McDonagh Plans Return to Stage Work with 'Behanding'

Oscar winning and Tony nominated playwright Martin McDonagh has not abandoned the stage as feared, as he has focused on more film work recently, The New York Times has revealed that he has finished a new play and is eager to see it staged.

The new work, titled A Behanding in Spokane, is set in 'small town America', a change from McDonagh's usual locale of Ireland. The Times describes the story as "a man in his mid- to late -40's who is missing his left hand and needless to say, wants it back".

The Times reports that the play includes "blood, gore, a bomb and the dark humor" McDonagh has become famous for, there is no exact information at present regarding when or where the production will debut.

McDonagh was nominated this past week for best original screenplay for 'In Bruges' his comedy-thriller starring Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell. He also directed the film.

To read the entire New York Times article, click here.

Martin McDonagh was born in London in 1971 to expatriate Irish parents. His plays include "The Lonesome West" (Tony nominee, Best Play 1999), "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" (Tony nominee, Best Play 1999), "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" (Olivier Award winner, Best Comedy 2003) and "The Pillowman" which was a Tony nominee for Best Play 2005 and an Olivier Award winner in 2004. He has been resident playwright at the Royal National Theatre in London, and has won numerous awards, including the Evening Standard Award and Critics' Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright and four Tony Awards for "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" when it opened on Broadway. Other works include "Suicide on Sixth Street", "Shit on Illinois", "Seven Psychopaths", "In Bruges" starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson and "Six-Shooter" (Oscar, Best Short 2006).