Ulster American

David Ireland trained as an actor at the RSAMD (now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) in Glasgow. He was Playwright-in-Residence at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast from 2011-12. His first play What the Animals Say was produced at Òran Mór in Glasgow and transferred to the Belfast Festival. His other plays include: Everything Between Us, which won the Meyer-Whitworth Award and the Stewart Parker BBC Award; The End of Hope, The End of Desire (Òran Mór), Half a Glass of Water (Field Day) Yes So I Said Yes (Ransom Productions), Can't Forget About You (Lyric, Belfast), Most Favoured (Traverse/ Òran Mór), The Hen Night (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), Summertime (Tinderbox), I Promise You Sex and Violence (Northern Stage), Blood Wedding (Dundee Rep Ensemble/Graeae) and Cyprus Avenue (Royal Court/Abbey Theatre, Dublin).

This insightful playwright avoids a neat emotional resolution. He explores the impact of decades of violence and hatred and leaves his characters suspended [Four stars]