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The Arts Council Playography Na Gaeilge

People

Brian Phelan

1934 -

Brian Phelan is an Irish playwright and screenwriter. Born in Dublin in 1934, he emigrated to Canada in 1952 where he worked in television and theatre, before returning to Ireland in 1956 to begin an acting career at the Abbey Theatre. While still acting full time, his first television play The Tormentors starring James Mason and Stanley Baker was produced by ATV. Other films and plays for television include The Russion Soldier (BBC), Knockback (BBC), Murphy's Stroke (Thames), Coded Hostile (Grenada), In the Secret State (BBC), The Treaty (Thames/RTE), The Ivory Trade (HBO), Promised Land, an Irish/Canadian co-production, and No Tears (RTE). Brian's stage plays include Article Five, Paddy, News, Soft Shoe Shuffle and The Signalman's Apprentice, which has been produced around the world. Brian, with Robin Fox, produced the premiere production of Tom Murphy's A Whistle in the Dark in the Theatre Royal, Stratford East in 1961. His archive has been acquired by the University of Delaware at Wilmington USA.

Playwriting Credits

Play Title Playwright
The Signalman's Apprentice Brian Phelan

Actor

Play Title Playwright
Inquisition Carolyn Swift Diego Fabbri
Madigan's Lock Hugh Leonard
The Informer Micheál Mac Liammóir Liam O'Flaherty
Winter Wedding Tomás Mac Anna

Producer

Play Title Playwright
A Whistle in the Dark Tom Murphy (1)