The Abbey's exuberant production of Kavanagh's Tarry Flynn, adapted and directed by Conal Morrison, has been invited to this year's Edinburgh Festival. Nothing is agreed yet, according to the Abbey's Artistic Director, Patrick Mason. "We're looking at the financial implications of bringing over such a big show, with its huge cast, but both sides are trying to make it happen." Recent sightings of the international producers, Cameron MacIntosh and Hal Prince, in the audience have been prompting speculation, and the Abbey confirms that a number of London venues are interested in the show, with inquiries also from Australia and the US - "all of which are being investigated". Patrick Mason is "thrilled at this development. I feel that it is a recognition of the new generation of talent coming through."

Meanwhile, the McDonagh phenomenon continues apace, as Druid Theatre Company's production of The Leenane Trilogy is currently attracting capacity audiences and enthusiastic critical responses at the Sydney Festival. The performances by the whole company have been highly praised, particularly those of Marie Mullen, Brian Byrne - who appears in all three works - and above all, actor, dramaturg and director, Maeliosa Stafford, described by James Waites of The Sydney Morning Herald as "one of the world's best stage actors". In The Australian, John McCallum writes that Martin McDonagh's "biggest success is to provide some superb material for an excellent cast who transform it into something quite marvellous". Boosted by this, and by the Trilogy's string of nominations for The Irish Times/ESB Irish Theatre Awards, the company will move on to New York with The Beauty Queen Of Leenane, which opens on February 26th.