Lir - Backstage Club is back! New Productions & Summer Courses
Lir Academy Updates
Our recent production Mr Burns, a post-electric play by Anne Washburn and Michael Friedman, Directed by Daniel Kramer. Photography by Ste Murray
Summer is on the way! With May just around the corner, we hope you are looking forward to yet another long weekend ahead.
It's the final term of the year here at The Lir Academy and at the end of May we are hosting two productions, Consent by Nina Raine and The Misanthrope by Molière and adapted by Martin Crimp. Stay tuned to our website for tickets - click here.
With summer fast approaching, check out the wide range of intensive one and two-week acting short courses for both adults and young people we have on offer! Learn more at our website - click here.
The deadline for applications has been extended until May 31st for our postgraduate MFA in Theatre Producing, our one-year programme (or two-years part-time) course taught by esteemed Irish theatre professionals. You can also still apply for our undergraduate programme in Stage Management and Technical Theatre, term starting in autumn 2025.
See more below for more news and details on upcoming events and courses.
Backstage Club
We are now offering instalment payments through Klarna for Backstage Club tickets! By using Klarna, you can now pay for your ticket in 3 instalments of €50.
All profits from Backstage Club go towards a bursary to support our Stage Management and Technical Theatre students. Our annual Backstage Club fundraiser is held on July 9th and is a fun-filled evening with a cocktails, a show, dinner and cabaret.
Applications to our MFA Theatre Producing programme have been extended until May 31st.
This distinctive, practice-based, one-year postgraduate programme (two-years part-time), led by esteemed theatre professionals. This MFA will develop student's skills, professional practices and creative approaches to theatre producing.
The Dónal McKeating Directing Bursary award applications are open! This award is open to graduates of any Lir Academy full-time programme. It seeks to support emerging directors with a fully paid role on a professional production working with Marc Atkinson Borrull on his latest production.
This year the bursary award will centre around The Misanthrope by Moliére in a new adaptation by Matthew Minnicino. Running at Smock Alley Theatre from July 14th it is being directed by Marc Atkinson Borrull and produced by Marc Atkinson Borrull and Molly O'Cathain in association with Once Off Productions
Deadline for application is May 9th at 5pm and interviews will be held the week beginning May 12th online or in-person.
We are delighted to announce continued support for their Disability Bursary from existing partner Element Pictures and two additional Widening Access Bursaries, one funded by Element Pictures and another by new supporter Clinch Wealth Management. The bursaries will enable their recipients to access creative training at The Lir Academy.
Fundamentals of Acting Course Begins: 10th May (20 Weeks) Duration: 10am - 5pm
No audition required, payment in instalments. This programme mirrors the work on our short course acting and screen acting courses with additional work on audition technique and self-taping. The course will conclude with a scene showing to invited family and friends.
The Clown Within Course Begins: 7th June (Weekend) Duration: 10am - 5pm
Step into the world of creativity, play and self discovery in this immersive two-day workshop and discover your inner clown! Led by Lir tutor and clown Ruth Lehane, this workshop invites you to explore the transformative art of clowning.
Designed for people who have never taken a dance class before, try the exotic rhythms of Tango one week and find yourself immersed in a crazy Charleston the next. Learn 4 dances over 8 weeks, suitable for individuals and couples!
We also have a weekend-long Puppetry Performance workshop - see more here - following on from our sell-out course in the spring.
For younger participants, our two-week Young Actors programme - click here - is designed for young people aged 16 - 18 years. For young people aged 13-15 we have our week-long Summer Camps - click here for July and here for August, designed for young actors aged who have a passionate interest in performing.
