Patrick Mason
Encyclopedia
Patrick Mason is an award-winning theatre director.
Mason was educated at Downside School
and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama
in London. He was appointed fellow in drama at the University of Manchester
in 1974 and then lecturer in performance studies. He joined the Abbey Theatre
in Dublin as a resident director in 1977 but later left to become a freelance theatre director. In 1992 he won a Tony Award
and a Drama Desk Award
as director of Dancing at Lughnasa
on Broadway. He returned to the Abbey Theatre as artistic director from 1993–1999.
Mason was educated at Downside School
Downside School
Downside School is a co-educational Catholic independent school for children aged 11 to 18, located in Stratton-on-the-Fosse, between Norton Radstock and Shepton Mallet in Somerset, south west England. It is attached to Downside Abbey...
and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama
Central School of Speech and Drama
The Central School of Speech and Drama was founded in London in 1906 by Elsie Fogerty to offer a new form of training in speech and drama for young actors and other students...
in London. He was appointed fellow in drama at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
in 1974 and then lecturer in performance studies. He joined the Abbey Theatre
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
in Dublin as a resident director in 1977 but later left to become a freelance theatre director. In 1992 he won a Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
and a Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
as director of Dancing at Lughnasa
Dancing at Lughnasa
Dancing at Lughnasa is a 1990 play by dramatist Brian Friel set in Ireland's County Donegal in August 1936 in the fictional town of Ballybeg. It is a memory play told from the point of view of the adult Michael Evans, the narrator...
on Broadway. He returned to the Abbey Theatre as artistic director from 1993–1999.