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The Abbey Theatre

The Abbey Theatre was founded as Ireland’s national theatre, by W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory in 1904 “to bring upon the stage the deeper emotions of Ireland”. Although written more than a hundred years ago, this is still the kernel of what constitutes the artistic imperative for the Abbey Theatre today.

Details about productions and the theatre’s history may be found here.

The Abbey Theatre website features a searchable production database, which provides detailed information about the theatre’s repertoire. 

The Abbey Theatre archivist is Mairéad Delaney. Details about how to make an appointment to consult the archive may be found here.

NUI Galway houses the Abbey Theatre Digital Archive, which is available for consultation at the Library in NUI Galway.

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  1. Abbey Theatre Archives
  2. Abbey actor Kathleen Drago, c. 1912
  3. Shields collection
  4. Shields collection
  5. Shields collection
  6. Shields collection
  7. Members of the Abbey company take the opportunity to unboard the train while a rock is moved from the tracks, American tour, 1938
  8. Ticket for the opening night of the Peacock Theatre, 13 Nov 1927
  9. Opening night programme, 1904
  10. John Millington Synge, 1905
  11. Easter Week Poster, 1916
  12. Barry Fitzgerald as Fluther in The Plough and the Stars by Sean O'Casey, 1920s
  13. Maire O'Neill as Pegeen Mike in the premiere of The Playboy of the Western World by John Millington Synge, Abbey Theatre, 1907
  14. W.B. Yeats, 1911