Artist Supports

We have supported numerous artists through our Core Residency and Activate Residency Programmes. We will continue to develop these programmes, strengthening the support to even more artists and continuing to add value to the supports offered.

Artist in Residence

Catherine Young

Our lead Artist In Residence, Catherine Young, has been busy creating ground-breaking work during her time with us. Earlier this year her show “A Call to You” previewed in Backstage before premiering at the Dublin Dance Festival to a rapturous reception.

Activate Residency

We're thrilled to present our 2024 Activate Residents So excited & proud that these wonderful artists will get to call Backstage home for their stay with us as we give them the space, the support and the opportunity to create, develop and dream throughout 2024 We look forward to sharing news of their projects over the coming weeks and months Full details of our artists available on Activate is supported by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon & CreativeIrl via Longford County Council

Find Out More

Current Residencies

Orla McCarthy

Andy Crook

Dafe Orugbo

Claire O Reilly

Mateusz Szczerek

Kate Heffernan

Douglas Reddan

Liam McCarthy

Andrew Flynn

Joanne Ryan

Past Residences

As queer theatremakers, the Activate programme gave us full scope to explore and investigate what it is to be queer today and the team at the Backstage created an atmosphere of inclusion, joy and creativity which both myself and HK are still pinching ourselves that we got a chance to be a part of.

Ultan Pringle

The Activate Residency was a fantastic experience. This residency programme is vital in the support of artists

Andrew Flynn

The Activate Residency was an incredible support for helping us to develop our project ‘Lakelands’. Thanks to the support of the Backstage…It has allowed us to bring the script to completion much quicker than would have been possible had it not been for the residency. Mona and the team provided incredible support each step of the way and it’s an incredible initiative for artists to avail of.

Robert Higgins

At a time when making art felt impossible, Mona and her team in the Backstage Theatre created an oasis of calm and creativity in Longford and as a writer I have felt and do still feel incredibly grateful, lucky and emboldened to have had a chance to luxuriate in it.

Ultan Pringle

My hope would be that in the future more and more theatremakers and artists have the chance to experience the joy and creative oasis which the Backstage and the Activate programme have to offer

Ultan Pringle

Production Support

Our residency programmes affords us the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with artist and where possible develop these relationships into long-term support by helping to see their creations develop into fruition

Current Productions

Lúminaria

Past Productions

Artist Supports

Artist in Residence

Activate Residency

Current Residencies

As queer theatremakers, the Activate programme gave us full scope to explore and investigate what it is to be queer today and the team at the Backstage created an atmosphere of inclusion, joy and creativity which both myself and HK are still pinching ourselves that we got a chance to be a part of.

The Activate Residency was a fantastic experience. This residency programme is vital in the support of artists

At a time when making art felt impossible, Mona and her team in the Backstage Theatre created an oasis of calm and creativity in Longford and as a writer I have felt and do still feel incredibly grateful, lucky and emboldened to have had a chance to luxuriate in it.

My hope would be that in the future more and more theatremakers and artists have the chance to experience the joy and creative oasis which the Backstage and the Activate programme have to offer

Production Support

Current Productions

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