Play by Belfast playwright receives three nominations in New York

Stones In His Pocket, by the Belfast playwright Marie Jones, has been nominated for three Tony awards in New York.

It opened at the Golden Theatre on 45th Street and Broadway on April 1st and has received excellent reviews, according to its Irish producer, Ms Pat Moylan.

Yesterday, with the announcement of Tony nominees, the play's two actors, Sean Campion and Conleth Hill, each received nominations for the best actor award, while the play's director, Ian McElhinney, was nominated for the best director award.

The 55th Tony awards will be announced on June 3rd.

These nominations are just the latest recognition received by this comedy since it opened at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast in February 1999.

In February 2000, Conleth Hill won the Irish Times/ESB best actor award, while the play also won the best production award.

Last December it won the Evening Standard best new comedy award in London, where it is still running at the Duke of York Theatre in the West End.

In February 2001, Conleth Hill was best actor and the play best new comedy in the Olivier Awards.

Currently Kieran Lagan and Kieran Creggan are playing the two roles in the London production.

Ms Jones, who is married to the play's director, Ian McElhinney, has also had great success with A Night in November and Women on the Verge of HRT.