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The new theatre found itself a great popular success, with large crowds turning out for most productions. It was also fortunate in having, in Synge, one of the foremost English-language dramatists of the day as a key member. The theatre also staged plays by eminent or soon to be eminent authors including Yeats, Lady Gregory, Moore, Martyn, [[Padraic Colum]], [[Oliver St John Gogarty]], [[F. R. Higgins]], [[Thomas MacDonagh]], (one of the leaders of the [[Easter Rebellion]] in [[1916]]), [[T. C. Murray]] and [[Lennox Robinson]]. Many of these authors also served on the board, with the result that the Abbey gained an enduring reputation as a writers' theatre
However, things were to take a turn for the worst in [[January]] [[1907]] with the opening of his ''The Playboy of the Western World''. Egged on by [[Irish nationalism|nationalists]] who believed that the theatre was not sufficiently political and with the pretext of a perceived slight on the virtue of Irish womanhood in the use of the word 'shift', a significant portion of the crowd rioted, causing the remainder of the play to be acted out in dumbshow. Nationalist ire was further provoked by the decision to call in the police. Although press opinion soon turned against the rioters and the protests (now known as ''the Playboy riots'') petered out, the Abbey was shaken and Synge's next (and last completed) play ''The Tinker's Wedding'' ([[1908]]) was not staged for fear of further disturbances.
That same year, the Fay brothers' association with the theatre ended when they emigrated to the [[United States]] and the day-to-day management of the theatre became the responsibility of Lennox Robinson. On [[May 7]], [[1910]], when all the other theatres in the city closed as a mark of respect on the death of the king, [[Edward VII]], Robinson kept the Abbey open. The relationship with Annie Horniman was already strained, and when she found out about Robinsons decision, she decided to finally sever her connection with the Abbey. By her own estimate, she had spent £10,350 of her own money on the project, a considerable sum for the time.
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