Madam, - When one ponders the hundreds of millions of taxpayers' money blithely squandered in the past few years by this Government, the idea that the current shortfall of €3.4 million in the Abbey Theatre's coffers constitutes some type of crisis is, frankly, laughable.
The loss does, however, provide an excuse for the agenda which Minister for Arts John O'Donoghue is determined to pursue: to dismantle the remaining vestiges of a National Theatre and to finally transform the Abbey into a fully commercial theatre. This is shameful and runs contrary to the wishes of the vast majority of the public. (A poll on Marian Finucane's radio show in September 2004 found that 94 per cent of respondents believed we need a national theatre.)
The Abbey has undergone many difficulties and setbacks over the years. These include the original theatre's destruction by fire in 1951 and its temporary relocation to the Queen's Theatre in Pearse Street before being rebuilt in Abbey Street; various financial difficulties; the abolition of both the Abbey repertory company of actors and the theatre's shareholding watchdog body in the 1990s; and the motion of no confidence in former artistic director Ben Barnes in 2004. The theatre has survived them all, although it became increasingly wounded as time passed.
Commercialisation and the profit motive are the very antithesis of a national theatre. By definition, a national theatre, as shown by countries such as France, Germany and Sweden, is a wholly State-sponsored and -funded entity and the production of profit is not a prerequisite. However, we are told that "the Minister is understood to have ruled out providing full State funding for the theatre" (The Irish Times, July 2nd).
The idea of a national theatre in Ireland, as envisaged by its founders, was to provide a platform for the production of the national classic plays and to promote and develop new works that would in future take their place beside the classics. For many years the Abbey led the way in this regard. However, this hasn't been the case for some time and therefore the Abbey is now masquerading as out national theatre and doesn't deserve the title.
Those who defend the Minister in his desire to commercialise the Abbey should bear in mind that in London's West End, where all the theatres are commercial, 70 per cent of plays staged lose money. The idea that free market values are a panacea is exposed as hollow.
We are witnessing once again a symptom of an increasingly mercenary yet culturally vacuous society. - Yours, etc,
DAVID MARLBOROUGH, Kenilworth Park, Dublin 6w.
Madam, - In the debate caused by the latest revelations about the Abbey Theatre, no-one seems to have asked the obvious question. Why should the hard-pressed taxpayers of the nation have to pay for this expensive luxury?
It will be argued that the Abbey reflects Irish culture. It does no such thing. It preserves something of the aspirations of a group of dilettante Anglo-Irish landlords and their lackeys from 100 years ago.
The Abbey is no longer relevant. Most Irish people have their need for drama fulfilled by EastEnders and Coronation Street. Try a little research. Ask your friends and workmates how often in the past decade they have visited the Abbey, or ask them to name the current offering at the "National Theatre". - Yours, etc,
JOHN SHEEHAN, Bray, Co Wicklow.