'Dancing at Lughnasa' wins Laurence Olivier Award for play of the year.
Brian Friel's play 'Dancing at Lughnasa' has taken the award for play of the year at the British Theatre awards. The play which was first staged at the the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1990 was given the BBC sponsored award by the Society of West End Theatre which organises the event. 'Dancing at Lughnasa' is the first Irish play to win the award.
'Dancing at Lughnasa' opened in London at the National Theatre and is now playing at The Phoenix in London's West End. Accepting the award Brian Friel quoted author Graham Greene
Success is the postponement of failure.
Friel also thanks the Abbey Theatre.
Garry Hynes, Artistic Director at the Abbey, reacting to the success of the play feels that the award is a tribute to all involved. She says that the fact that the award is for a new play from a living author is of particular significance for the Abbey.
The play is set in the fictional town of Ballybeg in county Donegal in the summer of 1936. Narrator Michael Evans recalls a summer spent in the Donegal town as a seven year old.
A 'Morning Ireland' report broadcast on 8 April 1991. The reporter is Eoin Ronayne.
