About
VOLUNTEERS (1975) by BRIAN FRIEL
50th Anniversary Presentation
The play Volunteers takes place on an archaeological site by the river in a contemporary Irish city centre. The ‘volunteers’ are political prisoners. For several months they have been excavating ‘from early Viking down to late Georgian’ (1000 years) and on the last day of their ‘dig’, before the builders of a new 5-star hotel move in, they learn that they have been sentenced to death by their fellow internees back at their prison for treason, their defection in volunteering.
Premiered in 1975 at the Abbey Theatre Dublin, 2025 marks the golden anniversary of Volunteers and in this presentation with The Playhouse in Derry, the play is a performed-reading by Kabosh Theatre in a site-specific specially constructed outdoor ‘dig set’ (under canopy) in the Keep area overlooking the River Foyle at Ebrington Square, a former British army barracks.
This is a unique opportunity to experience a play that is rarely presented.
PRESENTATION 1 Friday August 29 2025
7.30pm (with interval)
PRESENTATION 2 Saturday August 30 2025
Act 1, 8.30am
Act 2, 4.30pm
PRESENTATION 3 Sunday August 31 2025
Act 1, 8.30am
Act 2, 4.30pm
