"Drum Belly" explores a changing Brooklyn through the eyes of an older man reflecting on his youth. Set against the backdrop of the moon landing, it delves into the struggles of the Irish Mafia to maintain their identity and power, while relationships among family, friends, and foes are put to the test in the city's dark underbelly.
Containing six award-winning plays by contemporary Irish writers, thisis an exciting collection of the best writing to come out of Ireland inthe last six years. The volume is edited with an introduction by JohnFairleigh, editor of earlier collection, Far From the Land, also published by Methuen Drama. The six plays in the volume are:Gerald Murphy: Take Me Away (2004) GeraldMurphy is a Dublin based writer and actor. His first play, 'TheWelcome', was staged by Druid Theatre Company in 2001. His first radioplay, 'Stranger in the Night' won a PJ O'Connor Award and was broadcastby RT? in 2001.Mark Doherty: Trad (2004) Mark Doherty is a Dublin-based writer who previously worked as a stand-up comic.Eugene O'Brien: Eden (2001) Eugene O'Brien is a Dublin-based writer and actor. 'Eden'won the 2001 Irish Times Theatre Award for Best New Play and wassubsequently staged at the Arts Theatre, on London's West End.Malachy McKenna: Tillsonburg (2000) MalachyMcKenna was trained at Focus Stanislavski Studio. He has workedextensively as an actor, and has written for film and theatre.Christian O'Reilly: The Good Father (2002) ChristianO'Reilly is a Galway-based writer. Two of his short films, 'TheBirthday' and 'The Kiss of Life', have been produced and he has severalfeature-length screenplays in development. He also writes fortelevision.Richard Dormer: Hurricane (2002) Richard Dormer is an actor based in Belfast.