Minutes for Garry Hynes

Jackie opened the meeting by welcoming Garry to NUIG, the interviewer for the evening, Dr. Lionel Pilkington was introduced and the interview began.

The interview started with Dr. Pilkington asking Garry had NUIG changed much since she left. She said no and that hearing the Lit and Deb minutes showed that nothing had really changed at all. She said that her years in NUIG were the most influential of her life. That she enjoyed the experience immensely and that it was much more enjoyable than secondary school in Ballaghderreen.

She elaborated on Dramsoc at the time, calling it a hugely vibrant society that she really was excited being a part of.

Dr. Pilkington then asked when Garry first met Mick Lally. She said that he was working in the Taidbhearc at the time but that she knew him more from nights in the pub.

The discussion then moved towards the founding of Druid and its first programme. Garry said she decided to host a summer season and that JM Synge would be a substantial part of it. The season proved successful and their 1977 production of Playboy of the Western World won then acclaim.

Druid still had difficulties however. Despite their talent, the Dublin papers were still reluctant to report on Western drama. Druid got international attention way before they got it at home and that this was hugely unfair. Early successes including winning there Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Dr. Pilkington then drew attention to Garry’s experiences of directing.

She described it as hugely rewarding and that there was great fun in taking a text and creative personnel together and fashioning a living breathing work of art. She said she finds reading plays difficult to read by that as she reads them, flashes of images and dialo0gue come to her. This is how she puts things together. She describes it as a risk-taking venture, but one that must be done in order to make art.

Dr. Pilkington then asked about Druid and the financial crisis. She said the year had been difficult but that it was not as bad as it could have been. Many other drama companies were wound up. She finds it scary however that she has been a professional for over 35 yrs and yet there has to be an argument for the need for art.

She was asked to what makes a good Director. She says that it’s not a simple as that, that the only way you get good at directing is by doing as much of it as possible. It’s all about experience. The job itself is about being aware of peoples’ needs and that a vision is not enough.

Garry also sees Druid as a serve for new and upcoming playwrights, stating that there is great talent out there just waiting to be discovered, with the example of Martin McDonagh being one.

When asked about the challenges from Irish Theatre in the future, Garry believes that the financial crisis will hamper the development of drama. That it’s very difficult to source new talent without money and that this needs to be helped. She is also worried that theatre may bb becoming more corporate and that the soul of theatre will disappear as a result.

Questions were then taken from the floor.

When asked about Irish theatre standing up to other national theatre, Garry strongly affirmed that the Irish can act with the best of them and that Druid’s warm reception in New York shows this.

She also revealed that Playboy of the Western World is her Favourite lay.

She was also asked to whether the Abbey Theatre in Dublin is a National theatre. She rejected this, stating that it doesn’t travel and thus cannot entertain the Irish people. Rather than it coming to you, you have to go to it.

When asked about Galway’s importance in Druid. Garryy stated that Galway lies at the heart and soul of the Company, that without the University and actors who were from Galway it could not possible happen. Druid will always be a Galway theatre company.

With that questions were brought to an end and Jackie presented Garry Hynes with the President’s Medal for her services to Theatre. And with that there was nothing left to do but for Jackie to thank PRO Neasa O’ Callaghan for organizing the literary event and to bring the meeting to a close and invite everyone to the Dáil Bar for a post debate drink.