The All Ireland Drama Festival.
Alan Mc Mahon - Owen Alan trained as an actor in Ann Kavanagh’s Young Peoples Theatre
for the last eight years. This is his first time performing with
Rathfarnham Theatre Group. His previous experience on stage
includes Séamus Heaney’s translation of the Greek tragedy Burial at
Thebes in the Abbey Theatre and an amateur production of Calamity
Jane. He played Jason Dempsey in Dermot Boyd’s film The Return
and Rob in the short film 3 bags full. His radio work includes two RTE
radio plays, Earwigs and The 78s. He has also appeared in RTE’s Fair
City as Adam Bermingham for the last four years.
Noel Young - Captain Lancey Having served as Sergeant Tinley in The Plough and the Stars, Noel is
delighted to be promoted to the rank of Captain Lancey in
Translations. He fondly remembers Judge Brack in Hedda Gabler and
lesser mortals like Jimmy Farrell in The Playboy of the Western
World. He is happy to be out of the technical box again.
Arthur Williams - Lieutenant Yolland Arthur is originally from Templeogue and joined Rathfarnham Theatre
in 2008. He has always had a keen interest in theatre and in 2005 on
the advice of a friend joined the Gaiety school of acting. He also dab-
bles in the odd spot of comedy from time to time performing at numer-
ous venues in Dublin city. Arthur has starred in Ruby of Elsinore, Liv-
ing Quarters and Hall of Healing with RTG. He is a keen supporter of
Fighting Blindness and the most important thing to him is his family
and friends.