The Abbey Theatre School or the Abbey School of Acting, was a

drama school A drama school, stage school or theatre school is an undergraduate and/or graduate school or department at a college or university; or a free-standing institution (such as the Drama section at the Juilliard School); which specializes in the pr ...

associated with the

Abbey Theatre The Abbey Theatre ( ga, Amharclann na Mainistreach), also known as the National Theatre of Ireland ( ga, Amharclann Náisiúnta na hÉireann), in Dublin, Ireland, is one of the country's leading cultural institutions. First opening to the pu ...

, Dublin, Ireland. Established in 1911 by

W. B. Yeats William Butler Yeats (13 June 186528 January 1939) was an Irish poet, dramatist, writer and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival and became a pillar of the Irish liter ...

, it was developed by

Lady Gregory Isabella Augusta, Lady Gregory (''née'' Persse; 15 March 1852 – 22 May 1932) was an Irish dramatist, folklorist and theatre manager. With William Butler Yeats and Edward Martyn, she co-founded the Irish Literary Theatre and the Abbey Theatre, ...

to continue performances in Dublin while the main cast of the theatre was overseas, usually in America. The school's first director was the theatre director

Nugent Monck Walter Nugent Monck CBE (1878–1958) was an English theatre director and founder of Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich. He was born in Welshampton, Shropshire, the son of George Gustavus Monck (1849–1920), vicar of Welshampton who later worked a ...

, whom Yeats asked to begin the school. The first play performed by the school was ''

The Countess Cathleen ''The Countess Cathleen'' is a verse drama by William Butler Yeats in blank verse (with some lyrics). It was dedicated to Maud Gonne, the object of his affections for many years. Editions and revisions The play was first published in 1892 in ...

'', written by Yeats. The school was the primary place in Ireland where amateur actors could receive training for an acting career before breaking into paid work. In the beginning, the school's plays were performed in the Abbey Theatre, but in 1927 the venue for them became the newly constructed Peacock Theatre, located on the first floor of the Abbey Theatre's building. Many well-known Irish actors and directors attended or taught at the school. Among them were

Lennox Robinson Esmé Stuart Lennox Robinson (4 October 1886 – 15 October 1958) was an Irish dramatist, poet and theatre producer and director who was involved with the Abbey Theatre. Life Robinson was born in Westgrove, Douglas, County Cork and raised in ...

Stephen Rea Stephen Rea ( ; born 31 October 1946) is an Irish film and stage actor. Rea has appeared in films such as ''V for Vendetta'', ''Michael Collins'', ''Interview with the Vampire'' and ''Breakfast on Pluto''. Rea was nominated for the Academy Award ...

, and Frank Fay. There were gaps in the operation of the school, sometimes long ones, and according to Tomás MacAnna it was revived many times. One brief period of activity was in the years 1967–1970, when Frank Dermody attempted to revive it, but it was closed after a number of complaints. One of the last actors to graduate from the school was

Colm Meaney Colm J. Meaney (; ga, Colm Ó Maonaigh; born 30 May 1953) is an Irish actor known for playing Miles O'Brien in '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (1987–1994) and '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (1993–1999). He has guest-starred on many T ...

Early productions featuring the Abbey School of Acting

*''The Countess Cathleen''

. 14, 15, 16 December 1911 *''The Annunciation'' by Anon. 4 January 1912 *''Spreading the News'' by

. 8 February 1912 *''The Land of Heart's Desire'' by W.B. Yeats. 22, 23, 24 February 1912 *''The World and the Chylde'' by Anon. 29 February 1912

References

{{authority control 1911 establishments in Ireland 1970 disestablishments in Ireland 20th century in Dublin (city) Educational institutions established in 1911 Educational institutions disestablished in 1970 Further education colleges in Dublin (city) Drama schools in Ireland Defunct drama schools 1910s in Dublin (city)