A century after its controversial premiere sparked riots in the audience, Seán O’Casey’s landmark play, The Plough and the Stars, has returned to the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. The production isn’t simply a revival; it’s a reckoning with a pivotal moment in Irish history and a testament to the enduring power of theatre to challenge and reflect a nation’s identity. The play, set against the backdrop of the 1916 Easter Rising and its aftermath, continues to resonate with audiences today, prompting questions about nationalism, sacrifice, and the human cost of conflict.
The original 1926 production at the Abbey was met with fierce opposition. Audience members, many of whom had personal connections to the Rising, took umbrage at O’Casey’s portrayal of working-class Dubliners grappling with poverty, political fervor, and personal struggles. The depiction wasn’t the romanticized heroism they expected, and the resulting disruption led to a now-famous intervention by playwright W.B. Yeats, who pleaded with the unruly crowd, stating, “You have disgraced yourselves again. Is this to be an ever recurring celebration of the arrival of Irish genius?”
Now, 100 years later, the Abbey’s current Artistic Director, Caitríona McLaughlin, believes the play’s power lies in its ability to force a confrontation with uncomfortable truths. “It’s a brilliant story, and the idea originally was about looking at who are we, and who are we going to develop into? What does it mean to be Irish?” she said. McLaughlin argues that the initial backlash stemmed from the play’s challenge to prevailing narratives. “I think people thought at the time that they were much more noble and conservative,” she explained, “so the idea of Seán O’Casey’s flawed, troubled working class Dubliners, being sexual, that they were thieves, that they would be opportunistic, people at the time didn’t like that idea of themselves.”
The Plough and the Stars unfolds within a Dublin tenement, following the lives of characters like Nora Clitheroe and her husband, Jack, as they navigate the turbulent political landscape. The play is a tragedy in four acts, exploring the devastating impact of the Rising on ordinary people caught in the crossfire. It’s a story of lost innocence, shattered dreams, and the enduring resilience of the human spirit.
A Century of Controversy and Celebration
The Abbey Theatre is marking the centenary with a special production and a retrospective exhibition. Over 300 actors have graced the Abbey stage as characters in The Plough and the Stars since 1926, and photographs of past casts – including notable names like Brendan Gleeson, Cyril Cusack, Siobhan McKenna, and Sorcha Cusack – now adorn the theatre’s bar area. The exhibition offers a visual history of the play’s reception and its enduring significance in Irish culture.
For many actors, performing in The Plough and the Stars is a career highlight. Veteran Abbey Theatre actor Clive Geraghty, who has played Jack Clitheroe in six productions, including a celebrated 1976 staging, recalls seeing the play for the first time in 1955. “It was the first play I ever saw back in 1955,” he said, remembering a transformative experience shared with his mother. “My mother got two complimentary seats for the Abbey and I was blown out of it, it was the first time my mother had been to the theatre too, and if anybody had told me that night that within 10 years, I’d be up on the Abbey stage playing Jack, I would not have believed them.”
The current production features Eimhin Fitzgerald Doherty as Jack Clitheroe, who described a “fizz in the air” during rehearsals, acknowledging the weight of history surrounding the play. Doherty shared that meeting Geraghty ahead of the centenary celebrations was a particularly special experience, a passing of the torch across generations of Irish actors.
O’Casey’s Enduring Legacy
The Plough and the Stars is the third installment in O’Casey’s renowned Dublin Trilogy, following The Shadow of a Gunman (1923) and Juno and the Paycock (1924). These plays, collectively, offer a stark and unflinching portrait of life in Dublin during a period of profound social and political upheaval. According to acclaimed actress Cathy Belton, O’Casey’s work is “in every Irish actor’s theatrical DNA.”
Belton, who has performed in the play three times – in 2000, 2002, and 2016 – describes each experience as “extremely different, but equally as terrifying, nourishing and inspiring.” She particularly cherishes her 2002 performance as Nora Clitheroe, which toured to the Barbican in London. “It’s a real privilege as an actor to get to play in The Plough and the Stars,” she said, adding that, “100 years on sadly, it’s as relevant today as it was 100 years ago.”
Belton highlights O’Casey’s remarkable understanding of female characters, describing them as “multi faceted, complex, surprising, inspirational women but they are heroes and are the hidden heroes of every piece.” She points to Nora Clitheroe’s struggle to create a home amidst the chaos of war as a powerful example of female resilience and peacemaking.
A Play for Our Time
Tom Creed, the director of the current production, views The Plough and the Stars as “our inheritance as Irish theatre artists, and it is our greatest treasure.” He emphasizes the powerful symbolism of the Abbey’s location, noting that the General Post Office (GPO), a key site during the 1916 Easter Rising, is visible from the rehearsal room window. He also points to the paintings of past cast members that actors pass by on their way to dressing rooms, creating a tangible connection to the play’s history.
Creed believes the play’s enduring appeal lies in its exploration of universal themes. “This is a play about war,” he said, “and even as it is something from history, it’s a really profound, living, breathing, work of art about so many things that are so important to us all right now.”
The current production of The Plough and the Stars runs for another five weeks at the Abbey Theatre. Creed notes that revisiting a classic like O’Casey’s allows for recent discoveries and a renewed appreciation for its enduring power. The play, he says, continues to offer fresh insights with each iteration.
As Ireland and the world continue to grapple with questions of identity, conflict, and social justice, The Plough and the Stars remains a vital and relevant work of art. The Abbey Theatre’s centenary production serves as a powerful reminder of the play’s enduring legacy and its capacity to provoke, challenge, and inspire. The Abbey will continue its centenary celebrations with post-show talks and events throughout the run of the production. More information about the production and related events can be found on the Abbey Theatre’s website.
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