We are happy to announce the launch of our autumn course programme, with weekend and multi-week courses!
We have a limited number of places left on our part-time courses, including our year-long Youth Ensemble programme for young performers aged 15 - 17 years old and our 20-week Fundamentals of Acting for adults. These intensive courses are ideal for any people with a passion for theatre and interested in developing this further or are curious about the skills and confidence required to step onstage.
Dublin Fringe Festival 2026 takes place this September starting from Saturday 5th, and we are hosting a range of fantastic shows and have so many grads taking part! See below for a list of upcoming productions and for more information on our next term.
Dublin Fringe 2026
Scripted 2026 at The Lir Academy Date: 12th September Book now
Join us for an afternoon of performed readings of extracts of new plays by this year's MFA playwrights. This year’s MFA playwrights are Lexi Silva, Liza Borghesani, Greice Kessler, and Moya Noctor. We are currently sold out but hope to release more tickets closer to the date, click BOOK NOW to add your name to the waiting list.
Diversity Training by Neil Green Dates: 7th - 13th September Book here
It’s time for your corporate-mandated training session! This show is a satirical corporate DEI session delivered by some of Ireland’s best comedic talent. They have scores to settle, laughs to deliver and something genuine to say about today’s deteriorating discourse around diversity.
ROLLING! by Mónica Muñoz Dates: 12th - 13th September Book here
ROLLING! is created by Mónica Muñoz Dance, a dancer and percussionist who will reimagine everyday materials, celebrating play and curiosity to create an electrifying dance concert phenomenon.
Immerse yourselves and your little ones in this extraordinary performance.
Sweat by Ari Bhatti Dates: 8th - 12th September Book here
The world is getting hotter, and Irish people must be naked at all times to preserve resources.
Ari Bhatti's seriously unserious naked dance-theatre show - a funny, sweaty look at climate crisis, Catholic guilt, shame and our relationship with naked bodies.
Once again the fanatastic talent of our Acting, SMTT and MFA graduates will be featured across the Dublin Theatre Festival. Productions featuring the work of our alumni on-stage and backstage include; A Recurrence, Across the Fence, Crisis Actor, Daddy Issues, Dead in Here, Miss You, Mourning is a Muscle, Pretty Vacant, Ratling, Saoirse, The Boxes, The Far Away Sun, Trolley Boy and West Meath Gothic.
This September is the start of term for our programmes for young people!
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. The primary objective of this course is to find the joy in acting and create assurance in the performer to provide a solid foundation to move on to the next level. See morehere.
YOUTH ACADEMY: ACTING (15-17-YEAR-OLDS) Afternoons Only - Morning Session Now Full 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. This course provides young actors with a taste of drama school training at conservatoire level whilst offering a broad foundational understanding of acting techniques. See morehere.
YOUTH ACADEMY: YOUTH ENSEMBLE (15-17-YEAR-OLDS) Last Places Booking Youth Ensemble is a 6-month, tailored programme in acting for talented teenagers aged 15– 17 to experience drama training. These day-long Saturday training sessions provide practical experience in the three cornerstones of conservatoire training. These will ultimately provide a platform for further training in acting, theatre or drama. The course now runs throughout the academic year, with more contact hours and an Easter programme. See morehere.
Fundamentals of Acting Course Begins: 26th September Duration: 20 Weeks, Saturdays
This weekly Saturday course introduces students to the fundamentals of acting techniques for stage and screen. Taught by our team, you will be immersed in our Lir training and learn the core skills every actor needs.
This ten-week course is a continuation from Acting Level 1. You will concentrate on working with a director on the study of characters and individual scenes from a number of contemporary plays.
We offer adults with a passion for musical theatre an opportunity to develop the fundamental techniques required to perform in Musical Theatre. Participants will work on new solo pieces, duets or trios and ensemble numbers.
Screen Acting Over 35s Course Begins: 21st September Duration: 7pm - 9:30pm, Mondays
This ten-week course will concentrate on further developing your acting skills for film and TV work. Students will become more familiar with the filming process, acting for camera, equipment and roles of crew.
A selection of very exciting professional rehearsal rooms featuring our Alumni!
Ella Lily Hyland in Electra/Persona by Benedict Andrews, National Theatre, London. Running until 10th October,
Patrick Martins in Golden Boy by Clifford Odetsat, National Theatre, London. Running 8th September - 31st October.
Cathal Ryan in A Moon for the Misbegotten by Eugene O'Neill, Druid Theatre Production, Galway. Running 21st September - 10th October. Running 14th - 26th September
Marty Breen, Game of Thrones: The Mad King by Duncan Macmillan with George RR Martin, Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon. Running until 5th September
Sheik Bah, Cyclone by Louise Lowe, Anu Productions, Dublin. Running 21st September - 10th October.
Gradfest 2026 Gallery
Check out our online gallery capturing the fantastic productions of Marble by Marina Carr, Far Away by Caryl Churchill , Penelope by Enda Walsh,and The Moors by Jen Silverman at GradFest 2026.
Enhance your team's communication skills with expert-led training from The Lir Academy and help us provide free performing arts education for up to 200 young people from underrepresented and underprivileged communities.
Pathways to Performance invites companies to undertake our communications training and 100% of the profits will go towards performance-related courses for marginalised young people across the island of Ireland.
If you work for a company that might be interested, we would love to hear from you.
