ANYONE interested in Ireland’s republican movement should see the English premiere of this play by the late Joseph Crilly.

Set in the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement, it centres around newly released IRA man Fra Maline. A reception has been arranged for the ex-prisoner in a rundown hall on the outskirts of the village of McQuillan’s Hill in rural mid-Ulster and, while we never see the party itself, we’re treated to some excellent scenes devoted to its build-up and aftermath.

Maline’s nearest and dearest have been invited, including his supposed daughter Theresa and, as she helps clean up after her father’s welcome home party, we meet his sister Loretta. Newly returned to Ireland, she’s secretly bought the hall and employed her old lover Ray McCullion to give it a quick paint-over.