The Market Place Theatre in Armagh is set for enthralling drama from Brendan Behan and musical reminiscence with the songs of Joe Dolan.

pBrendan Behan’s ‘The Hostage’ tells the tale of a decaying lodging house in Dublin in the 1950s, host to a large collection of whores, decaying civil servants, skivvies, navvies, fanatics and Russian sailors. These are tense times as a young IRA volunteer is about to be hanged in Belfast. Despite this, the party and shenanigans continue in the house in the form of song, dance, stories and the outplaying of relationships. Suddenly into this already crazed mix arrives a young British soldier, kidnapped by the IRA for the life of the young man in Belfast. As the hours to the execution shorten, the motley crew in the house rally to the young soldier’s side. Can fate be avoided?

‘The Hostage’ will be staged at The Market Place on Wednesday 18^th and Thursday 19^th November at 8pm by one of Northern Ireland’s leading amateur theatre companies, Newpoint Players, who are now entering their 70th year. Tickets are priced £10 and £8 (concession).

‘My Brother Joe’ is a live concert show featuring Ben Dolan, brother of the late and much loved entertainer Joe Dolan. Throughout his singing career Joe Dolan’s energetic and charismatic stage performances thrilled audiences throughout the world. His brother Ben shared the stage with his younger brother for forty-seven fun-filled years. Who better than Ben to tell the stories behind Joe’s songs and highlight Joe’s successful singing career. The show also features Ben’s daughter Sandra, and his two sons, Adrian and Raymond and their own band ‘Karen And The Dolans’.

’No Show Like A Joe Show’ was always used to describe Joe’s live shows. ‘My Brother Joe’ recreates that excitement as we relive the songs and stories of the great Joe Dolan on Friday 20^th November at 8pm. Tickets are priced £20 each.

Details of all events can be found online at www.marketplacearmagh.com, and tickets can be booked by contacting the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821. And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.