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Theatre - Public in theatre
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Theatre - Artists on stage
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Most
of the largest towns in Ireland have their own theatres (Dublin and
Belfast obviously, but also Cork, Derry, Limerick, Galway and Donegal).
Theatre in Ireland is almost as important as literature, both having
quite a long history. In Dublin, the first theatre was created in 1637
but was soon closed by the Puritans. Another theatre (the Theatre
Royal) opened in 1661 and lasted for over a century. The Abbey Theatre,
which is the National Theatre of Ireland, was established during |
the
literary revival in the 19th century. The Abbey Theatre is dedicated to
staging works of great Irish classic playwrights such as WB Yeats,
George Bernard Shaw, JM Synge or Sean O’Casey. The Gate Theatre also
presents classics, and comedies. The Gaiety and the Olympia Theatres
(like the Grand Opera House in Belfast) usually present a wide range of
creations, being classic or not. There are many Irish contemporary
playwrights. Frank McGuinness is probably the most talented of them,
and has written many plays since his début in the 1970s. One of his
major works, The Carthaginians, focuses on the consequences of the
tragical events of 1972 in Derry known as The Bloody Sunday, on the
local people. Inspired by romantic rural Irish idyll, Martin McDonagh
is another famous young playwright. His works include The Leenane
Trilogy. Brian Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa was a huge success and a
film has even been made out of the play. Other talented contemporary
artists in this category include Conor McPherson (The Weir), Donal
O’Kelly (Catalpa) and Enda Walsh (Disco Pigs). |
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