Theatre touring tale of unrest

By Maggie Taggart
Arts correspondent

Brian Friel's latest play was written in 2005 and performed that year in London and Dublin.

Now the Lyric theatre has taken it on in an ambitious production which uses top class Northern Ireland actors and will include an Irish tour.

The executive director Michael Diskin said it was probably the biggest and most costly project ever staged by the Lyric, but he is convinced that it will bring in audiences and enhance the theatre's image.

"It really illustrates the possibilities for the Lyric with our plan for the new building in Ridgeway Street that we can play in division one at the centre of Belfast life with these big productions," he said.

The Home Place is set in Ballybeg House in Donegal and although the action takes place over only one day, it has far reaching repercussions for the characters.

The differing attitudes of the landowner and his visiting relative, a cliff-hanger, tug-of-love and the shadow of violence in the surrounding area, all combine to give a fascinating glimpse into late 19th Century Ireland.

There's a strong cast, including Ballycastle-born Conleth Hill who has played many lead roles in London and the United States and Ian McElhinney who combines a busy television and film workload with directing and acting on stage in Northern Ireland.

Both have been stalwarts of the Lyric theatre in Belfast, whose production this is, but that theatre has been flattened in readiness for rebuilding.

In the absence of a home, this play is taking place in the Grand Opera House, after a short run in Letterkenny and before a tour of Ireland.