Southwark Playhouse revives Brenda Behan’s most famous play, The Hostage.

It is 1958, and news that a young IRA man has been sentenced to death by the British reaches the whores, sailors, pimps and revolutionaries who reside in a seedy Dublin boarding house. In retaliation, the IRA captures a Cockney soldier and brings him to the house. Tension mounts until the execution hour arrives and, with an explosive finale, the hostage’s fate is decided.

With sharp dialogue, black humour, live Irish music and dance, The Hostage explores the play’s themes of prejudice and terrorism.