On The Stage
The Conquest of Happiness When: 21 & 22 September 2013 Where: The Venue 2013
William Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus When: 23 – 28 August 2013 Where: The Playhouse Shakespeare’s bloodiest play. Set during the latter days of the Roman Empire,Titus Andronicus tells the fictional story of Titus, a general in the Roman army, who is engaged in a vicious cycle of revenge with Tamora, Queen of the Goths. Directed by BAFTA award-winning director Kenny Glenaan, and re-imagined in contemporary Northern Ireland, ‘Titus Andronicus’ will be performed by a cast of professional and local, emerging non-professional actors.
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Co-produced by Prime Cut Productions Belfast; East West Centre, Sarajevo, and Theatre Mladinsko, Ljubljana. Authors: Damian Gorman, Emma Jordan and Haris Pašović. ‘The Conquest of Happiness’ is a unique theatre event, which will have its world premiere in Derry~Londonderry in 2013 before its presentation in Belfast, Mostar, Sarajevo and Ljubljana. An international cast of artists from Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia will explore through music, dance and drama the illusive and tantalising possibility of happinessin our increasingly unhappy world. Can we be happy? The piece is inspired by Bertrand Russell’s famous essay on happiness. This work will be lead by internationally acclaimed director Haris Pašović whose recent work Sarajevo Red Line Project illustrated in the most heartbreakingly poetic way how art can help people transcend the horrifying legacy of war.
The Blue Eagle George Farquhar Theatre Festival When: September 2013 Where: Citywide The second Blue Eagle George Farquhar Theatre Festival will see the production of two new plays associated with the writing of George Farquhar, one of the most enduring voices in world theatre, born in Londonderry in 1678. A Fresh Gale And Fresh Chicken’ by Dublin writer Lindsay Sedgwick is a biographical piece charting the last few weeks of Farquhar’s young life, cut tragically short at 29, as he attempts to complete his most well known play ‘The Beaux Stratagem’. This production is produced in association with Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin, where Farquhar was first exposed to the theatre. The second new production is an adaptation for the stage of Farquhar’s first publication - a novella entitled ‘Adventures Of Covent Garden’, which tells the arrival of a young man in London society. Updated and contemporised for a modern audience, this play is written by Darren Murphy and directed by Caitriona McLaughlin. The festival will also comprise broadcasts of old screen adaptations of Farquhar’s work and a lecture and workshop programme. The Blue Eagle George Farquhar Theatre Festival will bring the city’s first and most enduring theatrical voice back to the city for the UK City of Culture 2013 celebrations.