Nominations open for Irish-Language Theatre Award in Ireland

Deadline: 31-Jul-2025

The Arts Council is accepting nominations for the Irish-Language Theatre Award to support specific artistic projects in theatre, from play development to theatre creation to large-scale production and touring.

Objectives

• The objective of the Irish-language Theatre Award is to support the development, generation, and creation of high-quality Irish-language theatre, as well as its presentation to audiences. They offer this award with the support of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI).

Strands

• The available strands are as follows:
  • Strand 1: Play Development
    • The objective of this strand is to afford time to develop a new Irish-language play. This creative process centres the playwright.
    • They accept applications from:
      • Playwrights
      • Third parties who propose to commission a playwright and support the development of the new play for theatre
      • Artists who want to engage an Irish-language expert and an experienced theatre professional to develop a contemporary adaptation in Irish of an existing text.
    • Priority will be given to proposals with artists that:
      • Have a track record in Irish-language theatre or propose to commission a playwright with a track record in Irish-language theatre
      • Seek to write a new play in the Irish language
      • Can demonstrate excellence and/or innovation and/or experimentation.
  • Strand 2: Theatre Creation
    • The objective of the Theatre Creation strand is to enable the devising of ideas for new work in the Irish language in a collaborative and interdisciplinary context where the playwright may or may not be the centre of the process.
    • The emphasis of the award is on innovation, experimentation and collaboration in Irish-language theatre.
    • The concept behind a proposal can be based on:
      • A piece of new writing for the theatre
      • A pre-existing dramatic text
      • An adaptation from another literary form
      • A translation or adaptation of a text from another language.
    • Priority will be given to proposals that:
      • Contain artists that have a track record in Irish-language theatre
      • Contain individuals or organisations that propose to commission a playwright with a track record in Irish-language theatre
      • Demonstrate in the proposal ambition and excellence in the quality of dramaturgical support and/or collaboration
      • Seek to develop new and innovative concepts for productions of preexisting dramatic material
  • Strand 3: Production and Touring
    • Strand 3 is an action research project supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
    • The objective of this strand is to support the development, production and presentation of mid-/large-scale theatre in the Irish language to general audiences to ensure more people will enjoy high-quality Irish-language theatre experiences throughout the country.
    • The successful applicant will be required to work closely with an evaluator during the award period as part of the action research project. Unsuccessful applicants to this strand may also be contacted by the evaluator for research purposes.
    • This strand is open to mid-/large-scale professional theatre productions in the Irish language by individuals and/or entities based on the island of Ireland with a demonstrable and successful track record in theatre practice.

Award Information

• Strand 1: Play Development
  • Maximum award: €15,000
• Strand 2: Theatre Creation
  • Maximum award: €26,000
• Strand 3: Production and Touring
  • Maximum award: €400,000

Eligibility Criteria

• The award is open to professional artists and organisations with a demonstrable track record in theatre practice.
• This award is open to applicants who are resident in the Republic of Ireland.
• They may accept applications from applicants who are not resident in the Republic of Ireland.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Applicants who cannot apply include the following:
  • Individuals or organisations that do not have a demonstrable track record as professional theatre artists or organisations
  • Individuals currently in undergraduate education (including those undertaking foundation courses) or who will be during the period for which this award is offered
  • Individuals seeking support towards fees for postgraduate (including unaccredited)/higher education or study.

For more information, visit The Arts Council.