60 acast.com Fail Better: Irish National Theatre https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/fail-better-irish-national-theatre en ‘Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.’

-Samuel Beckett, Worstward Ho!


What is Irish theatre? Fail better explores the past, present, and future of Irish theatre through a series of interviews with experts and people passionate about the arts.


Written, presented, and edited by Sarah O’Sullivan

Music by Theo Foley

Special thanks to DCU, Pavilion Theatre, Ambrose & Lesley O’Sullivan, Maia Purdue, and Tim Houston

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> ‘Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.’

-Samuel Beckett, Worstward Ho!


What is Irish theatre? Fail better explores the past, present, and future of Irish theatre through a series of interviews with experts and people passionate about the arts.


Written, presented, and edited by Sarah O’Sullivan

Music by Theo Foley

Special thanks to DCU, Pavilion Theatre, Ambrose & Lesley O’Sullivan, Maia Purdue, and Tim Houston

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> false info+639f5503b0a821001092e463@mg-eu.acast.com 639f5503b0a821001092e463 fail-better-irish-national-theatre serial https://assets.pippa.io/shows/639f5503b0a821001092e463/1671712611335-3fcee9a06712e2bd66947e2cfbf2aea0.jpeg https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/fail-better-irish-national-theatre Fail Better: Irish National Theatre 4. Fail again, and again, and again... 4. Fail again, and again, and again... Thu, 22 Dec 2022 15:00:00 GMT 13:35 639f6042a0065900112e3e12 false https://shows.acast.com/fail-better-irish-national-theatre/episodes/639f6042a0065900112e3e12 639f6042a0065900112e3e12 639f5503b0a821001092e463 The Future full 4 ‘Fail again, and again, and again,’ the final episode in this series, explores hopes and ideas for the future of Irish theatre from the interviewees. It looks at some of the issues facing the sector, and hopes for how to change it.


Written, presented, and edited by Sarah O’Sullivan

Music by Theo Foley

Special thanks to DCU, the Pavilion Theatre, Ambrose & Lesley O’Sullivan, Maia Purdue, and Tim Houston.


Interviews included in this episode:


Aaron Monaghan

Colin Murphy

Julia Appleby

Ultan Pringle

Lisa Nally

Allie Whelan


Texts quoted / consulted:


Abbey 2017.  Abbeytheatre.ie, 2017, www.abbeytheatre.ie/2017/two-pints 

Demolder, Kate. “Tivoli Theatre/District 8 to Be Replaced by a Hotel Following Graffiti Preservation.” JOE.ie, 18 Jan. 2018, www.joe.ie/news/tivoli-theatredistrict-8-replaced-hotel-following-graffiti-preservation-613148 

Hayes, Katy. “Gate Theatre Will Starve If Left to Survive on “Just Enough” Funding.” Independent.ie, 8 Jan. 2022, www.independent.ie/entertainment/theatre-arts/gate-theatre-will-starve-if-left-to-survive-on-just-enough-funding-41215175.html 

Royal Court Theatre. “Peckham: The Soap Opera - Royal Court.” 2017, royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/peckham-the-soap-opera-2/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> ‘Fail again, and again, and again,’ the final episode in this series, explores hopes and ideas for the future of Irish theatre from the interviewees. It looks at some of the issues facing the sector, and hopes for how to change it.


Written, presented, and edited by Sarah O’Sullivan

Music by Theo Foley

Special thanks to DCU, the Pavilion Theatre, Ambrose & Lesley O’Sullivan, Maia Purdue, and Tim Houston.


Interviews included in this episode:


Aaron Monaghan

Colin Murphy

Julia Appleby

Ultan Pringle

Lisa Nally

Allie Whelan


Texts quoted / consulted:


Abbey 2017.  Abbeytheatre.ie, 2017, www.abbeytheatre.ie/2017/two-pints 

Demolder, Kate. “Tivoli Theatre/District 8 to Be Replaced by a Hotel Following Graffiti Preservation.” JOE.ie, 18 Jan. 2018, www.joe.ie/news/tivoli-theatredistrict-8-replaced-hotel-following-graffiti-preservation-613148 

Hayes, Katy. “Gate Theatre Will Starve If Left to Survive on “Just Enough” Funding.” Independent.ie, 8 Jan. 2022, www.independent.ie/entertainment/theatre-arts/gate-theatre-will-starve-if-left-to-survive-on-just-enough-funding-41215175.html 

Royal Court Theatre. “Peckham: The Soap Opera - Royal Court.” 2017, royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/peckham-the-soap-opera-2/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[3. Them's the Breaks]]> Thu, 22 Dec 2022 14:00:00 GMT 15:52 639f600385dfa600114b2d0f false https://shows.acast.com/fail-better-irish-national-theatre/episodes/639f600385dfa600114b2d0f 639f600385dfa600114b2d0f 639f5503b0a821001092e463 Waking the Feminists full 3 ‘Them’s the Breaks’ explores one of Irish theatre’s most explosive controversies in recent years: Waking the Feminists. When women were excluded from an important national theatre programme, many were inspired to speak out about sexism in the industry. This episode explores what happened then and what has happened since.


Written, presented, and edited by Sarah O’Sullivan

Music by Theo Foley

Special thanks to DCU, the Pavilion Theatre, Ambrose & Lesley O’Sullivan, Maia Purdue, and Tim Houston.


Interviews included in this episode:


Sarah Jane Scaife

Lisa Nally

Julia Appleby


Texts quoted / consulted:


Abbey Theatre. “Waking the Nation - 2016 at the Abbey Theatre.” YouTube, 28 Oct. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL6_Bh2nQd0 

Irish Times. “Waking the Feminists Event Takes over the Abbey Theatre.” The Irish Times, 12 Nov. 2015, www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/waking-the-feminists-event-takes-over-the-abbey-theatre-1.2427195 

Kirsty Blake Knox. “Abbey Hopes 1916 Programme Will Wake Nation.” Independent.ie, 29 Oct. 2015, www.independent.ie/entertainment/theatre-arts/abbey-hopes-1916-programme-will-wake-nation-34151255.html 

Linehan, Hugh. “Which Irish Theatre Companies Have the Worst Record Regarding Women?” The Irish Times, 7 June 2017, www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/which-irish-theatre-companies-have-the-worst-record-regarding-women-1.3110422?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fculture%2Fstage%2Fwhich-irish-theatre-companies-have-the-worst-record-regarding-women-1.3110422 

McCormack, Chris. ““Them’s the Breaks”: Gender Imbalance and Irish Theatre - Exeunt Magazine.” Exeunt Magazine, 2015, exeuntmagazine.com/features/thems-the-breaks-feminism-and-irish-theatre/ 

Mullally, Una. “Waking the Feminists: The Year Women Awoke and Dared to Dream.” The Irish Times, The Irish Times, 29 Oct. 2016, www.irishtimes.com/special-reports/the-centenary-conversations/waking-the-feminists-the-year-women-awoke-and-dared-to-dream-1.2835711 

RTÉ Entertainment. “Abbey Theatre Prepares to Wake the Nation in 2016.” RTE.ie, RTÉ, 28 Oct. 2015, www.rte.ie/entertainment/2015/1028/737979-abbey-theatre-gets-set-to-wake-the-nation-in-2016/ 

Sihra, Melissa. Women in Irish Drama. London Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2007.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> ‘Them’s the Breaks’ explores one of Irish theatre’s most explosive controversies in recent years: Waking the Feminists. When women were excluded from an important national theatre programme, many were inspired to speak out about sexism in the industry. This episode explores what happened then and what has happened since.


Written, presented, and edited by Sarah O’Sullivan

Music by Theo Foley

Special thanks to DCU, the Pavilion Theatre, Ambrose & Lesley O’Sullivan, Maia Purdue, and Tim Houston.


Interviews included in this episode:


Sarah Jane Scaife

Lisa Nally

Julia Appleby


Texts quoted / consulted:


Abbey Theatre. “Waking the Nation - 2016 at the Abbey Theatre.” YouTube, 28 Oct. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL6_Bh2nQd0 

Irish Times. “Waking the Feminists Event Takes over the Abbey Theatre.” The Irish Times, 12 Nov. 2015, www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/waking-the-feminists-event-takes-over-the-abbey-theatre-1.2427195 

Kirsty Blake Knox. “Abbey Hopes 1916 Programme Will Wake Nation.” Independent.ie, 29 Oct. 2015, www.independent.ie/entertainment/theatre-arts/abbey-hopes-1916-programme-will-wake-nation-34151255.html 

Linehan, Hugh. “Which Irish Theatre Companies Have the Worst Record Regarding Women?” The Irish Times, 7 June 2017, www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/which-irish-theatre-companies-have-the-worst-record-regarding-women-1.3110422?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fculture%2Fstage%2Fwhich-irish-theatre-companies-have-the-worst-record-regarding-women-1.3110422 

McCormack, Chris. ““Them’s the Breaks”: Gender Imbalance and Irish Theatre - Exeunt Magazine.” Exeunt Magazine, 2015, exeuntmagazine.com/features/thems-the-breaks-feminism-and-irish-theatre/ 

Mullally, Una. “Waking the Feminists: The Year Women Awoke and Dared to Dream.” The Irish Times, The Irish Times, 29 Oct. 2016, www.irishtimes.com/special-reports/the-centenary-conversations/waking-the-feminists-the-year-women-awoke-and-dared-to-dream-1.2835711 

RTÉ Entertainment. “Abbey Theatre Prepares to Wake the Nation in 2016.” RTE.ie, RTÉ, 28 Oct. 2015, www.rte.ie/entertainment/2015/1028/737979-abbey-theatre-gets-set-to-wake-the-nation-in-2016/ 

Sihra, Melissa. Women in Irish Drama. London Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2007.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 2. National to Local 2. National to Local Thu, 22 Dec 2022 13:09:15 GMT 11:13 639f5fbf97b20600113eb650 false https://shows.acast.com/fail-better-irish-national-theatre/episodes/639f5fbf97b20600113eb650 639f5fbf97b20600113eb650 639f5503b0a821001092e463 What nationwide means full 2 ‘National to Local’ is about the practical idea of our national theatre–how nationwide is its reach? And why should we be asking that question?


Written, presented, and edited by Sarah O’Sullivan

Music by Theo Foley

Special thanks to DCU, the Pavilion Theatre, Ambrose & Lesley O’Sullivan, Maia Purdue, and Tim Houston.


Interviews included in this episode:


Aaron Monaghan

Ultan Pringle



Texts quoted / consulted:


Druid. www.druid.ie 

Falvey, Deirdre. “Abbey Theatre Uproar: 300 Actors and Directors Complain to Minister.” The Irish Times, 7 Jan. 2019. www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/abbey-theatre-uproar-300-actors-and-directors-complain-to-minister-1.3750135?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fculture%2Fstage%2Fabbey-theatre-uproar-300-actors-and-directors-complain-to-minister-1.3750135 

Finn, Christina. “Abbey Theatre Told to Tour More, Hire Creatives and Diversify Productions to Make Money.” TheJournal.ie, TheJournal, 2014, www.thejournal.ie/abbey-theatre-review-arts-council-1546921-Jun2014/ 

Keating, Sara. “Looking for an Answer to the National Question.” The Irish Times, The Irish Times, 5 Mar. 2018, www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/looking-for-an-answer-to-the-national-question-1.3406350 

O’Kelly, Katie. “Missing Audiences Ireland - Survey Results & Audience Development Toolkit.” Theatre Forum, 23 June 2022, theatreforum.ie/forum-notice/missing-audiences-survey-ireland/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> ‘National to Local’ is about the practical idea of our national theatre–how nationwide is its reach? And why should we be asking that question?


Written, presented, and edited by Sarah O’Sullivan

Music by Theo Foley

Special thanks to DCU, the Pavilion Theatre, Ambrose & Lesley O’Sullivan, Maia Purdue, and Tim Houston.


Interviews included in this episode:


Aaron Monaghan

Ultan Pringle



Texts quoted / consulted:


Druid. www.druid.ie 

Falvey, Deirdre. “Abbey Theatre Uproar: 300 Actors and Directors Complain to Minister.” The Irish Times, 7 Jan. 2019. www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/abbey-theatre-uproar-300-actors-and-directors-complain-to-minister-1.3750135?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fculture%2Fstage%2Fabbey-theatre-uproar-300-actors-and-directors-complain-to-minister-1.3750135 

Finn, Christina. “Abbey Theatre Told to Tour More, Hire Creatives and Diversify Productions to Make Money.” TheJournal.ie, TheJournal, 2014, www.thejournal.ie/abbey-theatre-review-arts-council-1546921-Jun2014/ 

Keating, Sara. “Looking for an Answer to the National Question.” The Irish Times, The Irish Times, 5 Mar. 2018, www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/looking-for-an-answer-to-the-national-question-1.3406350 

O’Kelly, Katie. “Missing Audiences Ireland - Survey Results & Audience Development Toolkit.” Theatre Forum, 23 June 2022, theatreforum.ie/forum-notice/missing-audiences-survey-ireland/ 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 1. A Novel and Curious Idea 1. A Novel and Curious Idea Thu, 22 Dec 2022 13:04:56 GMT 13:37 639f5617157e18001132c34f false https://shows.acast.com/fail-better-irish-national-theatre/episodes/639f5617157e18001132c34f 639f5617157e18001132c34f 639f5503b0a821001092e463 The origins full 1 ‘A Novel and Curious Idea’ focuses on the foundations of Ireland’s National theatre, examining where the art form began so we can look at where it has ended up.


Written, presented, and edited by Sarah O’Sullivan

Music by Theo Foley

Special thanks to DCU, the Pavilion Theatre, Ambrose & Lesley O’Sullivan, Maia Purdue, and Tim Houston.


Interviews included in this episode:


Professor Nicholas Grene

Lisa Nally

Colin Murphy

Allie Whelan



Texts quoted / consulted:


British Pathé. “New Abbey Theatre (1963).” YouTube, 13 Apr. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RtRWOqXLP0 

Foster, Roy. “A Troubled House.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 4 Feb. 2004, www.theguardian.com/stage/2004/feb/04/theatre.wbyeats 

Friel, Brian, and Seamus Deane. Brian Friel : Plays One. London ; Boston Mass., Faber And Faber, 1996.

Grene, Nicholas. The Politics of Irish Drama: Plays in Context from Boucicault to Friel. Cambridge University Press, 1999.

Harrington, John P. (ed). Modern and Contemporary Irish Drama. 2nd ed., New York, Ny, Norton, 2009.

Keating, Sara. “Looking for an Answer to the National Question.” The Irish Times, 5 Mar. 2018. www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/looking-for-an-answer-to-the-national-question-1.3406350 

The Old Vic. “The Playboy of the Western World, TRAILER.” YouTube, 7 Oct. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=w604efZ9dHc 


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> ‘A Novel and Curious Idea’ focuses on the foundations of Ireland’s National theatre, examining where the art form began so we can look at where it has ended up.


Written, presented, and edited by Sarah O’Sullivan

Music by Theo Foley

Special thanks to DCU, the Pavilion Theatre, Ambrose & Lesley O’Sullivan, Maia Purdue, and Tim Houston.


Interviews included in this episode:


Professor Nicholas Grene

Lisa Nally

Colin Murphy

Allie Whelan



Texts quoted / consulted:


British Pathé. “New Abbey Theatre (1963).” YouTube, 13 Apr. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RtRWOqXLP0 

Foster, Roy. “A Troubled House.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 4 Feb. 2004, www.theguardian.com/stage/2004/feb/04/theatre.wbyeats 

Friel, Brian, and Seamus Deane. Brian Friel : Plays One. London ; Boston Mass., Faber And Faber, 1996.

Grene, Nicholas. The Politics of Irish Drama: Plays in Context from Boucicault to Friel. Cambridge University Press, 1999.

Harrington, John P. (ed). Modern and Contemporary Irish Drama. 2nd ed., New York, Ny, Norton, 2009.

Keating, Sara. “Looking for an Answer to the National Question.” The Irish Times, 5 Mar. 2018. www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/looking-for-an-answer-to-the-national-question-1.3406350 

The Old Vic. “The Playboy of the Western World, TRAILER.” YouTube, 7 Oct. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=w604efZ9dHc 


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]>