I have moved the amendment as set out on the Order Paper. I would say that the policy of the management of the Abbey Theatre has not commended itself to people who are interested in the theatre in Ireland and it has not recommended itself to the people who work in the theatre in Ireland. The Minister said of course that we could look back on the old Abbey and mention names like Lady Gregory, Synge and O'Casey. They are no longer there. O'Casey is still alive but he left the Abbey Theatre. There was a great tradition, but the policy that has been carried on for some years past has not done anything to revive that tradition. As a matter of fact, it has stifled it and exasperated many people so that they left the Abbey. Groups of Abbey actors left and set up in other theatres in Dublin.
The reason my attention was drawn to this is that I have some interest in the theatre. The Wexford Theatre Royal was closed—I mentioned this on Second Reading—and it was necessary to try to revive that theatre. A group of people got together and did me the honour of asking me to be chairman. We opened the theatre and we did not come here to look for money. If that theatre were burned down, I am sure the Dáil would not build a new one—nor could we expect it to do so—and hand it over to me.
I admit all the time that the Abbey Theatre is a great institution so far as its name is concerned. I am not jealous of the fact that we are putting up £250,000 of public money which is to be taken from the funds of suitors, but I think that as a public representative the Minister should take steps or precautions to see that the Abbey Theatre is properly run as a national theatre.
I might as well say what my idea of a national theatre is and I should like the Minister to take special note of this. The Abbey Theatre began in the 1920s after getting a subsidy from the Government. Touring companies were sent down the country and at that time they did a great deal of good for the Irish theatre. There is a great amateur theatrical movement all over the country. As I say, they sent touring companies around the country. There was always a certain amount of amateur theatricals in the country but the standard was very low. I admit that the fact that professionals went to the smaller towns and smaller centres in Ireland gave the amateur theatrical movement the polish it has had in rural areas. I have been present at their performances. I have seen people drive long distances to come to see them. I have heard their comments on them—of how they put it over, how their entrances, exits and technique were accomplished.
All that no longer exists. The Abbey Theatre Company now say they are tied to the "Queens." I have a letter here which they sent when we asked them to come to Waterford. I have quoted this letter before. They said they would not be able to come down to go on tour.
"... if we had two plays each of which could be performed by seven or eight people and each of which could be well cast from our company without leaving the other short of suitable talent. In that case we could send whichever of the two plays seemed most suitable to Waterford and keep the other in the Queens."
It looks as if they are undermanned and understaffed. If they are, and if they are not getting money and if they are not able to make it pay, I must say I never heard of this House refusing to increase their subsidy if they wanted it.
That letter gives me the impression that the Abbey Theatre is on crutches and would not be able to stagger down the country. It looks to me as if it would be in danger of falling asunder before getting to Waterford or Wexford or any other place. It would be a wonderful thing, now that there are so many smaller theatres down the country, if the Abbey Theatre could send its company on tour and give the people down the country the chance of comparing their performances with those of the Abbey Theatre company. It has been said to me that the reason the Abbey do not now go on tour is that they would be afraid to have their performances seen by the people down the country.
Do you think the policy of the Abbey Theatre is a good policy, the policy that has turned away three Irish plays that have made the international stage within the past 12 months? There is no courage in their policy. I do not expect the Abbey Theatre to put on success after success. I would rather see them stage a play on a Monday and have to take it off on a Thursday night, and do that a good few times, because, by that method of trial and error, they would eventually find a success. They have become so cagey that they will put on practically nothing that is new. Plays are being sent to them and are constantly rejected.
Deputy Moloney praised the Abbey to the skies when speaking here the other day. He claimed he comes from the constituency that has made a great mark in the amateur theatre. I suppose he was referring to Sive. He must know something about the theatre—he is coming into the House now—or it must be his claim that because Sive was produced in Kerry, it is rather wonderful.