The Playboy of the Western World by J M Synge

This classic Irish play from 1907 is a favourite to this day for its drama, wit and whimsy.

Christy Mahon is a young man who enters Flaherty’s, a tavern on County Mayo’s west coast. He makes an outrageous claim. Despite the villainous nature of the claim, the townsfolk – particularly the women – are enraptured by Christy’s storytelling abilities and natural charm.

When it was published, Synge’s play became both popular and reviled for its depiction of Irish characters. The lack of a moral voice, and the fact the characters are more occupied and thrilled with the controversy rather than with revulsion saw many protest the play’s staging, with riots breaking out at several theatres.