Plays

Printer Friendly

The Hostage

OVERVIEW

  • Playwright

    Brendan Behan 

  • Setting

    Set in a Dublin lodging-house of doubtful repute.

  • Notes

    The Hostage was originally written in Irish and performed as 'An Giall' in Damer Hall, Dublin in June 1958.

  • Synopsis

    A tragedy in which a young English soldier, Leslie, is being kept prisoner in a Dublin boarding house frequented by sailors, whores, policemen and the IRA. Love blossoms when Leslie meets Teresa, a country girl, who comes to stay.

  • Play Type

    Plays General

    Number Of Acts

    Full-Length

  • Cast Size Male

    8

  • Cast Size Female

    5

  • Cast Notes

    Non-credited cast included Sailors, Whores and Policemen.

Original Production

  • Date of First Production

    14 October 1958

  • Production Notes

    First produced by the Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop.
  • Producer

  • Original Venue


  • Venue Notes

    First performed at the Theatre Royal, Stratford, London.

Original Cast  
Teresa Celia Salkeld
Pat Howard Goorney
Meg Dillon Avis Bunnage
Monsewer Glynn Edwards
Colette Leila Greenwood
Bobo Annette Robertson
Princess Grace Dudley Sutton
Rio Rita Roy Barnett
Mr. Mulleady Robin Chapman
Miss Gilchrist Eileen Kennally
Leslie(The Hostage) Murray Melvin
IRA Officer James Booth
Volunteer Clive Barker
Production Team  
Director Joan Littlewood

Published Scripts

  • Title

    Behan: The Complete Plays.

  • Year

    1978

  • Published By

    Methuen

  • Address

    Head Office, 215 Vauxhall Bridge Road
    London SW1V 1EJ
    England

  • Phone

    + 44 (0)20 7798 1600

  • Website

    www.methuen.co.uk

  • ISBN

    0413387801

  • Purchase From Amazon...

Rights Information

Source Of Information

The information for this entry was taken from the published playscript and other printed material.