The Fifth Step - (Modern Plays) by David Ireland (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The point is to divest yourself of shame... It's about getting clean.

Thirty something Luka is new to Alcoholics Anonymous and looking for a sponsor.? James is older, has been in the programme for years, surely he's the perfect person to shepherd the younger man through each of the twelve steps on the road to recovery. Or maybe life just isn't that simple.

In a programme that requires both of them to come to terms with their past, can Luka and James face their transgressions to find a new way of living

The Fifth Step is David Ireland's grimly comic, provocative new play about men, intimacy and what we choose to put our faith in.

This edition was published to coincide with the National Theatre of Scotland's production at the Edinburgh International Festival, in August 2024.

About the Author

David Ireland is from Belfast and trained as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. His first play, WHAT THE ANIMALS SAY, was produced at Oran Mor, Glasgow in 2009. His other plays include EVERYTHING BETWEEN US (Tinderbox, Belfast) which won the Stewart Parker Award and the Meyer-Whitworth Award, THE END OF HOPE (Oran Mor), HALF A GLASS OF WATER (Field Day), YES SO I SAID YES (Ransom Productions, Belfast), CAN'T FORGET ABOUT YOU (Lyric, Belfast) and I PROMISE YOU SEX AND VIOLENCE (Northern Stage, Newcastle). In 2015, he adapted Lorca's BLOOD WEDDING for Dundee Rep and Graeae. His 2016 play CYPRUS AVENUE (Royal Court London/Abbey Theatre Dublin/Public Theatre NYC) won the Irish Times Award for Best New Play and the James Tait Black Award for Drama and in 2018 ULSTER AMERICAN (Traverse, Edinburgh) won a Scotsman Fringe First, the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh award and the Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland Award for Best New Play. He lives in Glasgow with his wife Jennifer and his children Ada and Elijah.