The Irish Times

Reports by the Office of Public Works recommended that the Abbey Theatre should stay in its present city-centre site, writes Alison O'Connor The Abbey Theatre is to celebrate its centenary in 2004. This date, according to British theatre consultants who carried out a study into its future, provides a rare opportunity and a spur for action. The consultants, Carr & Aungier, acknowledged that proposals to move the National Theatre were "bound to cause unease" and in an ideal world the present site at Abbey Street, Dublin, would be expanded. However, getting to the heart of the matter, they pointed out that "the danger of such a dream" was that it might cause delay or become a reason for doing nothing. "The new site and the centenary opportunity would then be lost."