David Hanly talks to founder of the Druid Theatre Company Garry Hynes about her upbringing, her initial interest in theatre and setting up Druid.
Born in Ballaghaderreen in county Roscommon in 1953, Garry moved to Galway at a young age and it quickly became her home and the place where she would establish herself in the world of theatre setting up the Druid Theatre Company and winning awards.
David Hanly begins by congratulating Garry Hynes on her latest smash hit success at the Dublin Theatre Festival with her adaptation of Tom Murphy's 'Whistle in the Dark' at the Abbey Theatre. Hanly takes the conversation back to find out how a 33 year old woman from Roscommon became Ireland's foremost theatre director.
Garry talks about her attachment to Galway and that
When the family moved to Galway in 1965, it was really a homecoming.
She talks about her parents and family and while they are very close, there was no particular background in theatre.
Neither of my parents had any particular interest in the theatre.
It was really her interest in reading that brought her to writing and theatre. Libraries played an important role in developing her interest in poetry, drama and literature.
It wasn't until Garry went to university that her interest in drama took root when she joined the Drama Society at University College Galway (UCG) and by second year was the head of the society.
This episode of Hanly's People was broadcast on 13 October 1986.
