IRISH RESEARCH COUNCIL FOR THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES PROJECT GRANTS

– The Internationalization of Irish Drama, 1975-2005

Positions available (3) for Doctoral Researchers at Trinity College Dublin and the National University of Ireland, Galway (2007-2010)

This project will establish an inter-institutional Research Team to explore the internationalization of Irish drama since 1975. The Research Team will locate the development of Irish theatrical culture during this period in a comparative international context, with a major focus on Ireland’s changing relationships with the wider world. Three doctoral fellowships will be available:

Doctoral Researcher 1: “The interaction of national and international theatre in the Dublin Theatre Festival, 1975-2005”. (Moore Institute, NUI Galway).

Doctoral Researcher 2 . “Druid Theatre, Regionalization, and Internationalization in Irish Culture, 1975-2005”. (Moore Institute, NUI Galway)

Doctoral Researcher 3 : “The Abbey Theatre on International Stages, 1975-2005”. ( School of English, Trinity College Dublin).

Each doctoral researcher will be provided with a stipend of €12,700 annually for three years, subject to terms and conditions. PhD tuition fees for three years will be paid by the project.

Further Information

For further information, please contact the project organisers:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Positions available (3) for Doctoral Researchers at Trinity College Dublin and the National University of Ireland, Galway (2007-2010)

This project is funded by the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences. It is seeking to recruit three researchers, each to undertake research leading to the award of a PhD degree under the supervision of the Project Directors. Assigned research tasks must begin in September 2007, and be completed by September 2010.

This project is part of the broader Irish Theatrical Diaspora project, an international research network established in 2002 to develop and co-ordinate research on the production and reception of Irish drama in its local, national and international contexts. A dedicated website has been established (see http://www.irishtheatricaldiaspora.org/). To date, conferences have taken place in Dublin, London, and New York, while a fourth annual conference is scheduled for 2007. A book series arising from these conferences has been launched, with one volume in print, and two further volumes (on Irish theatre in Britain and the United States respectively) in preparation.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

This project will establish an inter-institutional Research Team to explore the internationalization of Irish drama since 1975. The Research Team will locate the development of Irish theatrical culture during this period in a comparative international context, with a major focus on Ireland’s changing relationships with the wider world.

The research is founded on the conviction that, during the last thirty years, there has been a marked internationalization of Irish drama, with Irish plays, playwrights and theatrical companies establishing newly global reputations. Simultaneously, the increased globalization of Irish society has led to new styles of dramatic writing, performance, and theatrical production. The project aims to explore these developments by investigating the inter-relationship of three features of Irish theatrical production since 1975: the regional, the national, and the international – as follows:

1. The International within Ireland.

This research explores the history of the Dublin Theatre Festival since 1975, with an emphasis on its production of international drama within Ireland.

2. The Regional and the International

This strand explores the development of Druid Theatre, a regional company that pioneered rural touring within Ireland before achieving international success.

3. Performing the Nation for International Audiences

This strand explores the Abbey Theatre’s international tours during the period 1975-2005, with focus on its participation, as Ireland’s national theatre, in international festivals.

The project is a collaboration between Trinity College, Dublin and National University of Ireland, Galway, with research being conducted in both institutions and online.

DESCRIPTION OF TASKS FOR DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS

The primary objective of the group is to complete a major research project on the internationalization of Irish drama, which investigates the inter-relationships of three elements of Irish theatrical production:

Doctoral Researcher 1: THE INTERNATIONAL WITHIN IRELAND.

This research explores the history of the Dublin Theatre Festival since 1975, with an emphasis on its production of international drama within Ireland. Key themes include:

• The impact of “festivalization” on Irish culture;
• The reception by Irish audiences of international productions;
• The influence of international plays and practitioners on the development of Irish culture.

This research will lead to the production of a PhD Dissertation concerned with the interaction of national and international theatre in the Dublin Theatre Festival, 1975-2005.

This research will be carried out at the Moore Institute, NUI Galway.

Doctoral Researcher 2 . THE REGIONAL AND THE INTERNATIONAL

This strand explores the development of Druid Theatre, a regional company which pioneered rural touring within Ireland before achieving international success. Key themes include:

• Druid’s construction of itself as a “regional” company;
• The impact of rural touring on the reception of Druid Theatre’s plays;
• The impact of Druid’s rural and international touring on government policy;
• The impact of Druid’s exploration of regional issues on the development of new Irish writing;
• Druid’s international tours;
• The presentation of Druid’s regional and international success by national media and government agencies.

This research will lead to the production of a PhD Dissertation about Druid Theatre, Regionalization, and Internationalization in Irish Culture, 1975-2005.

This research will be carried out at the Moore Institute, NUI Galway.

Doctoral Researcher 3 : PERFORMING THE NATION FOR INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES

This strand explores the Abbey Theatre’s international tours during the period 1975-2005, with particular focus on its participation, as Ireland’s national theatre, in international festivals. It also considers the theatre’s international tours. Key themes include:

• Shifting constructions of the cultural capital of the Abbey as Ireland’s national theatre;
• The status of the Abbey Theatre abroad as an aid in the promotion of Irish government policy on tourism, foreign direct investment, and trade;
• The ways in which Irishness is performed by the Abbey Theatre abroad, and the manner in which such performances are received by different audiences.

This research will lead to the production of a PhD Dissertation concerning the Abbey Theatre on International Stages, 1975-2005.

This research will be carried out at the School of English, Trinity College Dublin.

OVERVIEW

While each of these three strands has clearly defined objectives, there will also be areas of overlap, which will provide opportunities for the Research Team to undertake comparative and collaborative tasks. Such shared areas include:

• The festivalization of international theatre and its impact on Irish culture;
• Shifting conceptions of Irish culture and identity, at local, regional, national, and international levels;
• The performance of Irishness abroad, and the re-transmission of such performances to Irish audiences;
• The construction of cultural core and periphery within Ireland; and the place of Irish culture within the world literary and theatrical systems;
• The impact of globalization and related processes (net migration, economic prosperity, Europeanization, regionalization) on Irish dramatic writing;
• The extent to which Irish theatre history has neglected theatre productions in favour of studies of dramatic texts.

In addition, the research team will collaborate on a range of activities during the period of the project, including a conference in 2009, production of a website, and other activities.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

A minimum of a Second Class Honours, Grade 1 primary degree (3.3 GPA) in a relevant field. A Master's degree or other postgraduate qualification is desirable. Competency in at least one European language (other than English) will be advantageous.

Proven expertise in at least two of the following areas is desirable for both positions:

• Contemporary Irish theatre and drama
• Trends in the development of theatre internationally since 1975
• Archival research
• Critical editing
• Web-authoring and design
• Conference organisation.

Successful candidates will be expected to participate fully in all elements of the project, on a full-time basis, from September 2007-September 2010.

FUNDING

Each doctoral researcher will be provided with a stipend of €12,700 annually for three years, subject to terms and conditions. PhD tuition fees for three years will be paid by the project. Provision will be made for some travel and research expenses, subject to terms and conditions. Research facilities will be provided by the Moore Institute at NUI, Galway, and by Trinity College Dublin. Doctoral researchers will be expected to participate in and contribute to the activities of each institution during the course of their funding.

APPLICATION

To apply for one of the positions, please send a letter of application (outlining your qualifications for the appropriate position) and an academic CV to BOTH of the Project Directors before 1 March 2007, including the names of two academic referees. An interview may form part of the assessment process.

For further information or discussion contact the Project Director:

PROJECT FUNDED BY

The Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences