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UCD Library Collection Spotlight: Female Playwrights

A monthly online and print display highlighting our collections

Focus on Female Playwrights

UCD Dramsoc

Inspired by the work of #WakingTheFeminists, UCD Dramsoc has implemented a gender quota for female playwrights for the academic year 2016/2017. The society aims to have 50% of its productions in this academic year written by women. As the Leaving Certificate English curriculum currently contains no female playwrights, this fortnight's library spotlight has been put in place to introduce the UCD community to a selection plays written by women.

Elaine Murphy

 
 
Elaine Murphy is an up-and-coming Irish playwright. Her plays "Ribbons" and "Shush" premiered in the Abbey Theatre. Her first play "Little Gem" won the Fishamble New Writing Award in 2008.

Caryl Churchill

 
 
Caryl Churchill is perhaps the best known British playwright to deal with feminist themes. Her plays include "Love and Information" and "Cloud 9". Her play "Top Girls" ranked at number 16 in the National Theatre's millennial poll of the best plays of the past 100 years.

Stacey Gregg

 
 
Born in Belfast, Stacey Gregg has achieved success with plays such as "Shibboleth" and "Override", which was on show as part of the Tiger Dublin Fringe this year. Gregg's first full-length play, "Perve", was performed on the Dramsoc stage during Week 8 of this semester.

 

Marina Carr

 
  Marina Carr was born in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. During her time as a student in UCD, she was an active member of Dramsoc. Works include "By the Bog of Cats", "On Raftery's Hill" (performed last April in Dramsoc) and an adaptation of "Anna Karenina", which will premiere in the Abbey Theatre this December.

Polly Stenham

 
  Polly Stenham is an English playwright. Her first play, "That Face", debuted when she was only 19 years old. Since then, she has written three more plays - "Tusk Tusk", "No Quarter" and "Hotel". She has been described as "a modern successor to Tennessee Williams".