Lennox Robinson talks about W. B. Yeats as a dramatist.
'The Old Abbey Theatre as the New Begins' was a radio documentary broadcast when the theatre opened in a new building in 1966. In this piece recorded with Lennox Robinson in the 1950s he talks about William Butler Yeats
The Abbey Theatre was founded by William Butler Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory in 1904. Lennox Robinson became manager and director of the theatre in 1909 and would go on to be director of the Abbey School of Acting.
Robinson says that Yeats was a dramatist with "an unerring eye for situation". The only dramatist Yeats himself cared for was Shakespeare. When he started writing for the stage in the early 1890s, London theatre was at a low ebb, but the tide was about to turn with "the kind of play he least cared for, Ibsen and the early Shaws and the English realistic work".
Title: |
The Old Abbey Theatre as the New Begins |
Clip Duration: |
00:02:16 |
Material Type: |
Audio |
Clip Title: |
"An Unerring Eye for Situation" |
Information: |
'The Old Abbey Theatre as the New Begins' was a radio documentary about the history of the Abbey Theatre, broadcast on the day the theatre opened in a new building designed by architect Michael Scott in 1966. The theatre's original premises had been destroyed by fire. Presenter Norris Davidson looks back at the plays and writers of the Abbey Theatre, with readings by Vincent Bradley and the RTÉ Players. Also included is this interview with Lennox Robinson about William Butler Yeats, recorded in the 1950s. The accompanying image shows a portrait of Lennox Robinson by James Sleator. Photograph courtesy of the Abbey Theatre. |
Local Keywords: |
Abbey Theatre, Drama, Literature, Plays, Playwrights, Lennox Robinson, William Butler Yeats, Norman Davidson, The Old Abbey Theatre as the New Begins |
Coverage: |
Ireland |
Topic: |
Arts and Culture |
Contributor(s): |
Norman Davidson (Presenter) |
Publisher: |
RTÉ |
First Broadcast Channel: |
RTÉ |
Broadcast Date: |
18/07/1966 |
Production Year: |
1966 |
Country of Production: |
Ireland |
Original Identifier: |
AA15519 |
IPR Restrictions: |
Rights Reserved - Free Access |
Rights, Terms and Conditions: |
Copyright RTÉ. This material may not be replicated in any form or manner without the prior express permission of RTÉ. Any form of reproduction in print, television, video, multimedia, web site or other electronic media or any form of dissemination for commercial or non-commercial use must be licensed by the RTÉ Archives.
If you wish to licence video or audio clips, still images or text, or would like further guidance please contact us. RTÉ Archives are committed to respecting the copyright of others and have attempted to source and credit the copyright owners of all material used here. RTÉ would like to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified here so that the necessary corrections can be made. If you feel your copyright has not been respected please contact us. |
Item Type: |
part/extract |
Sound: |
Mono |
Language: |
English (eng) |
