Update on the Lyric Archive

As summer arrives, it's a good time to take stock of the Lyric archive cataloguing project and to see how much work is still to be done. The Lyric archive consisted of around one hundred boxes when I began the project last September. When it is all complete, this number will be somewhat lower as there were many duplicates of material which I've separated from the main body of the collection. There are also around ten boxes of audiovisual material, mainly audio reels, which will not be catalogued with the archive, but in a separate project afterwards.

The archive is divided into sections such as the Lyric Theatre, Threshold, and the O'Malley family papers. These sections are then further subdivided. The Lyric section for example is subdivided into sections on productions, administration and correspondence. The aim of the arrangement is to organise the archive in such a way that researchers can easily locate material of interest to them, whether they have prior knowledge of the workings of the theatre or not. The catalogue will be accompanied by biographical information detailing the background of the archive. Each section then has a brief introduction which explains what material is included, and also gives some contextual information.

The project has progressed very well over the past eight months, and I'm delighted to report that it will soon be completed. The Lyric Theatre archive will then be fully catalogued and available to researchers, who I'm sure will find it an invaluable resource for the study of theatre in Ireland. We will also make the catalogue available online so that researchers can see it in advance of their visit.

Sarah Poutch

Archiving Druid - the First Ten Years

Cataloguing is well underway on the extensive archive and papers of Druid Theatre Company. Hundreds of files of material have been sorted and arranged and now being described to item-level. The end result will be a considerably detailed but user friendly guide and finding aid on the Druid papers. Any reader looking to carry out research on the Druid papers will be able to navigate the electronic finding aid prior to arrival for consultation at reading room of NUI Galway Archives and Special Collections at James Hardiman Library.

The collection has been arranged into two primary series; productions and press cuttings. The production files contain a varied body of records and include programmes, posters, flyers, invitations, scripts, hand written stage, lighting and sound directions and various other documents.

Further to this an immense collections of photographs document a visual record of the Druid productions. Hundreds of images, the vast majority in exceptional quality are an enviable resource for any archive.

The production files are arranged chronological by year and again by each production in sequence within that year. So far, the first ten years of the Druid production files have been catalogued and cover years 1974 – 1975. Key works in this time include major nationwide tours of new works by the like of Tom Murphy and Geraldine Aron and productions of Wilde, Boucicault, Shepherd, O’Casey, Farrell, Brecht and others.

The press files are an interesting commentary on the social and public reception of Druid and their plays and ideas throughout its existence. Interestingly, the press files document the productions, awards and achievements of the University College Galway Drama Society in the year previous to the official formation of Druid theatre company. These files highlight the promise of this particular group of theatre enthusiasts who would go on to become Druid theatre company and transform the reception and production of Irish plays in the West of Ireland, nationwide and indeed worldwide.

The press files are arranged in a separate series and are arranged in monthly files in chronological order by year.

The press cuttings document the formation and work of Druid from day one and an unbroken sequence of press cuttings continue from 1973 to 1999. Covering every possible aspect of Druid and its development, articles on its major works, its cast and members, international tours and awards and accolades, the press files offer a unique viewpoint into this key period in Irish theatre history.  Features and articles on Irish theatre in general provide an addition interesting insight into Irish and international theatrical events at this time. Work on cataloguing these press cuttings has just begun and will continue over the coming months.