Abbey Theatre

Lonely Planet review

Ireland's national theatre has had its fair share of trouble and strife in recent years, marking its 2004 centennial with virtual bankruptcy and the possibility of closure. Enter a new regime under director Fiach MacConghail, and the Abbey is alive and well once again, financially secure and equipped with a whole new seating rig that has transformed the old theatre from a venue that we endured to one we positively enjoy.

Under MacConghail's strict tutelage, the Abbey is rigorously following a twin stream of rendering old classics by the great stalwarts of the Irish theatrical firmament (JM Synge, Sean O'Casey et al) and supporting the work of new playwrights like Mark O'Rowe, Marina Carr and contemporary international stars like Sam Shepard. The old box - built to replace the original building that burnt down in the 1950s - will eventually be abandoned in favour of a move down to the new Docklands development, but that won't happen for a few years yet. Monday performances are cheaper. Work by up-and-coming writers and more experimental theatre is staged in the adjoining Peacock Theatre (tel:878 7222; admission around €12 ).