Brian Friel Plays 1, introduced by Seamus Deane Frank McGuinness Plays 1, introduced by the author (Faber & Faber, £8.99 each in UK)

The Friel plays are Philodelphia, Here I Come, The Freedom of the City, Living Quarters, Translations. The McGuinness collection includes The Factory Girls, Observe the Sons of Ulster March Towards The Somme, Innocence, Baglady. Seamus Deane's thoughtful introduction dates from 1984, while McGuinness's own brief (three pages long) intro. gains by being new and up to date. Very sensibly, the editions employ a fairly large and very legible typeface.