The Mandate, Christmas Gala, New Courses & More - Lir
Lir Academy Updates
The end of our first term is just around the corner but we have so much going on!
Our next production is The Mandate, directed by Tom Creed, previewing on Friday, 28th November. Join us for a special performance on Tuesday, December 2nd for our Christmas Fundraiser! See more below.
Short courses starting in January and February of 2026 are now available for booking, including two new technical courses in Prop Making and Costume Level 1. We also are running free ETC technical courses in lighting.
We are calling out for choreographers to work with our MFA Lighting Designers - keep reading for all of this and more!
On December 2nd, our MFA Theatre Producing students are presenting a special evening in support of the Lir Student Hardship Fund, which directly gives financial support to students for basic necessities such as rent, travel costs, groceries and personal hygiene products.
We would love you to purchase your €50 ticket and gather with us from 6pm - 7pm for a pre-show reception with mulled wine, holiday treats, and a few surprises, followed by The Mandate, a post-show soiree, and a toast to our incredible student artists, where you can liaise with the very people that the proceeds from your ticket benefit. You can make your purchase here. Can't join us but want to donate? You can do that here. Thank you!
The Mandate
The Mandate
by Nikolai Erdman, Adapted by Declan Donnellan Friday 28th November - Thursday 4th December 7pm, Studio One
In the chaotic infancy of a totalitarian regime, a family attempts to survive (and social climb) by pretending to be true believers. But the combination of a disgruntled neighbour, a lost princess, and a pack of proletariat cousins leads to a uproarious comedy of errors.
Open Call: Seeking Choreographers for Lighting Design Dance Project
Working with project partner, Dance Ireland, we are looking for two early career choreographers to take part in a project that will run from January 7th to January 30th, 2026. The project is mentored by Lighting Designer and Lir Academy MFA Lighting Tutor, Sinéad Wallace. It pairs early career choreographers with lighting design MFA students from The Lir, National Academy of Dramatic Art at Trinity College Dublin.
The ideal candidate will be:
Interested in expanding their own understanding of lighting design
An emerging choreographer with a piece of work in development
Interested in collaborating with a student lighting designer
Youth Academy will be returning for a new term in January 2026, for both students who have completed Term 1, as well as new students who are joining the class for the first time!
Each course focuses on the core elements of acting training delivered at The Lir Academy, with the courses separated into two age categories: 12-14 and 15-17, with new afternoon classes running from 12.30pm - 3pm.
YOUTH ACADEMY: ACTING (12-14-YEAR-OLDS)
This course is an introduction to what it means to be an actor. It includes elements of our full-time course such as voice, movement, improvisation, and text-based work, whilst also concentrating on fun and play. See more about the afternoon classhere, and morning classeshere.
YOUTH ACADEMY: ACTING (15-17-YEAR-OLDS)
The course will cover key elements of actor training including voice, movement and improvisation. As well as stage acting, the training will also include an introduction to screen acting. See more about the afternoon classhere, and morning classeshere.
Give a gift of drama!
Give the gift of drama with our short course gift vouchers 🎭✨
We are offering digital vouchers that can be used on any short course of your choice - whether it is acting, technical theatre, voice-over work, audition workshops, or anything else.
You can purchase vouchers for a value to suit you via the link below.
Audition Masterclass Course Begins: 10th January Duration: 10:30 am - 5:30 pm, 2 weekends
This is an intensive course for those considering auditioning for drama school, who wish to master audition techniques and fully prepare their monologues.
This course is designed as an entry level skills development course for anyone who has an interest in learning more about working in a theatre costume department. Level 1 concentrates on sewing and alteration skills.
Prop Making - Level 1 Course Begins: 13th January Duration: 7pm - 9.30pm, 10 weeks
Taught by Lir propmaster Ed O'Rourke, this course is designed as an entry level skills development course for anyone who has an interest in theatre and film props, cosplay and modelmaking.
This ten-week course is a continuation from Acting - Level 1. Participants will concentrate on working with a director on the study of characters and individual scenes from a number of contemporary plays.
Join us for the Trinity College Dublin Undergraduate Open Day on Saturday, November 29th. Find out more about our courses and how to apply, tour the facilities and chat with current students and tutors about studying at The Lir Academy.
We also will be hosting online sessions suitable for potential students, parent's, guardians and guidance counsellors in December 2025. For Stage Management and Technical Theatre, join us on December 8th at 6pm or December 9th at 11am. For information on our Undergraduate Acting programmes, join us on December 10th at 11am or 6pm. Register your interest and receive the link by contacting [email protected]
ETC Eos Console Training
Monday 1st - Saturday 20th December
ETC Europe, PSI Production and The Lir Academy are proud to present a series of one-day ETC EOS family training sessions at various levels across the country, see more in the links below. Courses are free - refundable deposit is required.
