A theatrical production examining what place names reveal about locations, their inhabitants, and historical significance is set to debut at a Hackney venue this month.

The Tower Theatre in Stoke Newington will present “Translations,” written by Irish playwright Brian Friel, beginning March 18, shortly following St Patrick’s Day.

The narrative takes place in 1833 within the imagined townland of Baile Beag in County Donegal, delving into how substituting Irish language place names with English equivalents during Ireland’s initial Ordnance Survey affected culture and individuals.

The action occurs in a “hedge school”—an informal educational setting typically conducted in agricultural buildings or private residences—as Royal Engineers enter the area and start converting local toponyms to English forms. These institutions served as essential hubs for Irish scholarship and cultural preservation, functioning despite legislation that prohibited formal schooling for Catholics.

Friel characterized the work as “a play about language and only about language,” employing the routine process of linguistic conversion to examine issues of identity, inclusion, and imperial dominance.

Composed in 1980, “Translations” marked the inaugural production by the Field Day Theatre Company, which Friel established alongside performer Stephen Rea. By portraying exchanges among a modest collection of characters within a rural Irish setting, Friel demonstrates how even bureaucratic measures can generate profound and enduring effects.

The Tower Theatre will present 11 showings between March 18 and 28. Admission ranges from £9 to £15 and purchases can be made at www.towertheatre.org.uk/translations.