Christine Madden reports on how the Abbey Theatre is celebrating its centenery.
New work A broad selection of new work, some by first-time playwrights, forms perhaps the most interesting part of the Abbey centenary programme. Two elements of the Abbey and Europe season are new versions of classic works by towering figures in Irish literature. Tom Murphy has created a new version of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, directed by Patrick Mason, coming to the Abbey in February. And Seamus Heaney has a new take on Sophocles's Antigone, called The Burial At Thebes, directed by Lorraine Pintal.
Another well-known writer, Colm Tóibín, presents his first foray into theatre at the Peacock in August with Beauty In A Broken Place, directed by Niall Henry, in which Sean O'Casey recounts the events surrounding the première of The Plough And The Stars.
In keeping with its mission to bring new dramatic work and new playwrights to the stage, the Peacock has commissioned a selection of pieces.
Peter Sheridan's new play, Finders Keepers, directed by Martin Drury, opens on February 2nd. Defender Of The Faith, the first foray into writing for the stage by the radio and television producer Stuart Carolan, comes to the Peacock in March under the direction of Wilson Milam. Eugene O'Brien follows up his tremendously successful Eden with a new work, Savoy, directed by Conall Morrison. And Paul
Mercier writes and directs Smokescreen in December.
Repertoire To honour its socio-political history, the Abbey is presenting a series of plays closely associated with its image and development as Ireland's national theatre. Crossing the autumn months and included as part of Dublin Theatre Festival, the plays cover a century of Irish drama.
The look back begins slightly earlier, in the summer, with Ben Barnes's interpretation of Synge's The Playboy Of The Western World, one of the plays most readily identified with Ireland. The Abbey will also take it on international tour, as it will Barnes's production of The Gigli Concert. An acclaimed element of the Tom Murphy season at the Abbey during the 2001 theatre festival, The Gigli Concert returns to the Abbey main stage for the Abbey and Ireland season, alongside Bernard Farrell's I Do Not Like Thee, Dr Fell, directed by Martin Drury.
Observe The Sons Of Ulster Marching Towards The Somme, the play for which Frank McGuinness is perhaps best known, also returns, under the direction of Robin Lefevre.
Further plays from the repertory come to the Peacock. A trio of historic dramas - Riders To The Sea, by Synge, Purgatory by W. B. Yeats and The Dandy Dolls by George Fitzmaurice, all directed by Conall Morrison - forms an unusual triple bill. Drama At Inish, a play by Lennox Robinson first produced in 1933, will be directed by Jim Nolan. And a modern classic, Marina Carr's Portia Coughlan, directed by Brian Brady, rounds off the season with Ireland's most famous woman playwright.
Readings A series of one-off readings will broaden the spectrum of the Abbey's cross section of Irish theatre history. Taking place during Dublin Theatre Festival, it is a chance to revisit or get acquainted with old favourites, with a representative play chosen from each decade of the Abbey's existence.
Pieces by Lady Gregory and George Bernard Shaw head the list: Spreading The News and The Shewing-Up Of Blanco Posnet. Representing the first half of the century, the works Autumn Fire by T. C. Murray, The Moon In The Yellow River by Denis Johnston, The Passing Day by George Shiels, The King Of Friday's Men by M. J. Molloy and Home Is The Hero by Walter Macken continue the series.
In the second half of the 20th century, Tom Kilroy's The Death And Resurrection Of Mr Roche, Hugh Leonard's Time Was, Prayers Of Sherkin by Sebastian Barry and Give Me Your Answer, Do! by Brian Friel bring us up to date.
