Abbey Theatre: Difference between revisions

{{short description|National Theatre of Ireland, Dublin, origins tied to the Irish Literary Revival}}

{{EngvarBUse Hiberno-English|date=October 2013}}

Annie Horniman, a British theatre enthusiast and manager, was essential in the creation of the Abbey TheaterTheatre, as she was its first significant patron and the woman who offered the edifice in which it would later be established. She was first brought in by Yeats as a costume designer for his play ''The King's Threshold'', as she greatly loved his art and it was also a way for him to get closer to her.<ref name="int 115">{{Cite book|title=Ireland's National Theaters: Political Performance and the Origins of the Irish Dramatic Movement|pages=115}}</ref> Yeats's long relationship with her and her love for theatre made her more likely to accept to become a permanent patron and, by 1901, her money was secured. Her support was so important that he already had a role for her in the Abbey Theatre before it was even created.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Behind the Scenes: Yeats, Horniman and the Struggle for the Abbey Theatre|pages=46–49}}</ref> However, by the time the ITL became the INTS, Yeats had to assure her that her money would not be used to fund a Nationalist rebellion.

The [[Abbey School of Acting]] was set up thatin year1911.{{when|date=April 2024}} The Abbey School of Ballet was established in 1927 by [[Ninette de Valois]] — who had provided choreography for a number of Yeats' plays – and ran until 1933.<ref>Sorley Walker, Kathrine. "The Festival and the Abbey: Ninette de Valois' Early Choreography, 1925–1934, Part One". ''Dance Chronicle'', Volume&nbsp;7, No.&nbsp;4, 1984–85. pp.&nbsp;379–412.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Pinciss|first=G.M.|date=December 1969|title=A Dancer for Mr. Yeats|journal=Educational Theatre Journal|volume=21|issue=4|pages=386–391|jstor=3205567|doi=10.2307/3205567}}</ref>

After discussions about new locations in the Docklands, on O'Connell Street and elsewhere, it was decided to redevelop the Abbey in situ. Hence, in September 2012, the Abbey Theatre purchased 15-17 Eden Quay,<ref>{{cite news|last=Crawley |first=Peter |title=Downtown Abbey |url=http://www.irishtheatremagazine.ie/News/Current/Downtown-Abbey.aspx |work=News |publisher=[[Irish Theatre Magazine]] |access-date=20 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610223838/http://www.irishtheatremagazine.ie/News/Current/Downtown-Abbey.aspx |archive-date=10 June 2015}}</ref> and in 2016, 22-23 Eden Quay. With a budget of up to 80 million euroeuros mentioned, including capital funding from the central government, the plan is to remove the existing building and build on the combined site, creating two new theatre spaces, of 700 and 250 seats, along with a restaurant, modern rehearsal spaces, and new offices. The new theatre would open onto the [[River Liffey|Liffey]] quays.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shortall |first1=Eithne |title=Curtain up on Dublin's €80m new-look Abbey Theatre in 2021 |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/curtain-up-on-dublin-s-80m-new-look-abbey-theatre-in-2021-btwqbbb2n |access-date=13 November 2018 |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=1 July 2018 |archive-date=13 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113170033/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/curtain-up-on-dublin-s-80m-new-look-abbey-theatre-in-2021-btwqbbb2n |url-status=live }}</ref> As of March 2023, the plans for the redevelopment had not yet been finalised and an application for planning permission had not yet been submitted.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dublin/2023/03/13/plans-for-12-storey-abbey-theatre-scaled-back-following-planning-meetings/|title=Plans for 12-storey Abbey Theatre scaled back following planning meetings|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref>