Irish Drama and Theatre Since 1950

Drawing on major new archival discoveries and recent research, Patrick Lonergan presents an innovative, highly readable and informative account of Irish drama and theatre since 1950. The book focuses on the many Irish dramatists, actors and directors who have achieved international prominence during that period, starting with Beckett, Siobhan McKeanna and Brendan Behan in the 1950s, continuing with Brian Friel and Tom Murphy, and concluding with the many great playwrights who emerged in the late 1990s, including Martin McDonagh, Enda Walsh, Conor McPherson and Marina Carr. The book also explores the contribution to world theatre of major Irish companies, focusing not just on the Abbey and Gate theatres, but also on such groups as Druid, Field Day and Charabanc. Irish Drama and Theatre since 1950 provides a wide-ranging account of major developments combined with case studies of the premiere or revival of major plays, the establishment of new companies and the influence of international work and artists, including Tennessee Williams, Chekhov and Brecht.

This book draws on newly released documents – including the Abbey Theatre Archive, Druid archive and Friel papers – to provide an insight into the full production process, bringing to light the contributions of directors, designers, actors and of course audiences too. Readers will understand Irish theatre in its social and cultural contexts, seeing how the production and reception of Irish plays has been influenced by such issues as internationalization, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Celtic Tiger period, the Irish language, and the changing status of the Catholic Church in Ireland.