Studies on the contemporary Irish theatre

This book begins with one of the most illustrious representatives of contemporary Irish theatre, Brian Friel, with whom Nicholas Grene explores different modes of truth through an analysis of some of his greatest plays such as The Freedom of the City, Faith Healer or Dancing at Lughnasa. Terence Brown studies the role of music in Stewart Parker's theatre, his vision of Belfast, his hometown, which extends to the history of the province and Ireland. Lynda Henderson highlights the problematic relationships that, in Tom Murphy's early plays, connect the inner and outer worlds until, from The Gigli Concert onwards, the former clearly prevails. Selflessness is, in Thomas Kilroy's theatre, explains Barbara Hayley, the only way for certain personalities to assert themselves. As for the themes of Frank McGuinness' work, according to the playwright himself, they are loss, despair, failure, violence, damnation, death and fear of suicide; at the same time he wanted to create "A theatre of celebration". Seamus Heaney's poetic drama, The Cure at Troy, led Colin Meir to an account of the performance at the Lyric Players Theatre in Belfast in October 1990, followed by an analysis of the text. Christopher Murray finally chose to study the themes of less famous playwrights, most of whom are young people, who may be the big names of tomorrow. Thus this book offers us a broad overview of theatre production in contemporary Ireland.