Fighting Irish makes its world premiere in B2 this April. Ahead of the show, we've got five facts you didn't know about the play's writer, Jamie McGough.
This April, we present the world premiere of Fighting Irish in B2, marking the Belgrade’s penultimate production for Coventry UK City of Culture 2021.
The incredible true story about one family’s fight for identity is directed by our newly appointed Creative Director, Corey Campbell, and is the debut play from Coventry writer, Jamie McGough.
Ahead of the show making its world premiere in just a few weeks’ time, we’ve got five interesting facts you might not know about Jamie McGough.
1. Fighting Irish is the story of Jamie’s own family
Fighting Irish follows boxing brothers Jarlath, Sean, Martin and Jimmy McGough. Having become the youngest ever Irish light-heavyweight champion in 1978, Jarlath returns to Dublin the following year to defend his title.
The warring factions in Ireland mean that he faces more than one fearsome challenger upon his return, forcing him to ask the question, “I’m Irish in England, English in Ireland. Who am I?”
Jimmy, the youngest of the four brothers, is Jamie McGough’s father.
2. Jamie is a national and international boxing champion
Having grown up in a family of well-known boxers, Jamie has always been immersed in the culture of boxing, and dreamed of becoming a boxer himself.
Jamie began taking boxing lessons at the age of nine. As he started competing, he lost 18 of his first 24 fights, but soon went on a big winning streak and eventually won a national title and boxed for England.
3. Jamie’s nan, Eileen, was the inspiration behind telling their family story on stage
Eileen McGough was the storyteller of Jamie’s family, and encouraged him to share their remarkable family story through his playwriting.
Shortly after the pandemic began, Eileen sadly died on 2nd April 2020. Coincidentally, Fighting Irish makes its premiere in on 2nd April 2022, marking the two year anniversary of Eileen’s death.
4. Jamie took part in the Belgrade Theatre and Paines Plough’s Writers Programme last summer, as part of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021
During the summer of 2021, Jamie McGough was chosen to take part in a writer’s programme from a partnership between the Belgrade and Paines Plough during the Roundabout residency in Wood End, Coventry.
During this 10-week programme, Jamie wrote and performed a brand new pay called The Final Bell.
5. Jamie used to be a Box Office Assistant at the Belgrade!
In the not-so-distant past, Jamie used to be part of the Belgrade’s Box Office team. He enjoyed his time here immensely and learned a lot about the theatre industry, but left to pursue his writing and now makes his professional writing debut in our B2 auditorium this spring.
Fighting Irish makes its world premiere in B2 from Sat 2 – Sat 16 April. Tickets are selling fast, so book yours now!