Smock Alley is a key part of the arts infrastructure of Dublin.
We are a vital resource for artists, companies and festivals alike and it is our strategic mission to continue that support.
We are a particularly important venue and resource for artists at the beginning of their career. This support has been developed predominantly through our Scene & Heard festival of new work but also via a supportive rental environment in The Boys’ School and our artistic development programmes.
Over the past 10 years we have developed a number of routes through which artists can engage directly with us. Whether that’s to present work on our stages, develop and workshop new work or attend events and training within the building.
Here we list the variety of ways in which work is developed and presented at Smock and how you can engage with us to help develop your own work and practice.
Presentation
Smock Alley is a receiving venue which means that much of our programme comes from independent production companies, artists collectives, individuals or festivals who rent one of our stages to present their production.
If you are interested in renting either the Boys School or the Main Space for your play, concert, stand-up, gig or talk please contact Lucy Ryan directly on lucy[at]smockalley.com
Please note that we usually book between 3 and 6 months in advance. Rental terms to be agreed but usually require 50% deposit to secure dates and the balance can be paid out of box office receipts.
Production & Co-Production
Once or twice a year Smock Alley will co-produce, with another company, a production for presentation in the Main Space. These productions have been developed over a period and are usually in receipt of additional funding from the Arts Council or similar.
Due to our limited resources, we do not accept unsolicited submissions for this strand of work.
Scripts Submissions policy
As outlined above we only produce a small amount of work in-house, therefore we don’t accept unsolicited scripts for production.
SCENE + HEARD
Running since 2016, this festival of New Work showcases the best tasters of never-before-seen live art from all over Ireland. Every year the festival invites submissions for work-in-progress presentations of brand new work from comedy to dance, theatre and stand up across a three week period. Sign up to the festival’s social media channels and mailing list to receive updates about the next iteration of the festival. The festival is run by Cackle Management in co-production with Smock Alley Theatre.
Visit the Scene + Heard website.
Specific Artist Development programmes
Rachel Baptiste Programme
The Baptiste Programme is a paid and mentored script development programme for Black Irish theatre makers and writers of colour.
The programme is named after the 18th century Black Irish singer Rachel Baptiste, who performed to great acclaim here in Smock Alley as well as at other notable and prestigious venues and pleasure gardens of the time. Funded by the Arts Council and Dublin City Council. Read More…
The Boys’ School Development programme
A funded workshop opportunity where a small number of companies are invited to workshop a new project in the Boys School where all artist fees are paid.
This programme of supported development offers young and emerging artists the opportunity to continue to develop work, support their own artistic practice, foster collaboration between creative teams and provide a pipeline of new material for the theatre to potentially programme. Funded by the Arts Council. To be considered for the next cohort in this programme, please contact lucy[at]smockalley.com directly.
Artists in Residence
Since 2018 Smock Alley has had a series of Residencies all using the building and the resources we can offer in a variety of different ways.
Their output has ranged from produced work on the stages at Smock, developed texts, artists forums, peer-to-peer roundtable sessions and performance workshops.
Most recently Peter Gowen and Fight 2 Flight Theatre company have produced two shows including the world-premiere of Pat McCabes Country and Irish and the enormously constructive Friday Forum series tackling issues facing practicing artists throughout their career. View recordings of the Friday Forums…
For the last couple of years Smock Alley, alongside The Arts Council and Dublin City Council have funded an artist in residence to work with and in the building.
In 2020/21 renowned playwright Sonya Kelly used her residency to develop new work alongside creating a round-table programme for emerging writers. The programme was a paid writer development series which focused on the craft of writing, engagement with the industry and honing long-term skills. View the Round Tables page…
In 2021/22 creative producer Kate Ferris used the residency to develop new work and facilitating a similar round-table series with emerging young producers.
