Fly by Night Theatre Company is an Irish

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

 theatre company

Irish theatre

The history of Irish theatre begins with the Gaelic Irish tradition. Much of the literature in that Celtic language was destroyed by conquest, except for a few manuscripts and fragments, such as the Book of Fermoy...

 based in Dublin. It was established in summer 1992, mostly by students from University College Dublin

University College Dublin

University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...

 who had been active members of UCD Dramsoc

UCD Dramsoc

UCD Dramsoc is the student drama society of University College Dublin. The society was founded in 1926 and is currently in its 84th session. Since it was founded, the society has had two central objectives which are key to its ethos; firstly to be a breeding ground for emerging talent by pursuing...

, the student drama society. Regular members of the company were Richard Brennan, Jason Byrne, Kevin Hely, Peter McDonald

Peter McDonald (actor)

Peter McDonald is an Irish stage and screen actor. He grew up in Mount Merrion in South County Dublin. His mother, Brenda Costigan is a cookery writer and his father, Richard McDonald sells bailer twine...

, Conor McPherson

Conor McPherson

Conor McPherson is an Irish playwright and director.-Life and career:McPherson was born in Dublin, . He was educated at University College Dublin, McPherson began writing his first plays there as a member of UCD Dramsoc, the college's dramatic society, and went on to found Fly By Night Theatre...

, Colin O'Connor, and Valerie Spelman. The company was originally set up to produce new plays. Its first production was Radio Play (Concerning Communication) by Conor McPherson. The original cast included Brennan, Byrne, Hely, and McPherson, as well as Rebecca Bickerdike, Ciara Considine

Ciara Considine

Ciara Considine is a musician known for her Celtic and folk music. She has toured throughout the world playing flute and piano, as well as other instruments, and singing....

, and Coilín O Connor. McPherson also directed the production, which was performed from August 17–29, 1992 at the International Bar in Dublin.

The company went on to produce the following plays by McPherson:

• A Light in the Window of Industry (International Bar, August 3–21, 1993)
• Inventing Fortune's Wheel (Firkin Crane Theatre, Cork
  Cork (city)
  Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
  
  , March 3, 1994)
• The Light of Jesus (aka The Good Thief) (City Arts Centre
  City Arts Centre, Dublin
  CityArts in Dublin, Ireland, is a community arts organization founded in 1973.Originally named, Grapevine Arts Centre and later City Arts Centre, it occupied a number of premises in the centre of Dublin, beginning at Mary Street and then North Great Georges Street, North Frederick Street, Moss...
  
  , April 18–30, 1994)
• The Stars Lose Their Glory (International Bar, August 1–13, 1994)
• Rum and Vodka (City Arts Centre
  City Arts Centre, Dublin
  CityArts in Dublin, Ireland, is a community arts organization founded in 1973.Originally named, Grapevine Arts Centre and later City Arts Centre, it occupied a number of premises in the centre of Dublin, beginning at Mary Street and then North Great Georges Street, North Frederick Street, Moss...
  
  , September 1994)
• This Lime Tree Bower
  This Lime Tree Bower
  This Lime Tree Bower is an early play by Conor McPherson. The title is taken from the poem of the same name by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Originally produced and directed at the Crypt Theatre Dublin by the author himself, it later transferred to the Bush Theatre London...
  
  (jointly with Íomha Ildánach Theatre Company, Crypt Arts Centre, Dublin Castle, October 26, 1995; project@the mint
  Project Arts Centre
  Project Arts Centre is a multidisciplinary contemporary arts centre located in Dublin's Temple Bar that showcases cutting-edge visual art and performance....
  
   and national tour, 1998)

and the following plays by Colin O'Connor:

• Van Gogh's Ear (International Bar, August 16, 1993)
• The Stranger (Player's Theatre, July 16, 1996)
• All Those Trammelling Dreams (Crypt Arts Centre, Dublin Castle, 1997)
• The Last Days of God (THEatre Space @ Henry Place, May 31 – June 17, 2000).

Though nominally a company, "Fly by Night" is really just an umbrella name under which a group of friends can make productions on their own terms. The company has not made any new performances since June 2000. Conor McPherson

Conor McPherson

Conor McPherson is an Irish playwright and director.-Life and career:McPherson was born in Dublin, . He was educated at University College Dublin, McPherson began writing his first plays there as a member of UCD Dramsoc, the college's dramatic society, and went on to found Fly By Night Theatre...

 is an internationally-renowned playwright, theatre director, film director, and sometime actor. Peter McDonald

Peter McDonald (actor)

Peter McDonald is an Irish stage and screen actor. He grew up in Mount Merrion in South County Dublin. His mother, Brenda Costigan is a cookery writer and his father, Richard McDonald sells bailer twine...

is a successful film and stage actor. Jason Byrne is a successful theatre director.