The evolution of Irish folk theatre

Siamsa Tíre, The National Folk Theatre of Ireland, was founded in 1964 and is based in Tralee, Co. Kerry. It is, in many ways, a unique cultural experience, presenting Irish folklore and folk culture through the medium of theatre involving music, song, dance and mime but invariably no dialogue. I began training with the company at the age of nine and have been involved in many roles since, including as a performer and director. In this paper I seek to outline the evolution of Irish folk theatre as exemplified by Siamsa Tíre. As well as engaging with the material presented on stage, I consider the impact of tourism on Irish culture, changing concepts of folk culture in an increasingly urbanized state and the potential of folk theatre to create as well as reflect a community and society. This paper draws selectively on the repertoire of performances devised by Siamsa Tíre over the past half century, highlighting themes and developments that inform an understanding of the art form and changes in Irish society more generally