TOM Murphy's play, Bailegangaire, opens at the Royal Court Theatre, London on April 17th to be followed by two other Murphy works later this year - The Wake in its world premiere and the playwright's first play, Whistle In The Dark - in what is described by the Royal Court as "a celebration of one of the greatest living writers".

The cast for Bailegangaire includes Brid Brennan as Mary, Rosaleen Linehan as Mommo and Ruth McCabe as Dolly. The director is London based, James McDonald.

The theatre is having a "totally Irish year" with the Leenane Trilogy by Martin McDonagh to be directed by Garry Hynes scheduled for July, Conor Mc Pherson's The Weir also in July and another play by the same playwright also planned for the summer.