Michael West

Richard Dormer

Ailis Ni Riain

Rosemary Jenkinson

Pat Kinevane

Louise Lowe

Contemporary Irish Plays showcases the new drama that has emerged since 2008. Featuring a blend of established and emerging writers, the anthology shows how Irish writers are embracing new methods of theatre-making to explore exciting new themes – while also finding new ways to come to terms with the legacies of the Troubles and the Celtic Tiger. Freefall is a sharp, humorous and exhilarating look at the fragility of a human life, blending impressionistic beauty, poignancy and comedy. Forgotten features the interconnecting stories of four elderly people living in retirement homes and care facilities around Ireland, who range in age from 80 to 100 years old. Drum Belly is a fascinating play about the Irish mafia in late 1960s' New York. It premiered at the Abbey Theatre in 2012. Previously unpublished, Planet Belfast by Rosemary Jenkinson is about a woman named Alice – Stormont's only Green MLA who must toe a delicate line between large, sectarian power bases in order to promote an environmental agenda in Northern Ireland. Desolate Heaven is a story about two young girls hoping to find freedom from home in the trappings of love. It was first performed at Theatre 503, London, in 2013 Written for the 2012 Dublin Theatre Festival, and previously unpublished, The Boys of Foley Street by Louise Lowe is a piece of site-specific theatre which led audience members on a tour of the backstreets of inner-city Dublin. Edited by the leading scholar on Irish theatre, Patrick Lonergan, Contemporary Irish Plays is a timely reminder of the long-held tradition and strength of Irish theatre which blossoms even in its new-found circumstances.

Freefall; Forgotten; Drum Belly; Planet Belfast; Desolate Heaven; The Boys of Foley Street

Contemporary Irish Plays

Eugene O'Brien

Gerald Murphy

Mark Doherty

Malachy McKenna

Christian O'Reilly

Containing six award-winning plays by contemporary Irish writers, this is an exciting collection of the best writing to come out of Ireland in the last six years. The volume is edited with an introduction by John Fairleigh, editor of earlier collection, Far From the Land, also published by Methuen Drama. The six plays in the volume are: Gerald Murphy: Take Me Away (2004) Gerald Murphy is a Dublin based writer and actor. His first play, 'The Welcome', was staged by Druid Theatre Company in 2001. His first radio play, 'Stranger in the Night' won a PJ O'Connor Award and was broadcast by RTÉ in 2001. Mark Doherty: Trad (2004) Mark Doherty is a Dublin-based writer who previously worked as a stand-up comic. Eugene O'Brien: Eden (2001) Eugene O'Brien is a Dublin-based writer and actor. 'Eden' won the 2001 Irish Times Theatre Award for Best New Play and was subsequently staged at the Arts Theatre, on London's West End. Malachy McKenna: Tillsonburg (2000) Malachy McKenna was trained at Focus Stanislavski Studio. He has worked extensively as an actor, and has written for film and theatre. Christian O'Reilly: The Good Father (2002) Christian O'Reilly is a Galway-based writer. Two of his short films, 'The Birthday' and 'The Kiss of Life', have been produced and he has several feature-length screenplays in development. He also writes for television. Richard Dormer: Hurricane (2002) Richard Dormer is an actor based in Belfast.

The Tiger in Winter: Six Contemporary Irish Plays

Hold tight as you are thrown into New York City's deep and dark underworld, in this exciting new play on the Abbey stage. Man has just set foot on the moon. The streets of Brooklyn are tense. The Irish Mafia is desperately trying to hold on to their power and more importantly their identity. After all, THEY built these streets. In this edgy new story, relationships between family, friends and enemies are ultimately challenged.

Drum Belly

Richard Dormer

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