Leading NI actor to direct for new theatre group

A leading Ulster actor is to direct the first production by a new theatre group set up in Northern Ireland.

Adrian Dunbar, best known for his roles in My Left Foot, Hear My Song and The Crying Game, will direct the well-known Irish classic, 'Philadelphia, Here I Come!' by Brian Friel, as the first production by ART, the Association of Regional Theatres.

ART has been set up by the five regional theatres of Northern Ireland in a bid to create high quality work, tailored to regional audiences.

Announcing its future plans at a press conference on Monday, ART Producer, Andrea Montgomery, said: ”We are delighted to have both Adrian and Brian on board for our first project; they will no doubt help give credibility to ART. The future success of ART is dependant on a positive response to this initial production, and I am confident that local audiences will be excited with the high calibre of work that will be produced.”

With a tour that will begin in Northern Ireland in January it is anticipated that this production will also tour the Republic of Ireland and the UK, making this one of the largest projects of its kind to originate in Northern Ireland.

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