Gate Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Gate Theatre, in Dublin, was founded in 1928 by Hilton Edwards
and Micheál Mac Liammóir, initially using the Abbey Theatre
's Peacock studio theatre space to stage important works by Europe
an and American dramatists. The theatre later moved to 1 Cavendish Row (part of the Rotunda Hospital
complex) where leading Irish architect Michael Scott
undertook the revisions necessary to the room to convert it into a theatre. The theatre's current artistic director is Michael Colgan.
Edwards/McLiammoir Productions presented European plays in sharp contrast to the country kitchen fare available at the Abbey Theatre
bringing the Irish Premieres of Ibsen and other such dramatists to the Irish public.
Orson Welles
, James Mason
and Michael Gambon
started their acting careers at The Gate. In December 1983 the directorship of the Gate was handed to Michael Colgan
. In 1991 the Gate became the first theatre in history to launch a full retrospective of the nineteen stage plays of Samuel Beckett
. This festival was repeated at the Barbican Centre
in London
and New York
's Lincoln Center.
The Gate also featured three separate festivals of the works of Harold Pinter
, the first theatre in Europe to do such retrospectives.
In 2007, the first major musical to be produced by the Gate was Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, with David Shannon playing the title role. According to The Sunday Times review, "The black backdrop of David Farley's rough hewn set and the stark minimalism of Rick Fisher's lighting suggest a self-conscious edginess, with Shannon's stylised make-up, long leather coat and brooding countenance only adding to the feeling...[director Selina] Cartmell and Cathal Synnott, the musical director, use the comparatively intimate scale of the Gate well. The seven musicians lack firepower for huge orchestral crescendos, but tease out the score's claustrophobic elements...The Gate's interpretation of Sondheim's masterpiece is exciting and thoughtful, tragic and witty, entertaining yet provoking: a family musical, but not as we know it."
Hilton Edwards
Hilton Edwards was an English-born Irish actor and theatrical producer. He was the son of Thomas George Cecil Edwards and Emily Edwards ....
and Micheál Mac Liammóir, initially using the Abbey Theatre
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
's Peacock studio theatre space to stage important works by Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an and American dramatists. The theatre later moved to 1 Cavendish Row (part of the Rotunda Hospital
Rotunda Hospital
The Rotunda Hospital is one of the three main maternity hospitals in the city of Dublin, the others being the The Coombe and The National Maternity Hospital...
complex) where leading Irish architect Michael Scott
Michael Scott (architect)
Michael Scott was an Irish architect whose buildings included the Busáras building in Dublin, the Abbey Theatre, and Tullamore Hospital....
undertook the revisions necessary to the room to convert it into a theatre. The theatre's current artistic director is Michael Colgan.
Edwards/McLiammoir Productions presented European plays in sharp contrast to the country kitchen fare available at the Abbey Theatre
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
bringing the Irish Premieres of Ibsen and other such dramatists to the Irish public.
Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
, James Mason
James Mason
James Neville Mason was an English actor who attained stardom in both British and American films. Mason remained a powerful figure in the industry throughout his career and was nominated for three Academy Awards as well as three Golden Globes .- Early life :Mason was born in Huddersfield, in the...
and Michael Gambon
Michael Gambon
Sir Michael John Gambon, CBE is an Irish actor who has worked in theatre, television and film. A highly respected theatre actor, Gambon is recognised for his roles as Philip Marlowe in the BBC television serial The Singing Detective, as Jules Maigret in the 1990s ITV serial Maigret, and as...
started their acting careers at The Gate. In December 1983 the directorship of the Gate was handed to Michael Colgan
Michael Colgan (theatre director)
Michael Colgan is a film and television producer and is also the Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre in Dublin.-Life and work:Born in Dublin in 1950, he was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where, as a student, he became chairman of Trinity Players...
. In 1991 the Gate became the first theatre in history to launch a full retrospective of the nineteen stage plays of Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett
Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet. He wrote both in English and French. His work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human nature, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humour.Beckett is widely regarded as among the most...
. This festival was repeated at the Barbican Centre
Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Located in the City of London, England, the Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. It also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Lincoln Center.
The Gate also featured three separate festivals of the works of Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter
Harold Pinter, CH, CBE was a Nobel Prize–winning English playwright and screenwriter. One of the most influential modern British dramatists, his writing career spanned more than 50 years. His best-known plays include The Birthday Party , The Homecoming , and Betrayal , each of which he adapted to...
, the first theatre in Europe to do such retrospectives.
In 2007, the first major musical to be produced by the Gate was Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, with David Shannon playing the title role. According to The Sunday Times review, "The black backdrop of David Farley's rough hewn set and the stark minimalism of Rick Fisher's lighting suggest a self-conscious edginess, with Shannon's stylised make-up, long leather coat and brooding countenance only adding to the feeling...[director Selina] Cartmell and Cathal Synnott, the musical director, use the comparatively intimate scale of the Gate well. The seven musicians lack firepower for huge orchestral crescendos, but tease out the score's claustrophobic elements...The Gate's interpretation of Sondheim's masterpiece is exciting and thoughtful, tragic and witty, entertaining yet provoking: a family musical, but not as we know it."