Bernard Farrell
Encyclopedia
Bernard Farrell is an Irish
dramatist, best known for his play I Do Not Like Thee, Doctor Fell, which parodies American psychobabble
and the Irish
reaction thereto.
He has been Writer-In-Association with the Abbey Theatre
, served on the Advisory Council of the Abbey and, for eight years, was a Director on the Board of the Abbey. He lives in Greystones
, Co.Wicklow.
, Co. Dublin. Both his parents were passionate about the theatre and his childhood was filled with attending plays. Following school at CBC Monkstown and further education at People's College Ballsbridge
he worked for Sealink until 1980, when he resigned to write fulltime for the theatre. Most of his 21 stage plays have been premiered at either the Abbey Theatre
or the Gate Theatre
in Dublin or at Red Kettle Theatre in Waterford. These include I Do Not Like Thee, Doctor Fell (1979), Canaries (1980), All In Favour Said No! (1981), All The Way Back (1985), Say Cheese (1987), Forty-Four Sycamore (1992), The Last Apache Reunion (1993), Happy Birthday Dear Alice (1994), Stella By Starlight (1997), Kevin’s Bed (1998), The Spirit Of Annie Ross (1999), Lovers At Versailles (2002), Many Happy Returns (2005) and The Verdi Girls which was specially commissioned by The Laguna Playhouse, California
and premiered there in 2007.
Many of his stage plays are in translation and have been performed extensively in North America, Europe and Australia
in 1979, starring a young Liam Neeson
as Roger in one of his first roles.
The play is one of the most popular plays in Ireland
with it often reproduced. It also enjoyed success abroad. It has been presented twice at the Acting Irish International Theatre Festival
in 1995 (by Milwaukee Irish Arts) and again in 2005 (by the Tara Players of Winnipeg
.)
and BBC
and his radio plays have been widely broadcast and have represented Ireland at the Prix Italia
. His television drama includes Lotty Coyle Loves Buddy Holly (RTÉ, 1984); with Graham Reid, Foreign Bodies (BBC, 1985–1988); Glenroe drama series, RTÉ); Radio Waves (RTÉ/BBC 1995). His radio drama includes Gliding With Mrs Gleeson (BBC and RTÉ); The Scholarship Trio (RTÉ); The Final Whistle (RTÉ); When Mr Kelly Met Mozart (RTÉ); The Day Grandpa Disappeared (RTÉ); The Year of Jimmy Somers (RTÉ entry for 1987 Prix Italia); The Final Whistle (RTÉ entry for 1992 Prix Italia).
, the Sunday Tribune Comedy of the Year Award, the Dublin Theatre Festival award for Best Irish Production and his Kevin’s Bed was nominated for Best Play of 1998 in the Irish Times/ESB Theatre Awards.
He has been Writer-In-Association with the Abbey Theatre, served on the Advisory Council of the Abbey and, for eight years, was a Director on the Board of the Abbey. He lives in Greystones, Co.Wicklow.
Television and Radio
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
dramatist, best known for his play I Do Not Like Thee, Doctor Fell, which parodies American psychobabble
Psychobabble
Psychobabble is a form of prose using jargon, buzzwords and highly esoteric language to give an impression of plausibility through mystification, misdirection, and obfuscation. The term implies that the speaker of psychobabble lacks the experience and understanding necessary for proper use of a...
and the Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
reaction thereto.
He has been Writer-In-Association with the Abbey Theatre
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
, served on the Advisory Council of the Abbey and, for eight years, was a Director on the Board of the Abbey. He lives in Greystones
Greystones
Greystones is a coastal town and small seaside resort in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located on Ireland’s east coast, south of Bray and south of Dublin , with a population in the region of 15,000....
, Co.Wicklow.
Playwright
Born in SandycoveSandycove
Sandycove is an area of Dublin, Ireland. It is south of Dún Laoghaire and Glasthule, but north of Dalkey.Sandycove is well-known for its gentlemen's bathing place, the Forty Foot, which in the past afforded a quiet swimming haven for males only...
, Co. Dublin. Both his parents were passionate about the theatre and his childhood was filled with attending plays. Following school at CBC Monkstown and further education at People's College Ballsbridge
Ballsbridge
Ballsbridge is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, named for the bridge spanning the River Dodder on the south side of the city. The sign on the bridge still proclaims it as "Ball's Bridge" in recognition of the fact that the original bridge in this location was built and owned by a Mr...
he worked for Sealink until 1980, when he resigned to write fulltime for the theatre. Most of his 21 stage plays have been premiered at either the Abbey Theatre
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
or the Gate Theatre
Gate Theatre
The Gate Theatre, in Dublin, was founded in 1928 by Hilton Edwards and Micheál Mac Liammóir, initially using the Abbey Theatre's Peacock studio theatre space to stage important works by European and American dramatists...
in Dublin or at Red Kettle Theatre in Waterford. These include I Do Not Like Thee, Doctor Fell (1979), Canaries (1980), All In Favour Said No! (1981), All The Way Back (1985), Say Cheese (1987), Forty-Four Sycamore (1992), The Last Apache Reunion (1993), Happy Birthday Dear Alice (1994), Stella By Starlight (1997), Kevin’s Bed (1998), The Spirit Of Annie Ross (1999), Lovers At Versailles (2002), Many Happy Returns (2005) and The Verdi Girls which was specially commissioned by The Laguna Playhouse, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and premiered there in 2007.
Many of his stage plays are in translation and have been performed extensively in North America, Europe and Australia
I Do Not Like Thee, Doctor Fell
I Do Not Like Thee, Doctor Fell was Farrell's first stage play and is considered his best. It was first performed in the Abbey TheatreAbbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
in 1979, starring a young Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson
Liam John Neeson, OBE is an Irish actor who has been nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA and three Golden Globe Awards.He has starred in a number of notable roles including Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List, Michael Collins in Michael Collins, Peyton Westlake in Darkman, Jean Valjean in Les...
as Roger in one of his first roles.
The play is one of the most popular plays in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
with it often reproduced. It also enjoyed success abroad. It has been presented twice at the Acting Irish International Theatre Festival
Acting Irish International Theatre Festival
The Acting Irish International Theatre Festival is an annual festival of full-length Irish plays performed by North American Irish community theater companies. The festival was started in 1994 and is performed in a different city each year...
in 1995 (by Milwaukee Irish Arts) and again in 2005 (by the Tara Players of Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
.)
Television and Radio Drama
He has also written television drama for both RTÉRTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
and BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and his radio plays have been widely broadcast and have represented Ireland at the Prix Italia
Prix Italia
The Prix Italia is an international Italian television, radio-broadcasting and Website award. It was established in 1948 by RAI - Radiotelevisione Italiana in Capri...
. His television drama includes Lotty Coyle Loves Buddy Holly (RTÉ, 1984); with Graham Reid, Foreign Bodies (BBC, 1985–1988); Glenroe drama series, RTÉ); Radio Waves (RTÉ/BBC 1995). His radio drama includes Gliding With Mrs Gleeson (BBC and RTÉ); The Scholarship Trio (RTÉ); The Final Whistle (RTÉ); When Mr Kelly Met Mozart (RTÉ); The Day Grandpa Disappeared (RTÉ); The Year of Jimmy Somers (RTÉ entry for 1987 Prix Italia); The Final Whistle (RTÉ entry for 1992 Prix Italia).
Awards and honours
He is a recipient of Rooney Prize for Irish LiteratureRooney Prize for Irish Literature
The Rooney Prize for Irish Literature was created in 1976 by the notable Irish American businessman, Dr Dan Rooney, owner and chairman of the NFL franchise, Pittsburgh Steelers....
, the Sunday Tribune Comedy of the Year Award, the Dublin Theatre Festival award for Best Irish Production and his Kevin’s Bed was nominated for Best Play of 1998 in the Irish Times/ESB Theatre Awards.
He has been Writer-In-Association with the Abbey Theatre, served on the Advisory Council of the Abbey and, for eight years, was a Director on the Board of the Abbey. He lives in Greystones, Co.Wicklow.
Works
Plays- I Do Not Like Thee, Doctor Fell (1979)
- Canaries (1980)
- All In Favour Said No! (1981)
- All The Way Back (1985)
- Say Cheese (1987)
- Forty-Four Sycamore (1992)
- The Last Apache Reunion (1993)
- Happy Birthday Dear Alice (1994)
- Stella By Starlight (1997)
- Kevin’s Bed (1998)
- The Spirit Of Annie Ross (1999)
- Lovers At Versailles (2002)
- Many Happy Returns (2005)
- The Verdi Girls (2007)
- Bookworms (2010)
Television and Radio
- Lotty Coyle Loves Buddy Holly (RTÉ, 1984)
- Foreign Bodies (BBC, 1985–1988)
- Glenroe drama series, RTÉ)
- Radio Waves (RTÉ/BBC 1995)
- Gliding With Mrs Gleeson (BBC and RTÉ)
- The Scholarship Trio (RTÉ)
- The Final Whistle (RTÉ)
- When Mr Kelly Met Mozart (RTÉ)
- The Day Grandpa Disappeared (RTÉ)
- The Year of Jimmy Somers (RTÉ entry for 1987 Prix Italia)
- The Final Whistle (RTÉ entry for 1992 Prix Italia)