Founded in 1904 by William Butler Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory, the Abbey Theatre in Dublin was a key part of the Irish cultural nationalist movement that emerged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Yeats, Lady Gregory, and their associates intended the theatre to cultivate a distinctly Irish style of drama that reflected Irish experiences and cultural traditions. Some of the plays produced at the Abbey Theatre were overtly political and advocated for Irish independence, but many of them approached opposition to the British establishment in a more subtle way by simply celebrating Irish culture and identity. Today, the Abbey Theatre serves as the national theatre of the Republic of Ireland and continues its tradition of producing great Irish drama. The publicity items pictured below reflect the Abbey Theatre’s attempts to create a distinctly Irish style of drama during the early 1900s.
Poster for the Abbey Theatre's Opening in December of 1904
The poster advertises the three plays presented at the Abbey Theatre on its opening night, including Yeats’ play Kathleen ni Houlihan. In the play, an old woman visits an Irish family and tells them the story of how she was dispossessed of her land. She reveals herself as Kathleein ni Houlihan, a personification of Ireland, and convinces the family’s eldest son to sacrifice himself for her. With its strong Irish nationalist message, Kathleen ni Houlihan can be seen as a striking example of the Abbey Theatre’s attempts to present distinctly Irish drama to the Irish public.
Postcard With a Scene from Spreading the News at the Abbey Theatre, 1904
This postcard features a photograph of a 1904 production of Lady Gregory’s play Spreading the News at the Abbey Theatre. The play is a comedic tale of gossip in a rural Irish town. The play features a distinctly Irish style of wordplay. Although the play is nowhere near as politically incendiary as Kathleen ni Houlihan, Spreading the News was, with its vivid depiction of Irish life and humor, an example of the Abbey Theatre’s attempts to develop a distinctly Irish style of drama.