'Active Speech' is a groundbreaking collection of scholarly essays and practitioner interviews focused on the work of Irish playwright Teresa Deevy. Acts of recovery in the 1980s and 1990s challenged Deevy's exclusion from the literary canon, reclaiming her contributions as significant to Irish drama and theatre. The recent resurgence of scholarship and productions evidences that, as a deafened woman and Irish playwright, Deevy's creative power continues to disrupt and tilt the canon of Irish drama, theatre, and performance.
Essays within the collection explore how Deevy's work interrogates early to mid-twentieth century Irish social norms and ideologies and provide a rich context for understanding her plays. The collection highlights the interdisciplinary nature of research on Deevy and offers insights on her work through archival research, literary analysis, and practitioner perspectives from Deaf and hearing theatremakers.
One of the collection's strengths lies in its collaborative and inclusive approach, showcasing diverse methodologies and rigorous scholarship. The chapters on archival research and practitioner perspectives offer compelling models and avenues for future studies. This volume is an essential resource for scholars, educators, and theatremakers alike.
Kealy, Úna: - Úna Kealy lectures in Theatre Studies and English in Waterford Institute of Technology and, in recent years, Úna's research has focused on the work of playwright Teresa Deevy. In addition to academic publications this research takes the form of rehearsed play readings and practical workshops. Úna's research is driven by a desire to interrogate questions of identity, marginalization, social inclusion and exclusion and to work with colleagues in sister institutions, cultural organisations, independent theatre makers, cultural advisory bodies and policy makers so as to improve equality of opportunity and achievement for all who wish to work in the Irish cultural sector. A full list of publications, curated events and research events is found at https: //www.setu.ie/staff/una-kealy
McCarthy, Kate: - Kate McCarthy lectures in Drama at Waterford Institute of Technology. She holds a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies and English, and an MA in Drama and Theatre Studies from University College Cork. She also holds Associate and Licentiate diplomas in Performance from Guildhall/Trinity College London. Her PhD research, at the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin, investigated the relationship between drama and theatre education, and applied theatre. Her research interests include: the arts and education, contemporary theatre practice, in particular participatory performance and live art, and the work of Waterford playwright, Teresa Deevy. As a practitioner, Kate has facilitated and devised numerous contemporary performance projects in Ireland and in the UK-ranging from youth theatre to site-responsive and street theatre to drama education projects. Kate's professional profile can be accessed at https: //www.setu.ie/staff/kate-mccarthy
