Stewart Love Plays Set For Revival

Prolific playwright Stewart Love, the man whose work epitomised the 'angry young men' era of Belfast in the 60s, has had his first collection of plays published.

Realising that his work has captured a distinct era, Love hopes that this collection will appeal to local drama clubs, drama students, teachers and anyone interested in social history.

The still active writer, who has eight television plays, 14 radio plays and 21 stage plays already to his credit, helped to give voice to an entire generation of men who struggled to define themselves against the background of their changing roles, sexual mores and overall identity.

Some of the most famous local and English actors appeared in Love's plays, such as veteran actors Jimmy Ellis and Prime Suspect star Tom Bell.

Jimmy Ellis - pictured here meeting Love - is to give the opening remarks at the launch of the collection this Friday night at the Linenhall Library, when a short act from The Randy Dandy will be performed by the Southbank Theatre Group.

The four plays included in the Stewart Love Selected Plays, published by Lagan Press in association with the Arts Council for Northern Ireland, are: The Randy Dandy, The Big Long Bender, The Big Donkey and Me Oul Segocia and all are set in Belfast.

Some of Love's plays, particularly The Randy Dandy were seen as 'racy', despite being innocent by today’s standards.

When it was broadcast on local television, it necessitated pre-broadcast announcements advising viewers of a 'nervous disposition' not to watch.

A former teacher, Love recalled some of the local comment at that time: "It's almost unbelievable to me that some my plays were thought as racy or in some way naughty.

"That was never my intent, I just wrote about what I thought would make a good play and what I knew about," he said.

Now retired, Love is working on two new plays and still takes great delight when his work is performed.

"The most I ever made was half my teaching salary one year so I definitely didn't write for the money.

"But it was a great artistic outlet and I loved to be involved with the various productions and the actors.

"I'm very proud that some great actors, like Jimmy Ellis, got their first big break in one of my plays," he concluded, noting that the book, Stewart Love Selected Plays is available from all good book shops and on line from the publisher Lagan Press at www.lagan-press.org.uk

(BMcC/GK)