The Irish Literary Theatre
Martyn was renowned as a networker, and was pivotal in introducing William Butler Yeats and Lady Gregory. The three founded the Irish Literary Theatre, for whom Martyn wrote his best and most popular plays The Heather Feild and A Tale of a Town. He covered the costs of the company's first three seasons, which proved crucial to establishing the company and the future of the Abbey Theatre. He later parted ways with Yeats and Gregory, something he later regretted, but remained on warm terms with Lady Gregory till the end of his life.
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