Irish theatre playwright now stands outside the gallery entrance. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925. A sea change in the history of the Irish theatre came with the establishment in Dublin in 1899 of the Irish Literary Theatre by W. B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, George Moore and Edward Martyn. This was followed by the Irish National Theatre Society, later to become the Abbey Theatre. The history of this theatre is well documented, and its importance can be seen from the list of writers whose plays were first performed here in the early days of the 20th century. These included
Shaw Theatre French hotel chain AccorHotels. It was originally known as the "Library Theatre"; its current name is in honour of George Bernard Shaw. After the 1998 refurbishment, the Shaw has 446 seats and two large foyers, four large dressing rooms for up to 60 people and extensive high quality backstage facilities which include a workshop space and laundry facilities. Notable musicians, actors and comedians who have performed at the Shaw Theatre include Dionne Warwick, Kerry Ellis, Eartha Kitt, Boy George, Van Morrison, Harry Connick Jr., Ron Moody, and Janie Dee whose concert included a surprise performance by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.