Highlights of recent years

1966 Opening of the new Abbey Theatre on July 18th by the president, Éamon de Valera. Tomás Mac Anna is appointed artistic adviser.

1968 Tour to the Florence Theatre Festival, the World Theatre Festival in London and the Edinburgh Festival. Première of Famine by Tom Murphy.

1969 The Abbey opens the Théâtre des Nations Festival in Paris with She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith and Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan, adapted by Frank McMahon. Alan Simpson is appointed artistic adviser (January-December 1969).

1970 Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan, adapted by Frank McMahon and directed by Tomás Mac Anna, opens in New York and wins a Tony award. Hugh Hunt is appointed artistic director.

1971 Première of The Morning After Optimism by Tom Murphy.

1972 Lelia Doolan is appointed artistic director.

1973 Première of The Freedom of the City by Brian Friel. Tomás Mac Anna is appointed artistic director.

1975 Première of The Sanctuary Lamp by Tom Murphy.

1976 The Abbey takes part in the American bicentennial celebrations, presenting The Plough and the Stars by Seán O'Casey in New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Boston.

1977 Première of Talbot's Box by Thomas Kilroy which later tours to the Royal Court, London.

1978 Joe Dowling is appointed artistic director.

1979 Première of I Do Not Like Thee, Dr Fell by Bernard Farrell and A Life by Hugh Leonard.

1980 Irish première of Faith Healer by Brian Friel.

1983 First production of The Gigli Concert by Tom Murphy and The Great Hunger by Tom MacIntyre.

1985 Première of Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching towards the Somme by Frank McGuinness. Tomás Mac Anna is appointed artistic director.

1986 Christopher Fitz-Simon is appointed artistic director.

1987 Revival of The Field by John B. Keane, directed by Ben Barnes. Vincent Dowling is appointed artistic director.

1988 Tour to Russia with The Field by John B. Keane and The Great Hunger by Tom MacIntyre.

1989 The Inaugural Yeats Festival, (festival runs from 1989 to 1993). Première of Too Late For Logic by Tom Murphy. Noel Pearson is appointed artistic director.

1990 Première of Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel. Opening of the Abbey portico.

1991 Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel tours to New York winning three Tony awards. Garry Hynes is appointed artistic director.

1992 Revival of The Iceman Cometh by Eugene O'Neill starring Brian Dennehy.

1993 Irish Première of Someone Who'll Watch Over Me by Frank McGuinness and Wonderful Tennessee by Brian Friel.

1994 Première of The Mai by Marina Carr. Patrick Mason is appointed artistic director.

1995 Irish Première of Angels in America: Millennium Approaches Part I by Tony Kushner.

1996 Première of Portia Coughlan by Marina Carr.

1997 Première of Tarry Flynn by Patrick Kavanagh adapted for stage by Conall Morrison and The Secret Fall of Constance Wilde by Thomas Kilroy.

1998 Première of The Wake by Tom Murphy and By the Bog of Cats by Marina Carr.

1999 Friel Festival celebrating Brian Friel's 70th birthday.

2000 Ben Barnes is appointed artistic director.

2001 Première of Eden by Eugene O'Brien. The Murphy Season: six plays in performance celebrating the contribution of Tom Murphy to Irish drama.

2002 Irish première of Hinterland by Sebastian Barry.

2004 The Abbey's 100th year.

Tomorrow: Why do we have a national theatre? How can it best serve Irish drama in the years ahead? A range of critical views.

Friday: The Abbey Theatre's artistic director, Ben Barnes tells Belinda McKeon his vision for the future.