Catalyst 2026 - Cork Arts Theatre

CATALYST 2026

Cork Arts Theatre in association with Cork Opera House and Once Off Productions invite applications from early career theatre artists based in Cork who would be interested in staging new work at the CAT in October 2026.

If you are an early career theatre artist / young production company who currently has a theatre project in development or a production idea brewing that would be ready to present to an audience in October, we would love to hear from you.

THE CATALYST AWARD OFFERS ARTISTS:

  • 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.

WHAT IS CATALYST?

  • CATALYST is a collaboration between Cork Arts Theatre, Cork Opera Hose 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?

  • Please email an outline of the proposed work (1-2 pages max.) including CVs of any artists attached to the project, as well as a draft budget to: catalyst@corkartstheatre.com
  • Closing date for applications: Thursday 28th May at 6pm
  • Two artists/companies will be chosen to participate in the Catalyst 2026 programme.

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