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Playwright Style
Martin has a unique dynamic style he is known for dark humor,graphic violence, and exploration of Irish Psyche and troubles. He uses traditional Irish storytelling mixed with a modern taste of sensibility. -
Irish vs. British
The conflicts in Northern Ireland- of Irish nationalist and British loyalists in Northern Ireland during late 1960s through 1990s was a major influence on his works like dark, violent plays that often explore the legacy of the troubles during the time. -
Overview
Martin McDonagh was born London, England. He is a British-Irish playwriter and filmmaker. His work includes vibrant dialogues with a mixture of dark humor and violence. Most well-known plays are The Beauty Queen of Leenane (1996), The Cripple of Inishmaan (1996), and The Pillowman (2003). He has won a variety of rewards such as Academy Awards, six BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, three Oliver Awards, and nominated for five Tony Awards. -
Early Life
When he was 12 years old he began questioning his faith after listening to his brother's punk rock records. And when he was 14, he attended his first play a London production of David Mamet’s American Buffalo starring Al Pacino, his favorite actor. Left school at the age of 16 in plans to become a writer same as his brother. -
Childhood
McDonagh and his elder brother is John Michael McDonagh attended roman Catholic schools. Most students were Irish decedents. Spent most summers in Connemara on West coast of Irland, where his father grew up. -
"The Lieutenant of Inishmore"
Takes place in Inishmore, an island off the coast of Ireland, in 1990s. It is centered on a guy named Padraic, a ruthless member of the Irish National Liberation (INLA), a military group. When Padraic is in a mission when he receives news that his beloved cat, Wee Thomas, has died. Which causes him to rush back to Inishmore to investigate the circumstances of the cat's death. While two local men try to cover up the cats death due to them accidentally killing Wee Thomas. Causes him to kill many. -
Playwright Career
His brother left to attend film school in California, which helped him write out 7 plays in about 10 months on his alone time. He the submitted them to theaters but successful one he found with the Druid Theatre, based in Galway, Ireland. His successful play there was named The Beauty Queen of Leenane, the first play in his Leenane Trilogy, premiered in Galway in 1996 in a coproduction by Druid and the Royal Court Theatre Company. -
"The Beauty Queen of Leenane"
This was one of his plays that was played in Druid Theater in Galway. This play is set in a small irish village of Leenane, this story revolves around th dysfunctional relation ship between a middle aged woman named Maureen Folan and her manipulative, aging mother, Mag. Maureen's chance is threatened when she encounters her love life. In which leads to a series of dramatic events. -
"The Cripple of Inishmaan"
This play is is a dark comedy by Martin. The main character is named Cripple Billy, a young man who dreams of escaping his life of isolation. He, and all his fellow islanders hear of a hollywood film team shooting on the nextdoor island and he grows obsessed with getting a part. -
Wins the Laurence Olivier Award
For outstanding play for "The Cripple of Inishmaan," Which proved him to be a significant playwright in the British theater scene. -
A Skull in Connemara
This play takes place in the rural Irish town of Connemara and surrounds itself with a character named Mick Dowd, who is tasked with exhuming and reburying the bones of the local cemetery every seven years, During on of his exhumations, Mick discovers the skull of his late wife, which leads to a series of events that unravel the dark secrets and tensions within small community. This play explores themes of grief, guilt, and complexities of rural Irish community. -
"The Lonesome West"
This play deals with two brothers, Coleman and Valence Connor. In the Irishtown of Leenane, where an accident occurs in which a shotgun results in their fathers death. -
"Six Shooter"
Six Shooter is a film by Martin, a dark comedy film in which this film is about grief and loss. The film opens with a man named Donnelly having a sudden death of his wife one unexpected morning. He then boards a train to embark on his journey, where he encounters a disrespectful young man, which causes tensions to mount. This leads to some comedic moments as the youth's comments clash with the depressing mood of Donnelly. Violence erupts and draws Donnelly in, despite his initial hesitations. -
Wins Academy Award
For best live action short film. This brought even more recognition to his works on an international level. -
"The Pillowman"
This playwright is a chilling psychological thriller that explores the dark and disturbing relationship between art, violence, and power. A writer is interrogated by the police about his series of murders children and a series of real-killing, leading ti the uncovering of his traumatic past harrowing with his mentally disabled brother. The theme of this play explores, black comedy, psychological intensity, the play leaves the audience questioning the nature if violence story telling. -
Love Life
Since 2017, he has been with the actor and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Not much is know about the two he likes to keep his life private. -
Influence
McDonagh has had been heavily influenced by other playwrights of people like J.M. Synge and Samuel Beckett, and like dark comedies such of Harold Pinter. All in which have similar tastes in storytelling that include dark humor, conflicts, terror and more. -
International Acclaims
McDonaghs plays have been produced worldwide and have earned him great recognition with numerous prestigious awards, including multiple Oliver awards and an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. He is considered on the most important Irish playwrights of his generation. -
Quote
"If you've got time to waste, you might as well waste it listening to people." -Martin McDonagh -
Work Cited
.https://www.azquotes.com/author/48922-Martin_McDonagh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pillowman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_McDonagh
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-McDonagh
https://www.thestage.org/media/martin-mcdonagh
https://www.playbill.com/person/martin-mcdonagh-vault-0000026898
https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Martin-McDonagh/