COLFER PLAY FOR EDINBURGH
THE Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys announced that a play by Wexford author Eoin Colfer is one of the projects which Culture Ireland is showcasing and supporting at this year’s Edinburgh Festival which celebrates its 70th anniversary and runs until August 28.
Deputy Humphreys said Culture Ireland is sponsoring seven Irish companies to present work at the world’s largest arts festival including ‘My Real Life’ by Colfer which is directed by Ben Barnes formerly of the Abbey Theatre and stars the actor Don Wycherley. It has already toured venues around Ireland.
More than 15 Irish writers including Wexford’s Colm Tóibín and John Banville will also take part in the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Minister Humphries said during the past 70 years, the Edinburgh Festival has given many Irish artists the opportunity to reach an international audience.
Over the past dozen years, Culture Ireland has supported over 70 Irish theatre and dance companies and over 100 writers to present their work in Edinburgh.
‘My Real Life’, about a man with advanced MS who decides to end it all, was originally written by Colfer as a 15-minute one-act play for Wexfour, a four-drama production celebrating the 40th anniversary of Wexford Arts Centre and also featuring work by John Banville, Billy Roche and Colm Tóibín with music by Eleanor McEvoy.
The one-man play which has since been expanded to 90 minutes, is a dark and surprisingly funny piece. Don Wycherly is a well-known actor whose screen credits include Sing Street, Moone Boy, Father Ted, Bachelor’s Walk and Veronica Guerin. His theatre performances include Heartbreak House, Eden, The Government Inspector, Faith and After Sarah Miles.