Introduced by Patrick Lonergan, The Methuen Drama Anthology of Irish Plays brings together five major works from the Irish dramatic canon of the last sixty years in one outstanding collection.

Behan's The Hostage, depicting the capture and deathof a British soldier by the IRA, was first produced by JoanLittlewood's Theatre Workshop in 1958 and was declared 'a masterpiece' by The Times. Murphy's Bailegangaire (1985)portrays a senile old woman's recitation of an epic tale to her twogranddaughters who struggle to free themselves from her...

Martin McDonagh is one of the world's most popular dramatists. This is a highly readable and illuminating account of his career to date that will appeal to the legions of fans of his work for the stage and of his films Six Shooter and In Bruges. As a resource for students and practitioners it is unrivalled, providing an authoritative and enquiring approach to his work that moves beyond the tired discussions of national identity to offer a comprehensive critical exploration.

Lonergan provides a detailed analysis of each of his plays and films, their original staging,...

Lonergan provides a detailed analysis of each of his plays and films, their original...