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Encyclopedia entry: theatre
- Article from:
- The Oxford Companion to Irish History
Copyright© The Oxford Companion to Irish History 2007, originally published by Oxford University Press 2007. (Hide copyright information)
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theatre.
The earliest recorded plays in Ireland were mystery plays staged in certain towns by the medieval
guilds
; these died out as a result of the
Reformation
, though some attempts were made to adapt them to the new religion. An indigenous tradition of ‘mumming plays’ survived until recently in some areas, and has been drawn on by modern dramatists. Secular theatre first appeared in Ireland in the early 17th century under the patronage of the viceregal court. Later in the century commercial playhouses appeared in Dublin, and during the ensuing century a lively tradition of commercial theatre grew up.
While an important role in the development of Irish theatre was ...