The Plough and the Stars - 100th Anniversary

This is a once-in-a-lifetime production. Exactly one hundred years after The Plough and the Stars premiered at the Abbey Theatre and caused a riot in the audience, O’Casey’s masterpiece is back on the same stage. If there’s one show to see in Dublin this spring, it might be this one.

What to Expect

Set amid the chaos of the 1916 Easter Rising, The Plough and the Stars tells the story of ordinary Dubliners whose lives are torn apart by the idealism swirling around them. It’s funny, it’s devastating, and it’s as relevant now as it was a century ago. Director Tom Creed brings a fresh eye to a play that’s woven into the fabric of Irish theatre.

When it first premiered in February 1926, the audience actually rioted. W.B. Yeats famously addressed the crowd from the stage. That’s the kind of play this is. It doesn’t play it safe, and neither does this new production. The cast brings real weight to O’Casey’s characters, the Dubliners who drink and argue and love and grieve while history happens around them.

The run goes all the way to April 30th, so there’s plenty of time to catch it. But the best seats won’t last, especially for weekend performances.

Good to Know

• The show runs until April 30th with performances most evenings and matinees on selected days
• Special backstage tours are running across March and April, giving insight into the play’s history and its infamous opening night
• There’s a centenary pre-show reception event for a deeper dive into the production
• The Abbey has an excellent bar and cafe area for pre-show drinks
• Tickets start from as little as €15 for some performances

Getting There

The Abbey Theatre is right in the heart of Dublin city centre on Lower Abbey Street, a short walk from O’Connell Street. The Luas Abbey Street stop on the Red Line is practically at the door. Connolly and Tara Street DART stations are both within a 10-minute walk. Pretty much every Dublin Bus route that passes through the city centre will get you close.