in the W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre
Irish Repertory Theatre Presents
An Giall, le Brendan Behan
A Reading of the original Irish language version of The Hostage
By Brendan Behan
Co-Directed by Nicola Ní Mhurchú and Caoimhe Nic Giollarnáith
Dialect coaching provided by Caoimhe Nic Giollarnáith
Cast includes: Fiona Breathnach, Doireann Mac Mahon, Liam Mac Réamoinn, Rianna Ní Flaithbheartaigh, Brian Ó Broin, Mícheál Ó Cruitín, Seán Ó Gormlaigh, Fergal Titley
Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 7pm
An Giall depicts the events leading up to the planned execution of an 18-year-old IRA member in a Belfast jail, accused of killing a Royal Ulster Constabulary policeman. The hostage of the title is Leslie Williams, a young and innocent Cockney British Army soldier taken hostage at the border with Northern Ireland, and kept in a house of ill repute. During the course of the play, a love story develops between Leslie and Teresa, a young girl, and resident of the house. Both are orphans living foreign to the city they find themselves in. The play ends with news of the hanging in Belfast and armed Gardaí raid the house.
The premiere of An Giall was an important event in the history of Irish drama, and over a period of twenty six years (between 1958 and 1984), the play was produced seven times.
An Giall was first performed at the Damer Theatre, Dublin, in June 1958. It was translated into English, by Behan, and had its London première at Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop at the Theatre Royal Stratford East in October of the same year. It subsequently transferred to the West End theatre and Broadway.
RESERVE NOW
Not recommended for anyone under the age of 14.
On our Mainstage, we are currently producing Translations by Brian Friel, a play in which the Irish characters speak English on stage for the benefit of a presumably English-speaking audience, but are actually assumed to be speaking their native language. In contrast, it was important to us to stage a play like An Giall, which showcases the power and beauty of a language which was lost to the majority of Ireland at the hand of colonialism.
Irish Repertory Theatre is proud to present a reading of An Giall (The Hostage) by Brendan Behan. An Giall is the original Irish language version of Behan’s 1958 play about the events leading up to the planned execution of an 18-year-old IRA member in a Belfast jail, accused of killing a Royal Ulster Constabulary policeman.
