City of Derry Drama Festival is back with a bang and an opening tribute to the late, great Brian Friel

Mark Conway, Chairperson, said: “In a tribute to the late Brian Friel, we are opening the Festival with ‘Translations’ to be performed by Butt Drama Circle from Ballybofey.

“We continue with a line-up of new and old plays featuring a great mixture of comedy and darker themes, including a ghost for good measure - something for all tastes.”

Last year Londonderry was bereft of the Waterside Theatre-based festival due to a lack of funds.

This year, thanks to the support of The Foyle Academy of Performing Arts, Diamond Corrugated, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Long’s supermarkets, the Drummond Hotel, Doherty’s meats, Costcutters, the Waterside Credit Union, Translink, Adair and Neely, Apex and Paul’s butchers it’s all systems go again back with an exciting lineup and a renewed drive.

The festival opens with the aforementioned ‘Translations’ on Friday, March 4, at 8pm.

David Mamet’s ‘Glengarry Glen Ross,’ will be performed by the Dundalk Theatre workshop on Saturday, March 5, also at 8pm, and the opening weekend will be brought to close when Derek Benfield’s ‘Don’t Lose the Place’ is performed by Stagefright, Omagh on the Sunday evening, also at 8pm.

“This year for the first time, we’re taking a break on the Monday and Tuesday and will return refreshed on the Wednesday, ready to enjoy the rest of the Festival, and the final night awards ceremony, always an exciting evening,” said Mr Conway.