While most accounts of Irish theatre begin with the Abbey theatre, Chris Morash's comprehensive study goes back three centuries earlier to Ireland's first theatre. Written in an accessible style, yet drawing extensively on unpublished sources, it traces an often forgotten history leading up to the Irish Literary Revival, and then follows that history to the present. The main chapters are each followed by shorter chapters, focusing on a single night at the theatre. Morash creates a remarkably clear picture of the cultural contexts which produced the playwrights who have been responsible for making Irish theatre's world-wide historical and contemporary reputation. Morash also deals with aspects of Irish theatre often ignored, including audiences, performance styles, architecture, management and other aspects of Irish theatrical culture. This book is an essential, entertaining and highly original guide to the history and performance of Irish theatre.