Borstal Boy (play)

Borstal Boy
Written byBrendan Behan (novel)
Frank McMahon (play)
Characters
  • Young Behan
  • Charlie Millwall
  • Brendan Behan
  • Mr. Whitbread
  • Mrs. Gildea
  • Hartigan
  • Harty
  • I.R.A. Men
Date premiered1967
Place premieredAbbey Theatre
Dublin, Ireland
Original languageEnglish
Subject 
GenreDrama, Romance
SettingLiverpool; Dublin, 1939

Borstal Boy is a play adapted by Frank McMahon from the 1958 autobiographical novel of Irish nationalist Brendan Behan of the same title. The play debuted in 1967 at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, with Frank Grimes as the young Behan. McMahon won a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award in 1970 and Tony Award in 1970 for his adaptation.