Cian Barry, Niall Buggy & More to Star in English Touring Theatre, Sheffield & Rose Theatre Kingston's TRANSLATIONS

Full casting was announced today for the new production of Brian Friel's Translations, which will open at Sheffield Theatres on February 17, as part of a season of work dedicated to Friel, before travelling to Cambridge, Exeter, Newcastle, Oxford, Ipswich and culminating at the Rose Theatre Kingston from 22 April - 3 May.

The full cast is Cian Barry (Owen), Niall Buggy (Hugh), Paul Cawley (Captain Lancey), Beth Cooke (Máire), Hannah James (Bridget), Gary Lilburn (Jimmy Jack), Rory Murphy (Doalty), Roxanna Nic Liam (Sarah), James Northcote (Yolland) and Ciaran O'Brien (Manus).

James Grieve will direct this new production with design by Lucy Osborne, lighting by James Farncombe and sound design by Tom Gibbons.

Translations is a co-production by English Touring Theatre, Sheffield Theatres and Rose Theatre Kingston.

Set in 19th century rural Ireland, local farm-girl Máire finds herself torn between the affections of the local schoolteacher and the love of a British soldier, as the British Army arrives to their quiet village in Donegal to translate Gaelic place names into the King's English.

The resulting clash of two worlds threatens the very heart of the community as they struggle to interpret a new language and each other.

Brian Friel is an Irish playwright, theatre director and author. He is best known for his plays Philadelphia Here I Come!, Translations, and Dancing at Lughnasa.

James Grieve is Joint Artistic Director of Paines Plough. He was formerly Artistic Director of nabokov, and Associate Director of The Bush Theatre. His most recent directing credits for Paines Plough include Jumpers For Goalposts by Tom Wells, Hopelessly Devoted by Kate Tempest, Love, Love, Love by Mike Bartlett, Fly Me To The Moon by Marie Jones and Tiny Volcanoes by Laurence Wilson.