Special tribute for a 'giant' of Irish theatre

“IT WAS a wonderful experience, wonderfully invigorating and always a challenge,” said actor, playwright and director Tomás Mac Anna of the decades he dedicated to Irish theatre. “No apologies, no regrets. I had a ball.”

The octogenarian Mac Anna, who was the recipient of The Irish TimesSpecial Tribute award at the Vicar Street ceremony was unable to attend the event, but sent his thanks through video footage, which was screened at the ceremony.

The award was presented by Abbey Theatre director Fiach Mac Conghail to Mac Anna’s daughter, Fiona, in her father’s stead.

Mac Conghail paid tribute to the “Cecil B De Mille of Irish theatre” who loomed “like a giant” over the country’s theatrical history.

“This man trained and supported writers, directors, actors and designers for four decades,” said Mac Conghail. “Is fear uafasach mór na hAmharclann.”

Mac Conghail pointed out that Mac Anna was responsible for helping the fledgling careers of many who went on to become stalwarts of Irish and international theatre, including director of the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis Joe Dowling, Gate Theatre director Michael Colgan and Mac Conghail himself.

As well as being the first Irish artist ever to win a Tony award in 1969, Mac Anna directed world premieres of two of Brian Friel's plays; wrote several of his own; and starred in Joseph Strick's controversial film version of Joyce's Ulysses, which was banned for 33 years.

He was also involved in and committed to the Irish language and wrote many Irish-language pantomimes.

In a video tribute, a number of luminaries of Irish theatre paid tribute to Mac Anna, with actor Peadar Lamb acknowledging that he “deserves massive praise”, while Joe Dowling described him as “truly one of the great heroes of Irish theatre”.

Actor Bosco Hogan recalled Mac Anna’s “incredible energy, his vision, his enthusiasm” and recalled times when such extended to staging plays on the roof of the Abbey Theatre, while actor Des Cave remembered him arriving for rehearsals once with a bullhorn.

Actor Maire Ní Grainne, recalled the riots kicked off by the Peacock production of A State of Chassis, co-written by Mac Anna, which was interrupted when civil rights activists stormed the stage only to be forcibly ejected by Mac Anna himself.

Former director of the Abbey, Patrick Mason paid tribute to Mac Anna’s “loyalty to the Abbey, and his great sense of what it stood for and what it needed”, while actor Niall Buggy pointed to Mac Anna’s “passion for a national theatre”.

Also featuring in the video tribute, Gate Theatre director Michael Colgan acknowledged a debt to Mac Anna who he described as the most important influence on his own career. “Either I owe it all to Tomás or he is to blame,” said Colgan.

As she accepted the Special Tribute Award on his behalf, Fiona Mac Anna congratulated her father on his contributions to Irish theatre. “Well done Tomás,” she said.

“He really is the granddaddy and the dad and the aunt and the uncle of Irish theatre, so congratulations and bravo.”