Anxieties in Irish Theatre

Abstract

Abstract This article outlines substantial recent transformations in Irish theatre and argues that much contemporary work has been focused on addressing the social and economic turbulences that Ireland has been experiencing by zooming in on the attendant anxieties and fears. It examines this thematic area in conjunction both with theatrical form and with the effect on the spectators, dividing plays and productions into four categories. The first of these includes works that have depicted Ireland and its anxieties by way of allegory; Mark Doherty’s Trad (2004) and Michael West and Corn Exchange’s Freefall (2009) are discussed as examples reflecting different stages of recent Irish history. The second category features works focused on the anxieties of economically marginalised individuals and groups; detailed analysis is provided of ANU Productions’ The Boys of Foley Street (2012) as an instance of radical site-specific theatre that instigates fear in the spectators. Works in the third category centre on gender identity and the anxieties experienced by LGBT individuals; the fictitious docudrama I ♥ Alice ♥ I by Amy Conroy is singled out as an instance of exciting emancipatory theatre. The fourth category is comprised of works dealing with the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland and revolving around the fears and frustrations that concern the future; the recent plays by David Ireland, particularly the dark comedy Cyprus Avenue, are discussed as representative of outlining the indelible effects of nationalism on individual identity and ending on a pessimistic note.