Mr. Declan Conlon:

There are two issues. There is a distinct lack of responsive communication. We have heard this from a number of people at the meetings we have had. The second issue, which I find strange, concerns the new works department. Established writers, who have a relationship with the Abbey Theatre, have to send in work anonymously. They are treated the same as anyone else. There are no names on the submitted scripts. How does one build a relationship with a writer who has a history with the theatre if everybody is just sending in work to this new works department anonymously? That does not sound like nurturing to me. One needs a literary department which works with the young playwright over the course of the development of the play.