Contemporary Irish Plays: Freefall; Forgotten; Drum Belly; Planet Belfast; Desolate Heaven; The Boys of Foley Street [Paperback]

Contemporary Irish Playsshowcases 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.

Freefallis a sharp, humorous and exhilarating look at the fragility of a human life, blending impressionistic beauty, poignancy and comedy.

Forgottenfeatures 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 Bellyis a fascinating play about the Irish mafia in late 1960s' New York. It premiered at the Abbey Theatre in 2012.

Previously unpublished,Planet Belfastby Rosemary Jenkinson is about a woman named Alice  Stormont's only Green MLA who must toe a delicate line between large, sectarian power bases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 Heavenis 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Written for the 2012 Dublin Theatre Festival, and previously unpublished,The Boys of Foley Streetby Louise Lowe is a piece of site-specific theatre which led audience members on a tour of the backstreets of inner-city Dublin.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 Playsis a timely reminder of the long-held tradition and strength of Irish theatre which blossoms even in its new-found circumstances.