Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre has announced the world premiere of Fighting Irish from 2-16 April, a play by local first-time writer Jamie McGough. 

Co-directed by the Belgrade’s new Creative Director Corey Campbell and former Artistic Director Hamish Glen, the play tells the extraordinary true story of the rise and fall in fortunes of the McGough family.

It’s 1979. Coventry’s newest boxing star returns to the National Stadium in Dublin to defend his Irish light-heavyweight title but ends up facing more than one fearsome challenger to his crown. Prejudice, corrupt officials and warring factions in Ireland cause a chaotic event that pushes family unity to the brink.

“I have to fight everyone – opponents, referees, judges. I’m Irish in England, English in Ireland. Who am I?”

Fighting Irish will be the penultimate show in the Belgrade’s Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 programme. It will be staged in-the-round to emulate a boxing ring, in the Belgrade’s B2 auditorium.

To buy your ring-side seats, please click here.