People

Board of Directors

Gerry Smyth (Chair)

William Earley

Tanya Dean

Anne Fogarty

Roy Foster

Arthur Lappin

Sheila O’Donnell

Eileen Punch

Gaby Smyth

Advisory Council

Siobhán Bourke

Anne Byrne

Declan Hughes

Darragh Kelly

Martin Murphy

Pauline McLynn

Hélène Montague

Arthur Riordan

Stanley Townsend

ADVANCE Artists

The aim of ADVANCE is to give established theatre-makers the opportunity to develop, gain new insights and expand their knowledge and perception of their art form. This initiative was prompted by the need to support artists’ development throughout their professional lives, and to broaden their artistic horizons through a structured programme. ADVANCE was piloted in 2011 – 2012.

ADVANCE is open to all theatre artists over 35 who have worked at a professional level for at least ten years, and who have a proven track record and significant status.

“The ADVANCE programme has been one of the most professionally rewarding experiences of my career so far. To have the opportunity to meet with carefully selected theatre practitioners of such calibre and to discuss with them the nature of the business, what makes them tick and most importantly, what keeps them inspired, has been invaluable.

Peter Daly

“There is a kind of honorary association which helps gain access to people and places.  I am also very grateful for the support given towards my work and look forward to making use of the Rough Magic rehearsal space in July for my own project.”

Denis Clohessy

 “The experience of seeing work in the context of its differences from theatre practice in Ireland was extremely useful, as was the chance to engage with other participants. It has certainly changed the way I approach my job, and how I think it could potentially develop.”

Rob Furey

“The ADVANCE programme gave me a unique chance to view my profession objectively, and time to consider the art form away from the coalface of rehearsal. I really feel I got so much out of it. We were lucky indeed!”

Annabelle Comyn

Current Participants

Tracy Martin – Directer, Writer

Jody O’Neill – Writer, Actor

Former Participants

2011 – 2012

Annabelle Comyn – Director

Denis Clohessy – Composer, Sound Designer

Peter Daly – Actor

Rob Furey – Production Manager

2013 – 14

Sonya Kelly – Actor, Writer

Muireann Ahern – Director, Producer

Olwen Fouere – Actor, Performance Artist

Sean MacErlaine – Composer, Musician

SEEDS Artists

Ciara Elizabeth Smyth – Writer

Olivia Songer – Director

John Gunning – Lighting and A/V Designer

Naomi Faughnan – Set and Costume Designer

Líadan Ní Chearbhaill – Production Manager

Resource Sharing

Rough Magic believes that it thrives as part of a strong, connected sector. As an established and well-funded company, with substantial experience of theatre practice in Ireland, we believe it is our reponsibility – but also our pleasure – to share our knowledge, resources, and space with other theatre-makers.

The company has maintained its commitment towards providing support to individual artists and emerging companies. This comprises the provision of office space and facilities, as well as general mentoring support. In 2017 this provision included Malaprop, Bitter Like A Lemon, HotForTheatre, TheEmergencyRoom, Sarah Jane Shiels, Shane O’Reilly, Theatre Lovett, ADVANCE programme participants Jody O’Neill and Tracy Martin, and the many artists connected to Independent Producer-in-Residence Jen Coppinger.

Artists and companies who have received Production Support from Rough Magic over the past five years include: ANU Productions, Bright Light Productions, White Label, Denis Clohessy, Collapsing Horse Theatre Company, Shaun Dunne & Talking Shop Ensemble, Making Strange Theatre Company, Zoe Ni Riordain, Pageant Wagon, Playgroup, Aoife Spillane-Hinks, Then This Theatre, Dylan Tighe, Underscore_Productions and WillFredd Theatre

The company will continue to serve as a creative hub of Irish theatre, providing support to participants in SEEDS and ADVANCE and sharing resources with individual artists including SEEDS graduates Tom Creed and Sarah Jane Sheils, Rough Magic writer-in-residence Amy Conroy, leading theatre-makers Theatre Lovett, and emerging companies such as Red Bear and Reality Check. This helps to strengthen Rough Magic’s place at the beating heart of Irish theatre, underpinning its role in nurturing the next generation of talent while also forming alliances with like-minded theatre-makers, and promoting the company’s own continued vitality though exposure to ground-breaking artists and ideas.