Rough Magic Theatre Company was founded in 1984 and has established itself as one of the leading independent theatre companies in Ireland. Based in Dublin, the company regularly performs at Project Arts Centre and tours its work in Ireland, the UK and beyond.

Since its foundation Rough Magic has built an organization based on three core values; artistic excellence, an egalitarian approach to the creative ensemble and an ethic based on pluralism. The company has evolved around the principle that we are part of a world culture that can celebrate Irish identity diverse in its nature and outward looking in its vision.

Rough Magic is committed to developing and producing new Irish work for the stage, commissioned from leading and emerging playwrights and theatre artists. We also present the best of contemporary international writing and innovative productions from the classical repertoire.  Rough Magic’s unusually broad spectrum of work includes over 40 Irish premieres and the professional debuts of many Irish writers.  Our productions have garnered many awards, both at home and abroad.

In addition we are active in the development of new theatre artists. Our pioneering SEEDS programme is now the benchmark for professional development in Irish theatre and remains the only one of its kind. This year we launched a parallel programme for established artists, ADVANCE, which acknowledges the need for ongoing training across all branches of theatre-making. Rough Magic is an enabler for the work of many individual artists and emerging companies, through mentoring, resource-sharing and production and administrative support.

Through these strategic initiatives, the richness of its artistic ambition and its national and international reach Rough Magic is connected across the full spectrum of theatre activity, experience and creative practice.