Players and Painted Stage

As the Abbey Theatre--Ireland's National Theatre--moves into its second century, eight distinguished contributors are invited by RTÉ to reflect on the broadwer scheme of twentieth century theatre in Ireland.

The 2004 Thomas Davis lectures bring togehter a diverse range of theatrical commentators to examine the role of playwrights, directors, producers, and theatre companies in the shaping and coulouring, the telling and showing, or Irelan'ds willful and iridescent theatre.

Players and Painted Stage, the book of the RTÉ radio series, presents a fascinating panorama of discover, recollection and opinion. Reflecting the evolutions of over a hundred years, it exposes aspects of multifaceted institution that has demonstrated an extraordinary capacity for regeneration, reinvention and reform, a spirit that will care Irish theatre boldly into the twenty-first century.

Compiled and edited by Christopher Fitz-Simon, Players and Painted Stage is collected from the RTÉ Radio 1 series of Thomas Davis lectures, produced by Seamus Hosey.

Includes: Christopher Fitz-Simon, Nicholas Grene, Emer O'Kelly, Christopher Murray, Lynda Henderson, Joe Dowling, Alan Titley, and Anthony Roche.