Loria, Vol. 14: Fall, 1937 (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Loria, Vol. 14: Fall, 1937

The woman was that versatile dramatist, Lady Gregory, while the gentleman who so enthusiastically shared her opinions was that creator of fanciful, idyllic Celtic literature, William Butler Yeats. No time was wasted by the pair in getting their project started. Neither having a clear handwriting, they resorted to Lady Gregory's typewriter. Their statement, a trifle pompous, began: We propose to have performed in Dublin, in the spring of every year, certain Celtic and Irish plays, which, whatever be their degree of excellence, will be written with a high ambi tion, and so to build up a Celtic and Irish school of dramatic literature. With this statement went an appeal for a guarantee fund of 300 pounds to carry on the experiment for three years.

The responses they received were many and varied. As Lady Greg ory herself tells us, Some gave us their promise with enthusiasm but some from good will only, without much faith that an Irish Theatre would ever come to success.

Despite these setbacks, the group (for it had now become a group due to the addition of Mr. Martyn and several others interested in Irish drama) proceeded to look for a theatre. Here they planned to give plays that would be fanciful and idealistic as contrasted with Ibsen's realism which was then at its height on the continent.

Once again their Irish endurance was put to the test, for it was prao tically impossible to get a place in which to give the performances. The only Dublin theatres, the Gaiety, the Royal, and the Queen's, were en gaged far ahead. The group then thought of taking a hall or a concert room but once again were frustrated because of an old city ordinance putting a fine of 300 pounds upon anyone who should give a performance for money in any unlicensed building. Fortunately through the influence of Mr. Lecky, a friend of Lady Gregory's, a bill was passed whereby the city was empowered to license halls when desirable.

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