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

Catherine Young, our Lead Artist in Residence, continues to create important and groundbreaking work as part of her three-year residency at Backstage Theatre. This Autumn, Catherine returns to develop exciting new dance projects that explore powerful themes and foster deep connection through movement

Activate Residency

Our hugely successful Activate Residency Programme offers much needed support for artists across Ireland. Through a series of bursaries and short term residencies at Backstage, artists are given the space to collaborate and create. We are proud to play a part in making their dream a reality. Activate is supported by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon & CreativeIrl via Longford County Council

Current Residencies

Emer Barry

Caoimhe O’Farrell

Alan Mahon

Anna D

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

Catherine Young

Activate Residency

Current Residencies

Emer Barry

Caoimhe O’Farrell

Alan Mahon

Anna D

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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