The Identity Crisis in Post-agreement Northern Ireland: Evidence from the Theatre Production Cyprus Avenue

Abstract

Historical issues led to "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland, which lasted for almost 30 years. The impact of this protracted struggle on society and its citizens was significant, even if the two sides of the dispute were ultimately able to come to an understanding. As a symbol of a person's link to society, identity plays a significant part in this process. Due to their poor environmental adaption in the post-conflict era, many people may experience identity crises because they are unsure of their original identities. This essay will look into the reasons for this issue and attempt to offer solutions for the identity crisis following the conflict. Since theatre can effectively represent several social concerns, this article will take a case study method and select a specific play, "Cyprus Avenue," by David Ireland, from 2016, as a case study to evaluate the primary causes of the identity crisis. It was determined that the reasons for the identity crisis were the limitations of their identity-building strategies and the changes in the social environment.