Thomas MacAnna

Thomas MacAnna (Irish: Tómas MacAnna) (c. 1926 – 17 May 2011) was a Tony Award^[1] winning theatre director and playwright.

Born in Dundalk, he was educated at the College of Art in Dublin, worked as a customs officer 1945–47, and then at the Abbey Theatre as a producer of Irish language plays, subsequently becoming Artistic Adviser to the Board in 1966, then Artistic Director 1972–79 and 1984–85. His work as an innovative stage director was crucial in modernizing the Abbey style after its re-opening in 1966.

He co-wrote the Irish pantomimes for years. Amongst his original plays are Winter Wedding (1956), Dear Edward (1973), Scéal Scéalaí (1977), and Glittering Spears (1983), a drama-documentary on O'Casey's The Silver Tassie.^[2]

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