Sir, – Your positive reviews of the Absolut Fringe festival has so far failed to reveal a single show or performance that reflects the real state of Ireland today. This is not a criticism of your reportage, but of the Fringe itself.
After the greatest financial disaster in our history, when a feather-bedded gerontocracy has robbed its grandchildren and driven its children abroad to earn a living, not one piece of theatre can be found to comment on our nation’s woes. This is is consistent with last year’s Fringe and that of the year before.
This is certainly not due to any failure on the part of Irish writers, artists or performers. Rather, this policy of omertà in relation to the greatest calamity of our era is the deliberate result of decisions taken by arts administrators in relation to the performances, programmes and exhibitions they choose to support. There is anger in the streets and tragedy in countless Irish homes, but don’t expect to see any of that put in an appearance on the Irish stage any time soon. – Yours, etc,