This volume explores the cultural, literary, theatrical, and political changes in Irish society from 1980. The so-called 'Celtic Tiger' brought about cultural and economic rejuvenation in Ireland but this new found confidence and prosperity was destabilised by other events, such as the scandals in the Catholic Church, bringing into question the role of traditional institutions in contemporary Irish life. The ending of the Troubles and signing of the Good Friday Agreement similarly heralded a new era in terms of positive political change, but recent paramilitary activity threatens to undermine...

This new book offers an account of the relationship between the 'original' text and its adaptation, within the context of nationhood. Focusing on recent Irish and English drama, the book explores the ways in which the new workings of plays (such as Phaedra's Love, Medea, After Miss Julie and The Cripple of Inishmaan) place emphasis on nationalism and national identity, positioning the text within a different national and social context, and changing the approach of the original to expose, explore or problematize the concept of nation within theatre.