Brenda Murphy (playwright)

Brenda Murphy is an Irish playwright.

Brenda Murphy
BornBrenda Murphy
1954
Belfast, Northern Ireland
OccupationPlaywright
Alma materSt Louise's Comprehensive College, Belfast

Life edit

Brenda Murphy was born in west Belfast in 1954. She was the eldest of 10 siblings but never knew her father. He was married to another woman who lived nearby with his own family.[1] As a teenager she joined the Provisional Irish Republican Army, was convicted of having guns and spent several years in jail. She gave birth to her first child while in prison.[2]

Work edit

She has written a series of plays often set in working class Belfast which deal with contemporary issues such as the Troubles. She has often worked in collaboration with the Brassneck Theatre Company.[3] Her plays have been performed at the Edinburgh Festival.[4]

Plays edit

  • Binlids: the Story of West Belfast Resistance
  • Forced Upon Us
  • Working-class Heroes
  • Two Sore Legs[5]
  • A Night With George
  • Baby it's cold outside
  • ˜Crazy[6]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Thompson, Ricky (29 October 2014). "Writer Brenda Murphy takes inspiration from the life of her mother for new play Two Sore Legs". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  2. ^ Beattie, Jill (2 March 2015). "Brenda Murphy: Convicted IRA gun runner's latest play hits the stage in Belfast". Belfast live. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  3. ^ Henry, Lee. "Brenda Murphy". Culture Northern Ireland. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  4. ^ McIntosh, Rowena (14 August 2015). "Two Sore Legs". The List. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  5. ^ Thompson, Ricky (29 October 2014). "Writer Brenda Murphy takes inspiration from the life of her mother for new play Two Sore Legs". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  6. ^ "New show from Brenda Murphy is '˜Crazy'". Ballymena Times. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2021.