Download Theatre in Context: The Dublin Stage 1900–1961

Theatre in Context: The Dublin Stage 1900–1961
The establishment and early years of the Abbey Theatre are well documented; less is
known about the overall theatrical scene in Dublin at that time and in succeeding
decades. The object of this one-semester course is to explore the Dublin stage from the
closing years of the nineteenth century, when melodrama was the dominant form of
popular culture, through to the 1950s and 60s, a period that saw the opening of the Gate
and Pike Theatres, the first Dublin Theatre Festival, and the emergence of new
playwrights such as Tom Murphy. Each class will focus closely on a significant play of
the period, but the text will be considered in its overall cultural, theatrical and political
contexts. A range of theatrical elements from staging to reviews will be examined in an
attempt to capture the essence of each production in its own time. Sessions will consist
of an introductory lecture followed by a seminar. Assessment will be in two parts: one
research exercise and one essay.
Texts
Bernard Shaw, John Bull’s Other Island (1907 and 1916)
Lennox Robinson, The Whiteheaded Boy (1916)
Sean O’Casey, The Plough and the Stars (1926)
Denis Johnston, The Old Lady Says No (1929)
Teresa Deevy, Katie Roche (1936)
Paul Vincent Carroll, Shadow and Substance (1937)
George Shiels, The Rugged Path (1940) and The Summit (1941)
Maura Laverty, Liffey Lane and Tolka Row (1951)
Brendan Behan, The Quare Fellow (1954)
Tom Murphy, A Whistle in the Dark (1961)
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course a student should be able to:
1. Identify and describe the main theatrical developments on the Dublin stage from the
late nineteenth-century until the 1960s.
2. Analyse and interpret dramatic texts using appropriate critical skills and vocabulary.
3. Explore the cultural, theatrical and political contexts informing the plays.
4. Undertake research by using available resources such as bibliographies, archives
and online material.
5. Further develop existing writing and analytical skills.
For further information please contact me at [email protected]
Deirdre McFeely