An Interview with Garry Hynes

Abstract

In this wide ranging interview between Druid's Artistic Director Garry Hynes and Nicholas Grene, she speaks of her work on the two marathon productions, DruidSynge in 2004–6 and DruidMurphy in 2012–13. She explains the origins of the idea of doing all of Synge's plays as a single event, the process of funding, casting, and designing the production. She offers comparable insights into DruidMurphy, how the three of Murphy's plays, A Whistle in the Dark, Conversations on a Homecoming, and Famine, were chosen to highlight emigration as one of the playwright's key themes. This is followed up by a supplementary interview about the production in September 2014 of Bailegangaire with Brigit, Murphy's new ‘prequel’ to it. The interview offers new insights into Hynes's working methods, and the logistic and creative challenges of these large scale theatrical enterprises.