Theatre

Ireland is renowned for producing world class theatre, from a proud tradition of literary and canonical plays through to more contemporary and experimental work that borrows from other artforms including music, dance, visual arts and film.

We support theatre artists at all stages of their careers to create work that reflects Ireland out to the world and back on itself.

Theatre is the highest-attended ticketed artform that we support.

‘Lost Lear’ by Dan Colley, Riverbank Arts Centre and Mermaid Arts Centre. Photo: Ste Murray.

How we develop theatre

We develop theatre in Ireland by supporting artists, collectives and companies who create, develop and present theatre to audiences.

These artists range from playwrights writing new plays to companies devising new pieces.

Learn more about how we develop theatre

Actors pose on stage during a production of What I Don't Know About Autism. They go from crouching to standing representing an evolution.

‘What I (Don’t) Know About Autism’ by Jody O’Neill, Peacock Theatre Dublin. Photo: Ros Kavanagh.

Latest funding opportunities for theatre

We offer a range of funding opportunities for playwrights, producers, directors, and other types of theatre professionals.

View all funding opportunities

Individual

Applications open Closing: 24 Apr

Agility Award

The Agility Award supports individual professional artists and arts practitioners who have not been previously funded as an individual by the Arts Council. It focuses on enabling artists to develop their practice, develop their work and develop their skills.

Individual & Organisation

Applications open Closing: 8 May

Touring of Work Scheme 2026 – Round 1

The Touring of Work Scheme supports the touring of work across Ireland by individual artists and organisations. It focuses on making great art from different artforms available to more people throughout the country.

Organisation

Opening soon Opening: 29 Apr

Festivals Investment Scheme – Round 1

The Festivals Investment Scheme supports small-to-mid-scale festivals to deliver high-quality arts experiences for audiences. It focuses on programmes engaged with, and relevant to, local communities or communities of interest.

Individual

Opening soon Opening: 20 May

Theatre Bursary Award – Round 2

The Bursary Award supports individual artists to develop their artistic practice. It focuses on providing artists with the time and resources they need to think, research, reflect, and deeply engage with their artistic practice.

Partnerships and schemes

Creative Production Supports

A Performing Arts Resource-Sharing Scheme

This pilot scheme aims to support independent theatre makers at all stages of their careers. Three companies (Field:Arts, Once Off Productions and Promenade) have been appointed to optimise existing resources and promote best practice.

Other supports

In addition to project-specific opportunities, supports open to theatre practitioners and projects include:

Touring and Dissemination of Work Scheme; Young People, Children and Education (YPCE) awards; Festivals Investment Scheme; Artist in the Community Scheme Bursary; and Partnership Funding.

View all funding opportunities

Publications

View the latest research and reports.

Spotlights

Theatre artists we have supported share how their funding has made a difference to their artistic careers.

Production shot of Absent the Wrong. Two central actors stand looking at the viewer while three actors behind them sit on blue plastic chairs as in a waiting room. The wall is covered in a white background with black lines to represent information redacted on a form.

Carys D. Coburn

Carys D. Coburn is a writer and theatre-maker based in Dublin. We talk to Carys about the value of receiving a Theatre Project Award.

Fionn Foley

Fionn Foley is an award-winning actor, writer and composer based in Dublin. We talk to Fionn about the value of receiving Touring funding for his doomsday folk musical Tonic.

Esosa Ighodaro

Esosa Ighodaro is a writer, director and performer based in Dublin. We talk to Esosa about the value of receiving a Theatre Project Award.

Shaun Dunne

Shaun Dunne is a Dublin based film and theatre artist. We talk to Shaun about the value of receiving a Theatre Bursary Award.

Our Theatre team

Bea Kelleher

Acting Head of Theatre

Patrick Meighan

Theatre Assistant

Jesse Weaver

Application Support Manager

Sara Keating

Theatre Adviser

Maeve Giles

Theatre Officer

Get in touch

Contact our team with your questions about theatre.

theatre@artscouncil.ie
+353 1 2336 528