The Plough and the Stars - Abbey Theatre

What to Expect

Sean O’Casey wrote “The Plough and the Stars” a century ago about events happening practically outside his tenement window, and it has not aged a day. Set in the tenements of inner-city Dublin during the 1916 Rising and its immediate aftermath, it is by turns funny, heartbreaking, and politically alive in ways that still provoke argument.

Tom Creed’s production at the Abbey runs in repertoire through April, and it is getting strong notices. The Abbey is the right room for O’Casey: the building’s relationship with the play’s history, including the famously riotous first run in 1926, makes attending here something more than a straightforward theatre trip.

If you have not seen this play, April at the Abbey is a good moment to put that right. If you have seen it before, a strong new production is always worth returning to.

Good to Know

• Check the Abbey Theatre website for exact performance dates and times through April
• Tickets available directly via abbeytheatre.ie
• Concessions available for students, seniors, and unwaged
• Running time approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including interval
• Advance booking strongly recommended as productions often sell

Getting There

The Abbey Theatre is on Lower Abbey Street, two minutes from O’Connell Street and a short walk from the DART at Connolly Station. Luas Red Line stops at Busaras, directly across from the theatre. Dublin Bus runs extensively along O’Connell Street. If driving in from the suburbs, parking at Marlborough Street car park is close.