The Freedom of the City AUTHOR Brian Friel Setting The play is set in Derry on 10th February 1970. Synopsis Set in Derry in 1970, in the aftermath of a Civil Rights meeting, the play conjures the events of Bloody Sunday two years later. Three unarmed marchers find themselves in the mayor's parlour in the Guildhall. Reports and rumours exaggerate their 'occupation' and they are shot by British soldiers as they leave. The play documents the victims' final hours and a subsequent tribunal of the inquiry into their deaths. PLAY TYPE Plays General Number of Acts Full-Length Cast Size Male 16 Cast Size Female 1 Date of First Production 20 February 1973 Production Produced by Abbey Theatre/Amharclann na Mainistreach ORIGINAL VENUE Abbey Theatre/Amharclann na Mainistreach Venue Notes Presented on the Abbey Stage. Original Cast Army Press Officer Emmet Bergin RTE Commentator Bob Carlile Soldier Dermot Crowley Brigadier Johnson-Hansbury Clive Geraghty Dr. Winbourne, Forensics Edward Golden A Police Constable Geoff Golden Michael Raymond Hardie Judge John Kavanagh (1) Dr. Dodds, Sociologist Pat Laffan Soldier Colm Meaney Skinner Eamon Morrissey Lily Angela Newman Ballad Singer Micheál Ó hAonghusa Melodeon Player Dinny O'Brien Soldier Niall O'Brien(1) Priest Ronnie Walsh Professor Cuppley Derek Young Production Team Director Tomás Mac Anna Designer Alan Barlow Lighting Leslie Scott Sound Nuala Golden Assistant Designer Gerard Crosson Production Manager Seán Hurst Stage Director Bill Hay Props Assistant Consolata Boyle CLICK HERE for information on script availability, production rights and translations for this play The information for this entry was taken from the original production programme Printer friendly version