ABSOLUT Fringe 2012 | Rewrite: The Role of the Playwright in Contemporary Irish Theatre | The Lir Academy

Star Rating: 4 / 5

Venue: The Lir Academy
Review by: Sinéad Finegan

ABSOLUT(ely): Thought-provoking
In a nutshell: An afternoon of new play-readings and panel discussions about the place which playwrights hold in the current theatre landscape
Best for: Anyone with an interest in the theatrical arts or in writing for the stage
Not for: Anyone who can’t sit still for a whole afternoon

The Lir was packed for this event – a very encouraging thought for the future of playwriting in Ireland. In and around analysis and discussion of the issues facing new and established playwrights in Ireland, we were treated to a series of readings; the work of the Lir Academy’s graduating playwright students. This created an interesting dynamic for the afternoon: it wasn’t dry, detached analysis, divorced from the world of theatre, it was in fact intermingled with new writing from new writers being performed before an audience for the very first time. The discussions shed much light on the state of contemporary theatre – there was a general impression that the divide between the growing numbers of devised shows versus those created by playwrights is viewed more as a difference of traditions, rather than an actual opposition in the theatre world. What it all came down to for many people was the need for a dedicated space producing up to a dozen new plays each year – both providing an outlet for emerging writers and stimulating the public’s appetite for new work. But the afternoon couldn’t fail to be a positive one given the level of new writing talent displayed throughout the readings.

Story by EI Team | 09:00 | Sunday 16th September 2012 | Theatre

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