CATALYST 2026
Now in its fourth year, CATALYST – an initiative by Cork Arts Theatre in association with Cork Opera House and Once Off Productions – continues to provide a platform for early career theatre artists in Cork, supporting the development of new work in a professional context.
THE CATALYST AWARD OFFERS THE SELECTED APPLICANTS:
- A stipend of €2,500 towards production costs / artists fees provided by Cork Opera House.
- Full and cost free access to Cork Arts Theatre from Monday – Saturday for get in, tech and up to 4 performances.
- Technical support.
- Producing Mentorship from Once Off Productions.
- 100% box office revenue from their performances at Cork Arts Theatre.
Award Recipients for 2026
Orla Scally
Orla is an actor, singer and drag performer from West Cork. They studied Drama Performance at Technological University Dublin and hold an MFA in Professional Acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
They will present ‘Crochet Circle’ from Wednesday 7th to Saturday 10th October.
Tommy Harris & James de Burca
Tommy Harris is an actor and writer from Cork. His theatre credits include work with Druid, the Abbey Theatre, and Landmark Productions, while screen credits include The Young Offenders and Masters of the Air. His debut play Happy Capital premiered at Dublin Fringe Festival in 2024, earning three award nominations.
James is a Galway-born theatre maker and performer based in Cork. A graduate of MTU’s Theatre and Drama Studies programme, his work spans performance, devising and clowning. Recent credits include The Weight of a Body at Cork Fringe Festival, Misterman at Cork Arts Theatre, and A Most Pressing Issue at the Edinburgh Fringe.
They will present ‘Babylon West’ from Wednesday 21st to Saturday 24th October.
WHAT IS CATALYST?
- CATALYST is a collaboration between Cork Arts Theatre, Cork Opera House and Once Off Productions, which aims to provide a platform for the work of early career theatre artists in the city, and an opportunity for them to develop their practice in a professional context.
WHO CAN APPLY?
- You must be an early career theatre artist or theatre company. This means you will be in the first few years of your career, and you may not have had your work professionally produced before (ie. fully paid at Equity rates in a professional theatre).
- You must be over 21 and you cannot be studying at third level at the time CATALYST takes place.
HOW TO APPLY?
- Applications for the 2026 programme have now closed. Details for applications to future rounds will be made available on our social media in due course. Enquiries to: catalyst@corkartstheatre.com
PREVIOUS CATALYST PARTICIPANTS
2023
- Megan Haly and Shannon Haly – ‘Cortisol’
- Moonscale Productions – ‘The Sad Panto! by John Scally
- Four Faced Theatre Company – ‘Glue’ by Niamh Fennessy
- IsThatAllThereIs Theatre – ‘Salomé by the Cliff’
2024
- Amber Deasy, Imogen Deasy and Jack O’Shaughnessy – ‘The Dream Can’t Sleep’
- Mollie Savage and Ben Holman – ‘Eurydice’ by Sarah Ruhl
2025
- Death by Cues (Sydney Sheehan, Donal O’Keeffe, Emely Tenhagen, and Christian Sumstad) – ‘No Exit’
- Alison Teahan and Sinéad Crowley – ‘Warm Regards’ by Alison Teahan