American students come to Glenties to learn about Dancing at Lughnasa

American theatrical students who are soon to take to the stage for a performance of Brian Friel's play Dancing at Lughnasa have spent time in Glenties visiting significant landmarks and speaking to locals in preparation for their performance.

Students from LaGrange College in Georgia and the cast and crew of the upcoming production visited the setting of Friel’s internationally recognised drama to research and prepare for their February staging of the play.

The seven-day program was hosted by the Bundoran-based Institute of Study Abroad Ireland (ISAI) and the curriculum for theatre studies was designed and delivered by multi-talented actor, director and playwright Maura Logue. She, alongside ISAI instructor Aidan Given, worked with the students on history, cultural context, dialect and accent, costuming and rehearsal.

Maura was delighted to have dressed the students in 1930's costume and said the students had an exceptional time. The programme of study for their theatre studies was compiled by  actor, director, and playwright Maura Logue who delivered the progamme and very much enjoyed sharing her vast experience with the students. 

On the final evening in Bundoran, Maura Logue, Aidan Given and LC Theatre coordinator and director of the production Kim Barber Knoll, gave the students a surprise performance of a scene from The Aristocrats by Brian Friel.

“Maura was astonishing,” Knoll said. “Collaborating with her on all aspects of the production; — text, dialect, intention and costumes — was an incredible experience. She is a force of nature.”

The LC group began their immersive experience at The Laurels, Friel’s family cottage, to get a sense of the play's setting. In addition, they were treated to a piece by local Helen Power from Friel's play ‘Faith Healer’ at the new Lughnasa Creative Art Centre. They also went to St. Connell's Museum for a guided tour and had a moment of reflection at Friel's grave in Glenties.