The 1920S London-Irish Theatre A History

The 1920s London-Irish Theatre: A History documents explores and interrogates the Irish theatre that was prevalent in London during the 1920s. This includes consideration of the movements that impacted 1920s London theatre such as the influential repertory theatres of the first decade of the twentieth century as well as the detailed history of the Irish Players. Each identified London-Irish production is discussed through contemporary theatre reviews from London newspapers and journals and within the decade’s historical context. Dramatists their plays actors producers and the physical theatres are all considered as extensively as evidence allows. Major productions like those of Lennox Robinson’s The White-Headed Boy Sean O’Casey’s Juno and the Paycock and Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan with its distinct Irish echoes are considered along with productions of George Shiels’ Professor Tim and Bernard Duffy’s The Counter Charm and more. Producers discussed include James Fagan and Charles Macdona while considered actors include Sara Allgood Maire O’Neill Arthur Sinclair Fred O’Donovan Ellen O’Malley Ethel O’Shea and many more. This leads for the first time to a full portrait of the Irish theatre that was produced in London during the 1920s in not only the West End but also in smaller London theatres and in suburban repertory theatres. |The 1920s London-Irish Theatre A History