theatre

The Quare Fellow

A re-working of Brendan Behan’s first play, the intimacy of the New Theatre places the audience within the walls of Mountjoy Prison in the 1950’s, as the inmates await the fate of a faceless prisoner known as ‘The Quare Fellow’. His impending hanging is the pivot on which the play turns, the catalyst to every conversation and personal insight. A motley crew of characters spanning 3 generations, this is a strong ensemble piece. A comedy in the traditional Irish sense, Behan's characters breath light and darkness with every sharp intake and sorrowful exhale. This may not be a ground-breaking production, but it re-awakens an affection for the oul sod in the strangest of ways and possesses a distinct homegrown after-taste, definitely worthy of a run extended until September. / Aoife Concannon