Court-inspired play heads to Broadway

FROM the courts of Cork to the bright lights of Broadway.

A new play by Irish Examiner courts reporter Liam Heylin, that was inspired by his day job, is to be staged in New York.

The comedy Love, Peace and Robbery was premiered to huge critical acclaim by Meridian Theatre Company at the Granary Theatre in Cork last year.

It attracted attention from America, which led to an invitation to be staged as part of an Irish theatre festival.

The play will be staged at the festival this month at the 59E59 theatre in Manhattan, off Broadway, before beginning a four-week run later in the year in Washington DC.

It is Mr Heylin’s first play to go Stateside and he said he is delighted for a play so local to Cork to go so far.

The play is about criminals trying to avoid the old habits that landed them in Cork Prison.

Mr Heylin, who has covered thousands of criminal cases for the Irish Examiner, spent two years researching and writing the play.

He drew much of his inspiration from the cases before Cork’s district and circuit courts.

But he also spoke to inmates in Cork Prison about what led to them being there, and to former inmates trying to stay out.

“This couldn’t have been a more local play,” he said.

“It went down well last year and it’s great that a play that is so local to Cork city has made it this far. It is a great buzz for the play to see that it has the legs to go that far.”

Mr Heylin has been involved in theatre for several years and wrote Ding Dong, a play based in his home city of Waterford, several years ago.

“It is completely different to the day job where you write a story, meet deadlines, and it’s out there in 24 hours.

“Theatre works to a much slower clock — from the idea for a play, the writing of it, staging it — it’s measured more in years than in hours,” he said.

Love Peace and Robbery will be staged in New York by the Keegan Theatre Company from September 23 to 28.

The company will then stage the play in Washington — from November 28 to December 21.

Meanwhile, Meridian plans to tour the original production of the play around Ireland next year and has commissioned a new play from Mr Heylin.