This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Artist Development
In 2020 Rough Magic launched COMPASS.
With artist development at its core, COMPASS is a strategy designed to bring work from inception to production, in collaboration with key producing partners across the country.
COMPASS’s goal is to nurture artists, deliver an ambitious programme of new plays and adaptations by emerging and established writers, and reach greater audiences and new destinations. One of the aims of COMPASS is the international dissemination of our work.
COMPASS Stage 1: Development:
- Commissions: 8 new commissions awarded to writers, both emerging and established, to develop new plays with the company
- Rough Ideas: an open call for expressions of interest from writers and theatre-makers to begin a structured and funded conversation with the company about the possibilities for future projects and collaborations. This produced 207 responses, 8 of which were selected for further development. Rough Ideas 2 applications are now open
- SEEDS (Seek out-Encourage-Enable-Develop-Stage): Rough Magic’s highly regarded development programme for emerging artists, providing mentorship across all creative disciplines (including design, direction and producing) as well as opportunities for paid placements on Rough Magic productions. Since its launch in 2001, 58 artists have participated in the SEEDS programme; of these, 55% have been professionally employed directly by Rough Magic and 91% continue to work in the industry today.
- Rough Weekend: a two-day showing of Rough Ideas works-in-development for audiences and industry partners, made in collaboration with – and showcasing – our SEEDS participants
Supported by the Lackendarragh Bursary, a significant donation of support from benefactor Seán Páircéir.
COMPASS Stage 2: Production:
- We have begun co-production partnerships with the Lime Tree Limerick, the Theatre Royal Waterford, the Everyman Cork to premiere work, transferring to partner venues around Ireland and internationally
- Dramaturgical & production workshops with our Literary Manager and creative teams form part of these relationships
- The Loved Ones by Erica Murray, the first commission to move to full production, was presented in co-production with the Gate Theatre in 2023
- Freefalling by Georgina Miller was co-produced with the Lime Tree Theatre | Belltable in 2023, currently on tour
- Children of the Sun by Hilary Fannin (after Gorky), was produced in spring 2024 in co-production with the Abbey Theatre
For further announcements join our mailing list below.