The Quare Fellow:

"The true stuff of political theatre was demonstrated clearly at the Tricycle.....Behan's prison play used song, wit, sheer bloody bravura and poetic control of mood and music to convey not only political injustice but also human dignity under pressure. On leaving the theatre, you felt bigger about yourself, and your fellow man."

(Michael Coveney, The Observer, June 6, 2004)


"Philip Chevron's haunting and resonant musical direction captures both the political spirit of Old Ireland and the complex emotions of life both in prison and at the end of the hangman's noose."

(Victoria Roddam, BBC Online, April 2004)

"There are some total moments - finely wrought by Behan and well directed by Kathy Burke. On the eve of execution, an evangelical official sings of God's mercy and Christ's wounds, while beside him the hangman rehearses the litany of his trade, explaining how a prisoner's weight determines the drop. The lights are dropped and the scene is frozen in gilded horror. Philip Chevron of the Pogues is the musical director, and the play's theme song, often ascribed to Behan, although he said it was written by someone who'd never hear it, as he was 'pretty much a tramp', rings round the stage with a great, doleful clangour. In doing so, it suggests the empty places of prison life."

(Susannah Clapp, The Observer, Sunday February 29, 2004)

25 May-02 July

Oxford Stage Company

THE QUARE FELLOW

by Brendan Behan

Director Kathy Burke
Design David Roger
Music Philip Chevron
Lighting Design Chris Davey
Sound Design Fergus O'Hare

Cast includes Sean Campion, Kieran Cunningham, Nick Danan, Matthew Dunphy, Sean Gallagher, David Ganly, Jason Kavanagh, Gary Lilburn, Paul Lloyd, Christopher Logan, Patrick Lynch, Oengus MacNamara, Noel McAlley, Ciaran McIntyre, Tony Rohr, Gerard Rooney, Jay Simpson

“Outstanding work…Superb revival” **** The Guardian

“Cracking ensemble stuff…Terrific” **** The Financial Times

“Kathy Burke's spell-binding, terrifically acted production” Evening Standard

Thirteen caged men. And the quare fellow waits.

Set in an Irish prison in the 1950s on the day before and the morning of an execution, The Quare Fellow is a dark but amusing portrait of life inside. With music, wit and compassion, Behan presents the sparring between inmates and warders, and the ritual and customs that lead to the quare fellow's appointed hour.

Due to the extraordinary critical and popular success of OSC's 50th Anniversary Production of Brendan Behan's The Quare Fellow, we are delighted to welcome back Kathy Burke and a brilliant Irish cast.

Times and Prices Mon 8pm £8.50

Tues/Wed 8pm & Sat 4pm £13

Thurs & Fri* 8pm £15

Sat 8pm £18

*Fri 27 May 7pm


http://www.oxfordstage.co.uk
http://www.crownmoranhotel.co.uk/
The Tricycle sponsored by Crown Moran Hotel



£7 first 100 tickets for each performance Wed 25 & Thu 26 May when requested and purchased at least 72hrs in advance.

does anyone have the dates for the summer?

I'm going to see it for the second time, this summer. Taking my dad this time :D

Kathy Burke discusses the play tonight on television in the UK.

The Culture Show, BBC2 7pm and 11.20 pm

I missed when it was in Glasgow, my Dad said it was brilliant though! I might try to make it down to see it sometime. If anyone is looking for anything else to do around the 25th, Junkman's Choir play the Dublin Castle in Camden on the 27th and the Windmill in Brixton on the 26th.

8)

Kathy Burke's brilliant production of Brendan Behan's THE QUARE FELLOW, which was a big hit on tour last year in the UK, returns for another run at the TRICYCLE THEATRE, London from May 25th to July 2nd. The cast, with one exception, is as before. I had the great pleasure of supervising the music (which includes THE AULD TRIANGLE) for the show.