Established in 1911 by W. B. Yeats,[1]: 59 it was developed by Lady Gregory to continue performances in Dublin while the main cast of the theatre was overseas, usually in America.
The school was the primary place in Ireland where amateur actors could receive training for an acting career before breaking into paid work.
[4]: 138 Many well-known Irish actors and directors attended or taught at the school.
[8]: 181 There were gaps in the operation of the school, sometimes long ones, and according to Tomás MacAnna it was revived many times.
[9]: 278, 284, 286 One brief period of activity was in the years 1967–1970, when Frank Dermody attempted to revive it, but it was closed after a number of complaints.