Little Known or Appreciated in his Native City : Brian Friel – by John Patton

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.  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 Galway’s Druid   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.

Derry is a low brow City .