Madam, - Gerard Morgan is quite trenchant in his declaration that the Abbey should be situated in O'Connell Street. He writes that "there is no alternative to the siting of the National Theatre. . . next to the GPO and opposite the Gresham Hotel" and that this location is "where it belongs".
I beg to differ and am equally resolute in that there is absolutely no bar to the Abbey remaining on its current site, subject to significant expansion. This is where it was founded 100 years ago and I quote the recent remarks of Ulick O'Connor (author, playwright and Abbey shareholder) on the topic to the effect that relocating the theatre in O'Connell Street is akin to "moving Clonmacnoise to Croke Park". Absolutely.
I further assert that the Abbey has betrayed its original remit as a National Theatre of educating audiences, nurturing fresh talent and utilising the national repertoire of plays.
The Abbey is not a commercial theatre and must not be allowed become one. Currently it falls between the two stools, being a State-subsidised body with a private board of directors. The Government should make it a solely State-run cultural organisation like the National Gallery. This would allow it to proceed smoothly, unencumbered by the profit motive, and stop the job of artistic director being a poisoned chalice. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID MARLBOROUGH, Kenilworth Park, Dublin 6w.