Ria Mooney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ria Mooney
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| Born | 30 April 1903 |
| Died | 3 January 1973 |
Ria Mooney (born April 30, 1903 – died January 3, 1973) was an important Irish actress and theatre director. She was the first woman to be a producer at the famous Abbey Theatre in Dublin. She also helped lead the Gaiety School of Acting.
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Early Life and Acting Career
Ria Mooney was born in Rathmines, a part of Dublin, on April 30, 1903. She started acting when she was a child. As a teenager, she sang with the Rathmines and Rathgar Musical Society. She also studied art at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art.
In 1924, Ria was invited to join the Abbey Theatre. There, she acted alongside famous actors like Cyril Cusack and Maire O'Neill. She performed in many plays. One famous role was Rosie Redmond in The Plough and the Stars in 1926. During this play, there was a riot in the theatre, and the actors were attacked. Ria Mooney went on to play important roles in many key Irish plays of her time.
Directing and Leadership Roles
After spending some time working abroad and at the Gate Theatre, Ria Mooney returned to the Abbey Theatre. In 1937, she was put in charge of the new Peacock Theatre. She also led the Abbey Experimental Theatre Company.
In 1944, Ria left the Abbey Theatre for a short time. She became the director of the Gaiety School of Acting. This school helped train new actors.
Returning to the Abbey Theatre
In January 1948, Ria Mooney returned to the Abbey Theatre as a resident producer. This was a challenging time for the theatre. A big event was the death of actor F. J. McCormick in 1947. Then, on July 17, 1951, a fire destroyed the Abbey Theatre building.
The theatre company quickly found a new home. They leased the old Queen's Theatre in September 1951. They stayed there until 1966. Ria Mooney used this chance to hire younger actors. Many of them she knew from her time teaching at the Gaiety School. These young talents included Ronnie Masterson, Joan O'Hara, and Ray McAnally.
Between 1948 and 1963, Ria Mooney directed most of the seventy-five new plays produced at the Abbey Theatre's two locations. Many of these plays received excellent reviews from critics in Dublin.
In 1947, she also helped set up the Radio Éireann Players. This group performed plays for radio.
See also
