Just when you think you're "Frieled-out", along comes another production which captivates and tantalises. Living Quarters opened at the Peacock on Wednesday night to rapturous applause. Directed by Jason Byrne, the play was a breath of fresh air in a festival which is prone to predictability.
Prior to the performance, a lively crowd congregated in the prosperous Peacock bar for some pre-show chat. Jane Brennan, who's currently in rehearsals for Dancing at Lughnasa upstairs at the Abbey, said rehearsals are going well. Harold Fish of the British Council, along with the council's chairwoman, Baroness Helena Kennedy, were in the middle of an intensive programme of cultural events to celebrate the council's 10th anniversary.
Events on the agenda included a BBC Philharmonic concert on Monday night, meetings with the Minister for the Arts, Sile De Valera, the President, Mrs McAleece, An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, a visit to Mountjoy Prison and the launch of the first multicultural festival in Ireland - the World Stories Festival at the City Arts Centre. This whirlwind series of events was rounded off by dinner with the new British ambassador, Ivor Roberts.
Jim Culleton of Fishamble Theatre Company - whose production of Joe O'Connor's True Believers is currently playing at Andrew's Lane Theatre - was there with Gavin Quinn and Mary O'Donovan from Pan Pan Theatre Company. O'Donovan is due to take up a new job with the Dublin Film Festival shortly. Loughlin Deegan, company manager of Rough Magic was in good form, getting ready to take his show The Whisperer off to Edinburgh in the summer.
Also preparing for a new show is Willie White of Loose Canon. Their next venture is Hamlet, to be directed by Jason Byrne. Other folks Frieling out included writer Mark O'Rowe, Phyllis Ryan formerly of Gemini Productions, Debbie Behan, production manager at Project, David Pearse, who's currently rehearsing Corn Exchange's version of The Seagull, and writer Alex Johnston.