I took this portrait of Brian Friel in the study of his Moville home in July 2010, shortly before he would be honoured with a season of his plays at that year’s prestigiously World Famous, Edinburgh Festival. It was a singular honour, traditionally afforded to writers such as Chekhov, Shakespeare and other literati greats . A modest man, Brian recognised the significance of the tribute but , characteristically , he avoided publicity and his work played to packed houses in the King’s Theatre for a week. The reviews were ecstatic .
I have seen ‘Faith Healer’ . performed to enthusiastic audiences by Druid Theatre in the Lyceum Theatre and by the National in London with Ken Stott, delivering a mesmerising Frank.
A production , last week, of ‘Faith Healer’ at Derry’s Millennium Theatre played to a modest sized audience.
My friend and self-confessed pop song writer , Phil Coulter, drew hundreds to stand and sing in the rain at Ebrington Arena , the previous year.
Should it be concluded that Derry is indeed a low brow City?.
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