Focus Theatre
The Focus Theatre (Irish: An Amharclann Fócais) in Dublin, Ireland, was a small but respected theatre which offered a variety of plays from new and established writers.
An Amharclann Fócais | |
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Address | 6A Pembroke Place Dublin Ireland |
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Opened | 29 September 1967 |
Closed | 30 April 2012[1] |
Years active | 1967–2012 |
History
Focus Theatre's Acting Studio was founded in April 1963 by the Irish American actor, Deirdre O'Connell, who died in 2001. The Focus Theatre itself was founded by O'Connell and her husband, Luke Kelly of The Dubliners in 1967, and opened on 29 September with a production of Doris Lessing's Play With a Tiger.[2][3][4] It has been at the forefront of training actors and directors in Stanislavski's system as well as putting on productions of the classics of European and international theatre. Several notable actors have been associated with the Focus, including Gabriel Byrne, Sabina Higgins (wife of the President of Ireland), Olwen Fouéré, Tom Hickey and [[Bosco Hogan]). The artistic director is Joe Devlin. The theatre closed in April 2012 due to funding issues.[5]
The building at Pembroke Place, now Mutiny Theatre, operates as a 39 seat theatre and screening room.
References
- http://www.broadsheet.ie/2012/04/16/focus-theatre-gone/
- History of Focus Theatre Archived 2011-08-16 at the Wayback Machine The Focus Theatre. Retrieved: 2012-01-30.
- The Irish Times, "An Irishman's Diary", August 24, 1967
- McGovern, Avice-Claire (December 2008 – August 2012). "Focus Theatre Papers" (PDF). Dublin: Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann – National Library of Ireland. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- Dublin's Focus Theatre Closes The Stage. Retrieved: 2014-04-21.