Born: Co Armagh.
Education: St Patricks College, Armagh; abandoned literature and philosophy at Edinburgh University within a year; later returned to formal study and completed a BA degree in theatre studies at Liverpool Polytechnic.
Age: 32
Occupation: Theatre director; one of two associate directors of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
Why in the news? His production of The Colleen Bawn opened to a standing ovation at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin this week; his award-winning stage adaptation of Tarry Flynn opens shortly at the National Theatre in London.
