Chronicles Of Long Kesh tells the story of Northern Ireland’s infamous prison Long Kesh/The Maze, from its opening in 1971 to the day it closed in July 2000 as a result of the Good Friday Agreement.

While dealing with all the major events at the prison such as the 1974 burning of the camp, the dirty protest, the hunger strike and the great escape, Chronicles Of Long Kesh also explores the individual experiences of the inmates. Who were these people? What kind of impact did imprisonment have on their lives and that of their families? What kind of impact did it have on the prison officers?

Chronicles Of Long Kesh playwright Martin Lynch interviewed over 40 ex-prisoners, prison officers, welfare workers and families before penning his play which explores the human impact of the prison.  Thousands of men – prisoners and prison officers – spent the best years of their lives in Long Kesh/The Maze; most lifers spent an average of 17 years behind bars, usually between the ages of 18 and 35.

Chronicles Of Long Kesh, which is packed with wild, irreverent humour and 1960s Motown tunes, was originally a hit at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival.

For more about Chronicles Of Long Kesh at the Tricycle theatre, read the First Night Feature or our exlusive piece by playwright Martin Lynch.