Prisoner of the Crown at the Irish Repertory Theatre

The Irish Repertory Theatre Company, Inc. present Prisoner of the Crown, by Richard F. Stockton, opening at the Irish Repertory Theatre on 22 May 2008, following previews from 14 May and running through to 6 Jul 2008.

Prisoner of the Crown: A broad and bitter indictment of judicial abuse, is the story of the trial of Sir Roger Casement, an Irish patriot and one of the world's great humanitarians. A few short years after being knighted, Casement was sentenced to be hanged for treason in what was called, 'The Trial of the Century.'

The sensational trial was tainted by the presence of the 'Black Diaries,' -an alleged explicit account of Casement's promiscuous homosexual lifestyle. Were the diaries real? Or, were they, as many believed, forged by the crown forces determined that he pay the ultimate price for his role in the Easter, 1916 uprising?

The play, set in the jury room of the Old Bailey and in the minds of the jury, features 49 characters and paints a picture of heroism, passion, and manipulative deception.

Directed by Ciar�n O�Reilly, Prisoner of the Crown features Peter Cormican, Patrick Fitzgerald, Philip Goodwin, Emma O'Donnell, Tim Ruddy, Ian Stuart, John Vennema and John Windsor-Cunningham.

The creative team comprises Charlie Corcoran (sets), David Toser (costume), Brian Nason (lighting) and (Zachary Williamson).