Abstract
The Making of an Artist is a fascinating portrayal of the formative years of Micheál MacLiammóir, actor, playwright, artist, linguist, raconteur and co-founder of the Gate Theatre. Born in Cockney London and christened Alfred Willmore, he moved to Dublin in his teens and set about creating an entirely new persona, becoming one of Ireland’s leading stage actors along the way. He immersed himself in Irish culture, becoming fluent in the Irish language, and was gripped by the social unrest in Dublin as Ireland fought for independence.
The story of MacLiammóir’s development as an artist is told through hundreds of previously unseen letters and diary entries. Correspondence between the actor and his two closest friends, Máire O’Keeffe and Jack Dunne – many from exotic locales like Nice, Davos, Rome, Paris, Howth, London, Monte Carlo and Florence – provides a fascinating glimpse into MacLiammóir’s creative growth, as well as the literary milieu of 1920s Dublin.
Lavishly illustrated with personal photographs and original artwork by MacLiammóir, this brilliantly researched book will make an important contribution to our appreciation of one of Ireland’s greatest artists.
About the Author
Tom Madden, Ph.D., is a Lecturer in Theatre Studies, and was previously Director of Theatre Studies in NUI Maynooth. A graduate of UCD, Madden has also taught on many courses for St Patrick’s College Drumcondra, Dublin Business School and the National Association of Youth Drama He has represented Irish theatre with productions in Europe, America and Canada.
