Commemorate the centenary of the production of The Plough and the Stars at GPO Museum with this special guided tour.
Giving you a fascinating insight into Dublin’s revolutionary cultural life and artistic scene in the early 20th century, this tour will discuss how key players like William Butler Yeats, Lady Augusta Gregory and John Millington Synge re-shaped the way Irish identity was portrayed on stage in Ireland and around the world.
Follow the stories of the actors, writers, and theatre workers who created a revolution on the stage and then decided to, “live the things that I have before imagined,” during Easter week 1916. We’ll uncover how their lives and Ireland were impacted by their actions. Find out which actor was labelled, “the most dangerous woman in Ireland,” by British authorities; and which actor Seán O’Casey described as “young and maybe dangerous…for like Robespierre, he believes everything he says,” and why.
Explore what the Abbey Theatre’s legacy has been in commemorating and interrogating events such as the 1916 Rising, and the players who performed such important roles in the conflict. The tour will bring guests through our museum, focusing on images and artefacts that are relevant to the various personalities who were involved in founding Ireland’s national theatre, and roles they played in shaping the Ireland that we know today.
Booking is essential, as availability is limited. This specially researched tour will last approximately 1 hour and patrons are welcome to enjoy our exhibition at their own leisure after the tour. There are plenty of artefacts, interactive screens, and even a film to explore!
Photo Credits:
Image of William Butler Yeats: National Portrait Gallery
Image of Maud Gonne: Wikimedia Commons
Image of Countess Markiewicz: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division (Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ggbain-30185)
Image of Lady Gregory: Reproduced Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland
Image of Arthur Shields: Wikimedia Commons