Irish Theatre: A Writer’s Theatre

Although Irish theatre is often considered to be primarily a writer’s theatre, with its roots in a realist tradition, Irish theatre since 1960 has consistently challenged this definition through the work of its directors and designer. Whether in the case of Tomás Mac Anna’s work at the Abbey in the mid-1960s, Joe Dowling’s production of Juno and the Paycock , or the collaborative work of Patrick Mason with writer Tom MacIntyre and actor Tom Hickey in the 1980s, contemporary Irish theatre has equally been shaped by its directors. Likewise, although less heralded, designers such as Bronwen Casson, Frank Conway, Wendy Shea, Joe Vanek, and Robert Ballagh played a crucial role in the development of a contemporary Irish theatre. This chapter considers their work, focusing on key examples from influential productions.