Agm Notice for Theatre Forum clg Trading as Performing Arts Forum

Pea Dinneen is a playwright and cabaret artist from Dublin. Much of her work discusses transgender identity in a contemporary Irish context.

Currently, Pea is developing her play Cool Suburban Mam supported by Rough Magic, and her solo cabaret play Pea Dinneen: Raising Her Voice with support from The Arts Council of Ireland, The Abbey Theatre and Project Arts Centre. In 2024, Pea made her Abbey Theatre debut as a playwright with 24 Hour Plays.

Pea is co-founder of queer cabaret collective EGG, with whom Pea was awarded the inaugural Beyond The Pale Award at Dublin Fringe Festival 2023, along with Pea winning the Next Stage Wild Card Award.

As a mentor and facilitator, Pea led the Transforming Stages artist development strand with Outburst festival. A programme aimed at mentoring the next generation of trans and non-binary theatre makers in Ireland.

Pea currently serves as the Chair of ITI’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion council, and as Welfare Officer with Praxis The Artists’ Union of Ireland.

Recently, The Irish Times named Pea as one of their 50 cultural figures to watch in 2024. In 2023, Pea was awarded the Next Generation Artist award from the Arts Council of Ireland. She is currently a Six In The Attic artist with Irish Theatre Institute.

Fergus Foran is the founder of Double F Music Productions and creator of Irish American Musical Most Peculiar Dreams. He originated the role of Major Shawn Donnelly in 2022 for the show’s Irish tour. His acting credits also include ‘Evidence of Evil’ [CBS] and ‘Bloody Sunday’ [Granada Television]. An accomplished musician and singer, his musical education began in early childhood with Bernadette Hayden [Herbert Lodge] and George Prendergast [Curragh Camp]. He has been a member of many ensembles over the past thirty years performing a broad repertoire. Fergus has appeared twice as a guest on the Ivory Sessions and was commissioned to produce the Christmas Special by the Irish Arts Show in 2022. His original Gospel and Choral compositions have been performed in Christchurch Cathedral Dublin [Celtic Spiritual] and Oregon State University USA [Lucan Gospel Choir]. His work has received airplay on RTE Lyric FM, and his song ‘Gently Abide’ was featured on the Irish Cancer Society’s Relay For Life video montage in 2023. He has co-produced three albums of original material and was signed to the Ceol Music Record Label early in his career. His album featuring the Cast of Most Peculiar Dreams is approaching 1 million streams combined across all platforms. He completed the soundtrack for award winning short film ‘Brigid and the Wolves’ in 2023. He was also commissioned by producer Padraig J. Dunne as Musical Director to reimagine and reproduce his Album The Cloak, which was released in December 2023. He is an active member of the Arts and Culture Network and is currently being mentored by founder Mark Walmsley.

Fergus is a member of the Board of YouthInk a not-for-profit creative mentorship program that seeks to inspire, empower and support teens, aged 13-18, through creative opportunities and experiences. Fergus is also a Mentor with Inspire Mentoring, a unique mentoring programme aimed at young people in Ballymun and Finglas. In addition to his work in the entertainment industry Fergus is a successful business consultant specialising in Quality, Environment, Health and Safety in the Construction Industry. He founded and ran successful training and consultancy company Precision Academy for ten years before selling the business to competitor Coyle Holland in 2012. Since then, he has spilt his time between consultancy work and music production. Fergus is a passionate advocate for suicide prevention. He is a Mental Health 1st Aider and has worked as a Crisis Counsellor with Crisis Text Line. A survivour of stage four cancer, he is an active supporter of cancer charities, Aoibheann’s Pink Tie and Relay For Life.

Jean Hally has worked in the arts for fifteen years, having been involved in many aspects of theatre and event production. She is currently Head of Operations for Dublin City Council Culture Company since February of this year. Prior to that, she was Druid’s Company Manager for five years. She is keenly interested in cultivating culture and advocating for arts workers.

Killian Kirwan is an emerging theatre-maker specializing in performance and playwriting, having recently graduated with a first-class MA in Theatre Practice. He has been honoured to receive the Arts Council Agility Award in 2022 and is driven by a passion for storytelling, commitment to artistic innovation and zealous dedication to cultural accessibility. His vision is the composition of inclusive experiences that resonate with contemporary audiences and reflect the complexities of post-COVID society. He is also a spoken-word poet and part-time Drama tutor at UCD.

Aonghus has been a freelance actor for nearly three decades, and Artistic
Director of Rise Productions since 2010. He is a graduate of the Samuel
Beckett Centre, Trinity College Dublin, and also trained with Anne Bogart’s
SITI Company in New York. He has served on the Executive Committee of
Irish Equity, the National Campaign for the Arts, and Naomh Mearnóg GAA
Club. In 2011, he created the year-long Rise Productions: Irish Theatre
Podcast project, featuring weekly interviews with leading practitioners, which
quickly became the Number 1 Arts podcast on iTunes and is on the syllabus
at Yale University, NUI Galway, and Ulster University. It returned in 2017 for a
second series, once again topped the podcast charts, and remains the most
comprehensive archive of Irish theatrical voices. He has a particular interest
in Actor Training, and has guest lectured on the acting courses at The Lir,
The Gaiety School of Acting, TU Dublin, and American College Dublin. In
response to the Covid 19 pandemic, Aonghus launched two initiatives; Rise:
Covid Commissions, a series of 4 brand new digital theatre works, and Rise:
Platform, an online showcase for actors from the graduating class of 2020.

Adeline Minchin currently works as Sponsorship Manager with Wexford Festival Opera where she manages a diverse profile of corporate sponsors to achieve significant portion of the organisation’s large development income annually. She has previously worked with St. Patrick’s Festival Dublin, Electric Picnic and Festival of Writing and Ideas in the areas of fundraising, marketing and production. Within her current role she is a member of two committees developing structures and policies in Sustainability and Learning & Engagement for the WFO. She is also currently working on a large video archival project with the organisation, documenting stories and memories from the Festival 350+ volunteer base.

Joy Nesbitt is a director, writer, and musician inspired by stories of Black Femininity and postcolonial imagination. She has been named on The Irish Times and Sunday Times’ lists of “Ones to Watch in 2024.” In 2022, Joy attended the Theatre Directing MFA at The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Arts. She is a 2021 recipient of the Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts for the sum of her artistic activities at Harvard University. Joy is a 2023-2024 Director SEED for Rough Magic Theatre Company and a member of the 2023 cohort of the Rachel Baptiste Programme at Smock Alley Theatre. Joy has also written and directed short films, and has written a few full length plays.

Her selected directing credits include JULIUS CAESAR VARIETY SHOW by Joy Nesbitt (2024, The New Theatre), Boyfriends by Ultan Pringle (2024, Project Arts Centre), My Sister in This House by Wendy Kesselman (2024, The Lir Academy), Spear by CN Smith (2024, Corrib Theatre), Listen, A Black Woman is Speaking by Marlow Wyatt (2023, Project Arts Centre), The King of All Birds  by Martha Knight (2023, Project Arts Centre), endings. by Fionntán Larney (2023, Project Arts Centre and Smock Alley Theatre),  Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (2022, The Lir Academy); God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza (2020, Harvard University); and Dreamgirls by Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen (2020, American Repertory Theatre)

Caitríona is currently General Manager of Improvised Music Company and was also appointed Acting Director during a colleague’s illness. With IMC, she has gained a wide experience in the jazz and contemporary improvised music world. As Artistic Director of East Cork Early Music Festival, and a founding member of the Irish Early Music Network, she is also deeply familiar with the progress of early music across the island. She has worked with a number of high-profile music organisations across the country, including Dublin International Chamber Music Festival and Blackwater Valley Opera Festival.

She has been involved in the founding and development of several network organisations, including the Irish Early Music Network (which was successful in sourcing funding for an equipment library), the Irish Jazz Forum (which is now part of a European touring project), and Music Alliance Ireland (which has been key in policy consultation for the Arts Council, Dublin City Council etc).

She is particularly aware of the need for connection and collaboration across the arts world and has been fortunate enough to speak representing Ireland at conferences including the European Early Music Network conference and Jazz Promotion Network conference.

She continues to work as a professional violinist, performing and directing nationally and internationally with ensembles including Sestina, Resurgam, Cork Baroque Players, and Ensemble Dagda amongst others.

Kelly is a broadly experienced producer, project manager and casting director. She has a strong passion for working in the arts highlighted in multi- disciplinary projects and theatre shows, including BLUE THUNDER by Padraic Walsh and LIE LOW by Ciara Elizabeth Smyth. She has expertise in best practice work for young audiences and families and for The Ark her work includes THE GIGGLER TREATMENT by Roddy Doyle, adapted by Fionn Foley, THE HAIRCUT by Wayne Jordan and Tom Lane and THE RACE by Marc Brew as well as The RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW festival. As Casting director for The Abbey Theatre, Kelly cast over 60 productions including world premiere’s, OUR FEW AND EVIL DAYS by Mark O’Rowe starring Ciaran Hinds and Sinead Cusack, CYPRUS AVENUE by David Ireland, starring Stephen Rea and the acclaimed revival of BY THE BOG OF CATS by Marina Carr and starring Susan Lynch. She convened three international symposia around the decade of centenaries and also produced the world premiere of Roddy Doyles, TWO PINTS. She began her career as programme manager for The Performance Corporation.

Ronan Phelan is a freelance theatre director based in Dublin who works across a variety of genres including new writing, reimagined classics and musical theatre. Ronan is a graduate of the TU Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama, and a former participant of the Abbey Theatre’s Resident Assistant Director programme. From 2017 to 2023 Ronan held the position  of Associate Director at Rough Magic Theatre Company. In 2020 he was nominated as Best Director at the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards.

Michelle is a playwright, theatre maker and performer with a track record of professional production and over twenty-five years experience as an independent artist. She also works as a dramaturg and drama educator, and facilitates workshops in theatre making with youth theatres and community groups. Michelle is currently developing two new plays and working with Dundrum Elders Group and Floating World Theatre to create a play about the life and work of Teresa Deevy. She recently wrote large-scale play The Oasis for the graduating students of the Gaiety School of Acting, and performed her one-woman show On A House Like A Fire at Roscommon Arts Centre and Bewleys Café Theatre as part of the Bealtaine Festival 2024. Michelle is a member of Performing Arts Forum, the Irish Writer’s Guild and the Dramaturg’s Network. She has long-term experience of working to sustain a career in live performance.

Cally Shine is a theatre producer from Seattle, WA, based in Dublin. She holds a BA in Theatre and a Minor in Irish Studies from the University of Montana and a Graduate Diploma in Cultural Policy and Arts Management from University College Dublin.

For Fishamble: Outrage by Deirdre Kinahan (World Premier 2021 and Irish Tour 2024), KING by Pat Kinevane (World Premier, Irish Tour, Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023, and North American Tour 2024), The Humours of Bandon by Margaret Mc Auliffe (North American Tour 2023), Heaven by Eugene O’Brien (World Premier, Irish Tour 2022, Off-Broadway Transfer and Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023), The Treaty by Colin Murphy (World Premier and International Tour 2021), Duck Duck Goose by Caitríona Daly (World Premier and Irish Tour 2021).

For Once Off Productions: Guest Host Stranger Ghost by Kate Heffernan (Dublin Theatre Festival 2024); Afterwards by Janet Moran (Dublin Fringe Festival 2024); Elsewhere by Michael Gallen (Irish Tour 2024); You Belong To Me by Rory Nolan (World Premier 2023); The United States v. Ulysses by Colin Murphy (World Premier 2023, Zebbie Award Nominee 2024); Quake by Janet Moran (Dublin Theatre Festival 2023, Zebbie Award Nominee 2024); Absent The Wrong by Carys D. Coburn (WINNER Best Production, Dublin Fringe Festival 2022); Looking For América by Federico Julián González and Janet Moran (Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2021, and Irish Tour 2022),
The Performance Corporation’s Emperor 101 (Dublin Theatre Festival 2021), Rescue Annie by Eoghan Carrick and Lauren Shannon Jones (Dublin Fringe Festival 2021). Cally has also produced developments and work-in-progress presentations in collaboration with artists: Marc Atkinson Borrull, Molly O’Cathain & Ciara Elizabeth Smyth; Eoghan Carrick & Lauren Moukarzel; Pea Dinneen; Kwaku Fortune; Colin Murphy; Hannah O’Reilly.

For Dead Centre: Chekhov’s First Play by Dead Centre (International Tour 2022).