Translations

he Butt Drama Circles 2016 Festival Play is the Brian Friel classic Translations.
trans post webSet in the fictional Donegal townland of Baile Beag in 1833, Translations traces the impact a department of British Army Royal Engineers has on the Irish- speaking community there.
Initially, the engineers are simply charting the local countryside and standardising the Donegal place names for the Ordinance Survey, assisted by Owen (Shaun Byrne) – son of the local hedge school master. They are perceived to be harmless, even friendly and are welcomed by the townspeople for the most part.
One of the engineers – Lieutenant Yolland (Fionn Robinson) – becomes especially captivated both by Irish culture and by local girl Maire (Catie Bradley) – who is also the object of the affections of schoolmasters son Manus (Paraic Gallagher).
When Yolland disappears, the Engineers presence takes a sinister turn as they rampage across Ballybeg, threatening to shoot livestock, evict villagers and destroy homes if he is not found and the Colonial character of their actions becomes clear. In the ensuing events everybody will have cause to examine their culture, their roots and their heart.
Translations is one of the late Brian Friels best loved plays. It was the first production of the legendary Field Day Theatre Company founded by Friel and Stephen Rea. It’s debut performance at The Guildhall in Derry featured a stellar cast including, among others, Mick Lally, Liam Neeson, Ray McAnally and Stephen Rea.