Beckett, Yeats, Synge – many luminaries have graced the Abbey Theatre, but few have exited stage left to escort tourists around the city. Yet tour guides are storytellers too, and they have been honing their skills in the seat of Irish stagecraft. “[They said] we want our tour guides to become storytellers; that was the ask, and we said yes we can help with that,” explained Phil Kingston, who runs acting classes for private clients at the Abbey. What I learned is: it’s okay to tell a story.”Fáilte Ireland does not directly employ the hundreds of tour guides dotted around the country, but it is financing this pilot project. Photograph: Nick BradshawThe move was partly inspired by a research trip to Edinburgh and a tour of the old city.

Source: The Irish Times March 13, 2019 17:22 UTC