Marina Carr is not only one of the finest women playwrights of her generation, but simply one of the finest playwrights of any generation. Marina’s work is infused with a rawness, a dynamism and an energy unlike almost any other contemporary playwright. From plays like The Mai to By the Bog of Cats and On Raftery’s Hill, her plays are private, personal epics, heavily influenced by the Greek classics and at the same time uniquely contemporary and Irish. Marina’s work is linguistically brave and forceful, and is beautifully rendered and passionate. In short, Marina Carr’s work represents everything that great theatre should be.

Orlaith McBride is director of the Arts Council