Bernard Farrell

Bernard Farrell was born in Dublin in 1941 and worked in advertising before becoming known as a playwright. His writing belongs to a lively strand of modern Irish theatre that turns its attention to everyday life, family ties and the pressures of social change. Rather than relying on grand historical subjects, Farrell often finds his material in familiar settings and the uneasy conversations taking place within them. His work has been staged in Ireland and beyond, bringing a sharp comic sensibility to contemporary Irish experience.

Among Farrell’s best-known titles are I Do Not Like Thee, Doctor Fell, Say Cheese, Stella by Starlight, The Last Apache Reunion and The Retreat. Across his writing, comedy is a way to expose tensions beneath polite appearances: people negotiate love, loyalty, status and the expectations placed on them by family and society. His dialogue is brisk and observant, with humour that can turn uncomfortable as characters reveal more than they intend. Farrell’s work offers a rewarding listening choice for anyone interested in Irish life rendered through intimate relationships and finely judged comic conflict. Browse the titles here to discover which of his plays speaks to you.