Video

Friel's creative process

Friel scholar Zosia Kuczyńska gives an overview of some of the distinctive features of playwright Brian Friel’s creative process as revealed by his literary archives at the National Library of Ireland. several of which went on to influence the ways in which Jessie Keenan and Robbie Blake went about making their creative responses to archive materials.

Works Cited

Brian Friel, ‘Extracts from a Sporadic Diary: Give Me Your Answer, Do! (1995–96)’, in Brian Friel: Essays, Diaries, Interviews 1964–1999, ed., trans., and bib. by Christopher Murray (London: Faber and Faber, 1999), pp.166–172 (p.168).

Video

Mixed interview, extract 2

Zosia Kuczyńska, Jessie Keenan, and Robbie Blake talk about their own scholarly and artistic processes and how they intersect with Friel’s creative practice.

Lámhscríbhinn Ghaolmhar

Don't anticipate the ending

Brian Friel penned this note to self whilst writing Dancing at Lughnasa (1990).

The Creative Process

Jessie Keenan's questions

Jessie Keenan compiled this list of phrases and questions after visiting Friel’s archives and sharing research with Friel scholar Zosia Kuczyńska.

Lámhscríbhinn Ghaolmhar

The sacred core of the play.

This note was written by Brian Friel during the composition process for Dancing at Lughnasa (1990). Friel often referred to what he called the ‘core’ of a given play, which, once established, would be a leading factor in determining the play’s form.

mbf028_robbie-blake-bf-markings-transcription-(notebook).jpeg

The Creative Process

Robbie Blake's transcription of Friel's markings

This is Robbie Blake’s transcription of markings made by Brian Friel on a page of notes towards Dancing at Lughnasa (1990).

Lámhscríbhinn Ghaolmhar

Michael's monologue

This draft of Michael’s opening/closing monologue from Dancing at Lughnasa (1990) features some of the ways in which Friel would annotate his notes.