Madam, - The Abbey Theatre is not a "National Theatre" (unlike the National Concert Hall, which is what its name suggests). Nor is it a "semi-State company. It is part of the National Theatre Society Limited, trading as the "Abbey Theatre". It is a private company, registered with the Registrar of Companies, Dublin Castle, since 1911.
If we value it (which I doubt), let's nationalise it - ie, promote it to the same or similar status as the National Concert Hall.
Overall, it seems to me that the annual budget for the Abbey is really loose change; so let's grasp the nettle, and stop annoying the Arts Council (by asking it to bail it out every year) by re-establishing the Abbey as a commercial State body. - Yours, etc,
CHRISTOPHER McQUAID,
St Dominic's Avenue,
Tallaght,
Dublin 24.
A chara, - John Sheehan (July 23rd) asks: "Why should the hard-pressed taxpayers of the nation have to pay for this expensive luxury?" He justifies his argument against funding the Abbey on the basis that many people don't go there and few could name the current production at the theatre.
The logic of his argument implies that, because many people don't go to Croke Park or Landsdowne Road, State funding should not be provided for the GAA, FAI or IRFU. Because many people don't go to the National Gallery, we shouldn't provide money for maintaining a national collection. Indeed, by his argument, why should we bother to provide any funding for the arts, sport, culture, public amenities - the things that define us and give us pride in our sense of Irishness.
I do not avail of every service on which the Government spends our taxes. That is not the say that I am not glad many of these services are provided.
The Abbey has a core function in Irish society - to put on productions of classic Irish plays and to allow new works to be put before the public. Its role is to entertain, as well as challenge, inform and promote new work. I have been fortunate to see many productions at the Abbey and Peacock. Some were amazing; others were bloody awful. The challenge of live theatre, however, easily surpasses the television drama that, according to Sheehan, fulfils our need.
Ireland has a wealth of artistic talent, particularly in terms of theatre. It is the challenge for the Abbey Theatre to showcase that and to develop it. The debate should be about how best that can be done with proper resources. - Is mise,
MALCOLM BYRNE,
The Chase,
Gorey,
Co Wexford.