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2021
Wilde’s Island Town – Home of The Happy Prince
Celebrating Oscar Wilde’s tale – The Happy Prince, a programme dedicated to the fairy tale will take place in conjunction with local businesses.
The 2019 Arts Over Borders Summer Festivals July 25 – August 18
- 7th Happy Days: Enniskillen International Beckett Festival | July 25 – 28 2019 |
- 2nd A Wilde Weekend: Wildetown, Home of the Happy Prince, Enniskillen | August 2 – 5 2019 |
- 4th Lughnasa FrielFest | August 9 – 18 2019 |
Ever tried. Ever failed. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
- OPENING FESTIVAL TALK: Diarmaid Ferriter: Talk on The Border: The Legacy of a Century of Anglo-Irish Politics. July 25, 7.30pm
- Diarmaid Ferriter Talk is kindly sponsored by Oliver O’Connor, Board Member of Happy Days EIBF
- Three Beckett short plays with the Mark Morris Dance Group (World Premiere). Enniskillen Royal Grammar (formerly Portora Royal School), The Regal & Cherry Island. July 25 – 28, various times
- The July 25th performances of Come & Go; Catastrophe are kindly sponsored by Sir Martin & Lady Elise Smith
- The July 25th performance of Quad is kindly sponsored by Sir Martin & Lady Elise Smith
- Ohio Impromptu by Samuel Beckett. Dir Adrian Dunbar. Devenish Island. July 25 – 28, various times
- The July 25th performance of Ohio Impromptu is kindly sponsored by Paddy Greggan
- The July 26th performance of Ohio Impromptu is kindly sponsored by William Morrison, Board Member of Happy Days EIBF
- The July 27th performance of Ohio Impromptu is kindly sponsored by Sinead Martin
- The July 28th performance of Ohio Impromptu is kindly sponsored by Kate Oliver and Jeremy Young
- Assumption read by Adrian Dunbar. Chapel of Enniskillen Royal Grammar (i.e. Portora). July 26, 9.30pm
- Pas Moi & Not I by Samuel Beckett – Clara Simpson. Chapel of Enniskillen Royal Grammar (i.e. Portora). July 26, 7.30pm & July 27, 3pm
- Cascando by Samuel Beckett. Pan Pan Theatre. Site specific performance promenade. Grounds of old Portora Royal School. July 26 – 28, various times
- Schwanengesang (Swansong) by Franz Schubert. Director Romeo Castellucci (UK & Ireland Premiere). Ardhowen Theatre. July 27, 8pm & July 28, 5pm
- All Mankind Is Us: Walking for Waiting for Godot. Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark. July 27, 4pm & July 28, 4.30pm
- Morning Recital – Late piano works of Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Chopin and Scriabin with Saskia Giorgini (Winner 2016 Salzburg Piano Prize). St. Macartin’s Cathedral. July 27, 11.30am
- The Morning Piano Recital is kindly sponsored by Peter Espenhahn (Board Member Happy Days EIBF) and Fiona Espenhahn
- Winterreise by Franz Schubert – Roderick Williams & Julius Drake. St. Macartin’s Cathedral. July 28, 3pm
- Winterreise is kindly sponsored by Festival Patron Joanna McVey
- Alannah Hopkin and Sally Phipps with Carlo Gebler. A discussion on late creativity. Alannah Hopkin is the widow of Aidan Higgins and Sally Phipps is the daughter of Molly Keane. July 28, 1.30pm
(CLICK HERE to download Digital Programme PDF for A Wilde Weekend)
A Wilde Weekend by Lough Ernest
A trivial festival for serious people!
- OPENING FESTIVAL TALK: WILDETALK: Matthew Sturgis on his 2018 biography of Oscar Wilde. August 2, 8pm
- WILDETHEATRE: At Home with Oscar Wilde – Excerpts of Wilde’s plays performed at his old school, Portora (Enniskillen Royal Grammar). Director David Grant. August 2 – 5, various times
- The August 2nd and 3rd performances of At Home with Oscar Wilde are kindly sponsored by Helen & John Graham
- The August 2nd performance of At Home with Oscar Wilde are kindly sponsored by Liam & Jackie Strong
- WILDEFILM: The Happy Prince. Directed by Rupert Everett. The Regal, Enniskillen. August 2, 9.30pm [BAR OPEN]
- WILDETOWN READINGS. Being held in various Market Town shops in Enniskillen. August 2 & 3, 6pm – 8pm
- WILDEFILM: Dorian Gray. The Regal, Enniskillen. August 3, 9pm [BAR OPEN]
- WILDETALK: Commissioned talk by Philip Hoare, entitled Wilde, Swimming. August 3, 7.30pm
- WILDETALK: Franny Moyle (biographer of Constance Wilde) & Cate Haste (biographer of Alma Mahler) followed by performance of Gustav Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder song cycle with Ruby Philogene MBE. August 3, 3pm
- The Kindertotenlieder portion of this event is kindly sponsored by Paddy Gregan
- WILDEMUSIC: Kindertotenlieder by Gustav Mahler. Performed by Ruby Philogene MBE (mezzo soprano) and Maya Irgalina (piano). August 3, 4.30pm
- Kindertotenlieder is kindly sponsored by Paddy Gregan
- WILDETRIP: The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde. Bus journey to secret garden for reading. August 4, 2pm
- The Selfish Giant is kindly sponsored by Donal & Cecilia Gallagher
- WILDETALK: Clare Pollard. Poet and playwright Clare Pollard shines a light on some of our best-loved childhood stories, their histories and what they really mean. August 4, 12.30pm
- BBC 3 Radio Commissioned Essays: Featuring writers Philip Hoare and Sinead Gleeson. Recorded to be broadcast for Autumn 2019! August 4, 6pm
- WILDESONG: Closing Concert: Richard Strauss Four Last Songs and other songs. Siobhan Stagg (Soprano) & Julius Drake (piano). August 4, 7.30pm
- The WILDESONG: Closing Recital by Siobhan Stagg and Julius Drake is Kindly sponsored by Grace Yu
- Go and see THE HAPPY PRINCE STATUE in gold leaf, with ‘dead swallow’ in bronze by sculptor Alan Milligan at the Prince’s feet. Forthill Park, Enniskillen. July 25 – August 18
SPECIAL EXTRA FREE PERFORMANCE OF BRIAN FRIEL’S THE ENEMY WITHIN in memory of journalist and author Lyra McKee to take place in St. Mary’s Church, Creggan Fanad Drive Derry Sunday August 18 2.30pm. No tickets required. (CLICK HERE to download digital flyer for tribute performance)
(CLICK HERE to download Digital Programme PDF for Lughnasa FrielFest: Donegal Here I Come!)
(CLICK HERE to download Digital Programme PDF for Lughnasa FrielFest: Derry-Londonderry, Overcome!)
Lughnasa FrielFest: Donegal Here I Come!& Derry-Londonderry, Overcome!
August 9 – 18
- Faith Healer by Brian Friel. West Donegal. Bus journey promenade presentation. Weekend 1 (August 9 – 11) featuring Dearbhla Molloy as Grace, Patrick Bergin as Frank, and Robert Glenistor as Teddy. Weekend 2 (August 16- 18) featuring Amelia Bullmore as Grace, Paul McGann as Frank, and Pearce Quigley as Teddy. August 9 & 16, 5pm; August 10 & 17, 4pm; August 11 & 18, 3pm
- Homer by the Sea. Cathy Tyson August 15, 5pm on Killahoey Beach, Dunfanaghy & August 16, 5.30pm on Culdaff Beach, Inishowen; Greta Scacchi August 17, 5pm on Downhill Beach, Co. Derry & August 18, 5.30pm on Rathmullan Beach, Fanad
- Freedom of the City by Brian Friel. Director Jonathan Moore starring Siobhan McSweeney (Sister Michael) of Derry Girls. Audience led by actors to the Guildhall August 15th – 18th, 7.30pm. Performance meeting points: August 15 & 17 Ebrington Barracks, August 16 & 18 Free Derry Museum. Those not wishing to walk meet at Guildhall each night 7.45pm
- The Yalta Game by Brian Friel. Sean McGinley & Marie Mullen. St. Eugene’s Hall Moville. August 15 & 16, 7.30pm. August 17 & 18, 3pm
- Ed Vulliamy: Talk by the journalist and writer of the book When Words Fail: A Life With Music, War and Peace. The Playhouse, Derry August 17, 3pm
- The Enemy Within by Brian Friel. Kabosh Theatre with all female production. St. Columba’s Church (Omagh) August 16, 7.30pm. All Saints Church (Derry-Londonderry) August 17, 11.30am.
- BBC 3 Radio Commissioned Essays: Featuring writers Wendy Erskine, Stephen Sexton and Ed Vulliamy. Recorded to be broadcast for Autumn 2019! August 18, 5pm
- CANCELLED (Due to family bereavement)
OPENING FESTIVAL TALK: Gary Younge on the importance of James Baldwin’s life and work for today’s society. The Playhouse. August 16, 6pm
SPECIAL ARTS OVER BORDERS CLOSING EVENT
Arts Over Borders’ Samuel Beckett and Brian Friel Festivals come together in a special closing performed reading of All Mankind Is Us: Walking for Waiting for Godot on the Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal August 17 & 18 (bus departs at 5pm Malin Town Diamond to walk starting point). Performed by the Lyric Theatre Belfast. (CLICK HERE to download digital flyer for Malin Head performances)
2019 A Wilde Weekend by Lough Ernest special festival extension
Extended to November 30th (the date of Oscar Wilde’s death in 1900)
Go and make an autumn visit to see the festival’s popular WILDEART commission of THE HAPPY PRINCE STATUE in gold leaf atop Cole’s Monument in Forthill Park overlooking picturesque Ennskillen town.
Check opening times of the monument and you will also be able to climb its 108 steps to see Alan Milligan’s ‘dead swallow‘ bronze sculpture lie at the feet of The Happy Prince as described at the end of Wilde’s famous story which was inspired by the town of Enniskillen.
