Irish Drama, (12 Weeks), GAYLEY
W 2025

Is it true that many great playwrights are Irish? If so, what makes Ireland a fertile ground for producing them?

There are many reasons why Ireland has produced so many prominent contemporary playwrights. Some of the factors that have contributed to Ireland’s rich theatrical tradition include:

a) Ireland’s strong oral storytelling tradition: Ireland has a long history of oral storytelling, which has influenced its literary and theatrical traditions.

b) The influence of Irish nationalism: The Irish nationalist movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries led to a revival of Irish language, culture, and literature.

c) The establishment of the Abbey Theatre: The Abbey Theatre, which was founded in 1904, played a key role in fostering and promoting Irish drama.

d) And Government support for the arts.

In this 12 week SDG, we will read twelve plays by ten Irish playwrights going back to 1904. These plays represent a wide range of styles, themes, and historical periods, and each one offers rich opportunities for discussion and analysis.

1. John Bull’s Other Island by George Bernard Shaw, 1904
   
2. The Playboy of the Western World by J.M. Synge, 1907
3. Juno and the Paycock by Sean O’Casey, 1924
4. Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, 1953
5. A Whistle in the Dark by Tom Murphy, 1961
6. The Weir by Conor McPherson, 1997
7. By the Bog of Cats by Marina Carr, 1998
8. Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel, 1998
9. Misterman, Enda, Walsh, 2011
10. The Night Alive by Conor McPherson, 2013
11. Hangman, Martin McDonagh, 2015
12. The Banshees of Inisherin, Martin McDonagh, 2023

Harrington, John P., “Modern and Contemporary Irish Drama”, w W  Norton & Company, 2009

and few single plays