Irish Theatre and its Soundscapes

Irish Theatre and Its Soundscapes comprises seven essays on the theme of theatre and sound, with each contributor building her or his arguments around either a piece or a couple of pieces of dramatic work by Irish authors. The editors, Hiroko Mikami and Naoko Yagi, have chosen to make the word 'soundscape' plural for the title of the book so that each of the seven essays would be read in its own mix of language, music, and sound effects. All the 'soundscapes' in the book nevertheless relate to one another in the sense that, and to borrow Emily Thompson's expression, they ' have] more to do with civilization than with nature.' This collection of 'soundscapes' should in due course evolve into a dynamic and interdisciplinary platform for our asking where Irish theatre is, where it has been, and in what direction it seems to be moving. Six of the seven essays are arranged according to the categories 'Songs and Music'and 'A Confined Space, ' while an essay on Samuel Beckett 's Krapp's Last Tape divides one category from the other. In 'Songs and Music' are essays on Tom Murphy's Conversations on a Homecoming, Brian Friel's Performances, and Frank McGuinness's Mutabilitie and Speaking Like Magpies. 'A Confined Space' features essays on Murphy's The House, Paula Meehan's Cell, and Patricia Burke Brogan's Eclipsed and Stained Glass at Samhain