We are honoured to present the ‘lost’ first play by one of Ireland’s best-loved writers in an exclusive performed reading.

 

The Rent Woman was discovered in the National Library of Ireland by playwright and literary researcher Jimmy Murphy in late 2024, and was determined to be the first play by Brendan Behan, who has been widely described as one of the greatest Irish writers of all time. Liam Collins, writing in the Irish Independent, says the discovery 'changes literary history.’

 

‘Ultimately, The Rent Woman is more than just a forgotten play. It’s a testament to Behan’s early promise and stands as a vivid snapshot of his development into one of the most important writers in Irish theatre history,’ says Murphy, himself a much-lauded playwright whose work has been produced at theatres including The Abbey and The Peacock in Dublin.

 

Brendan Behan's legacy includes some of the most notable Irish plays of the 20th century, plus stories, novels, poems, and numerous songs that have been taken into the folk canon. Just 41 years old when he died in 1964, his influence on generations of writers and musicians is boundless.

 

The Rent Woman was unveiled at the Luke Kelly Festival in Dublin in July, and this performed reading at Hartlepool Folk Festival is only its second public airing. Jimmy Murphy will direct the reading with a cast of Irish actors, as well as taking part in a discussion afterwards about the play's context, its significance, and what happens next on its journey to full performance.