Next Stage 2024 Applications

Presented by Performing Arts Forum in partnership with Dublin Theatre Festival, the Next Stage is the artist development strand of Dublin Theatre Festival. Over the 18 days of the festival, participants meet festival artists in a packed schedule of talks, interviews, group time and workshops. The Next Stage has been lauded by alumni as “a rare amount of inspiration” and “career changing”.

Past speakers and workshop leaders include Tim Crouch, Garry Hynes, Michael Keegan Dolan, Ruth Little, Mikel Murfi, Thomas Ostermeier, Vivi Tellas and Enda Walsh. The Next Stage also creates valuable opportunities for enriching engagement with other participants, with past programmes sparking successful artistic collaborations.

Participation in the Next Stage is by application only.

Please fill in the online form here.
Applications close at 5pm Thursday 15th August sharp.

Incorporating the feedback of previous Next Stage participants, we will offer more flexibility in the schedule in this year’s edition, along with a contribution to the expenses of those participating.

• The 2024 Next Stage programme will start on Thursday 26th September and run to Saturday 12th October.
• Dan Colley will be the Next Stage facilitator.
• Programme participants are encouraged to attend all sessions as well as performances most evenings. Sundays will be completely free, with Mondays reserved for shows only. Tuesday to Saturday there will be a mix of group sessions, workshops and talks during the day, as well as shows. The Tuesday to Saturday schedule varies but most days start at 11am and the day sessions will normally take place for Week 1 in the fully accessible DanceHouse, Foley Street, Dublin 1 and for Week 2  Macro Building (fully accessible), Green Street, Dublin 1.
• Applications close at 5pm Thursday 15th August sharp.
• Places will be offered to successful applicants by Wednesday 28th August (original date Friday 23rd August)
• A contribution of €400 will be offered to each participant towards expenses incurred while participating.
• If you are based outside of Dublin, you can apply for an additional support of €600 towards accommodation/travel expenses. There are a limited number of these available, and they will be awarded on a discretionary basis. Applicants may still be offered a place on the Next Stage regardless of where they live, but due to finite resources, may not be offered this additional support.
• As in previous years, there will be a Dance Ireland Wildcard and Dublin Fringe Wildcard awarded to two artists.
• If you have any questions, please email Paul on paul@performingartsforum.ie.

Programme of Activities
The programme of activities of The Next Stage includes:

• Seeing over 25 shows in the Festival (ticket value of approx. €500)
• Attending Talking Theatre events
• Participation in daytime workshops
• Attending public interviews / critical panel discussions
• Question and answer sessions
• Talks with guest speakers

Eligibility
Applications are invited from anyone working professionally in theatre and the performing arts. Theatre artists and makers at an early career stage as well as more established and experienced professionals are invited to apply. It’s important that each group is a diverse one for participants to get the most of the programme.

Selection
Each year, participants are selected by a panel made up of Dublin Theatre Festival and Performing Arts Forum representatives. The panel reviews all applications received and the following selection criteria are applied:

• Applicant’s artistic ethos and goals
• Applicant’s artistic output to date
• Applicant’s likely role and fit with the group
• The overall group dynamic and its diversity
• The potential for future collaboration within the group

Next Stage Facilitator

Dan Colley

Dan Colley is an independent theatre and film maker with a focus on ensemble-devised work and adaptations. He trained as a facilitator with Youth Theatre Ireland, the principles of which are a cornerstone of his practice.

His shows ‘Lost Lear’ (premiered at DTF 2022) and ‘A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings’ (premiered at Dublin Fringe 2019) continue to tour internationally including to New York, the Hague, Stockholm, Wellington, Auckland and all over the UK and Canada. His film ‘The Painted Man’ produced by Samson Films was in the official selection of Galway Film Fleadh and was nominated for ‘Best Arthouse Short’ in the Fastnet Film Festival.

As Artistic Director of Collapsing Horse (2013-19) he directed nine original productions, created a series of ten radio plays, and an exhibition in the National Museum with the Ombudsman for Children’s Office.

Dan was Co-Artistic Director of the Kilkenny Cat Laughs comedy festival from 2017-19.

Dan was the Creative Director of ‘Danse Macabre’, a large-scale processional street theatre piece for Macnas. Dan directed and co-created TWENTY FIFTY with Fionnuala Gygax, an online interactive theatre piece part of DUETS in Dublin Fringe 2020.

Dan was awarded the Arts Council’s Next Generation Bursary Award in 2016. He is Theatre Artist in Residence in the Riverbank Arts Centre and on the board of the Dublin Fringe Festival. He is also a proud alumnus of The Next Stage.

Photo credit Patricio Cassinoni