Chalk on the Wall Productions, is comprised of graduating students from Dundalk Institute of Technology’s Drama and Performance and Theatre and Film Practice courses. The group consists of seven founding members David Ferreira, Dean Maguire, Eileen Gomez, Eleanor Dempsey, Ester Marie Balgová, Klaudia Bakalarczyk and Shane Mc Cabe.

Speaking about the residency, members of the company said, ‘We all are very excited to embark on this new adventure, as it is the first time in Ireland that a 3rd level college and an arts centre have collaborated in this way, whereby the graduating students get a year of professional development experience in a professional theatre environment. We are incredibly thankful to all the lecturers from DKIT that have supported us thus far and to An Táin Arts Centre for their continued support.’

Director of An Táin Arts Centre, Paul Hayes says ‘I know first-hand what it is like to go from the relevant safety of a drama degree to trying to make it in the real world of theatre. It’s really hard and a lot of promising young practitioners give up in their early careers. Through the residency, we hope to provide a working knowledge of professional theatre with mentoring throughout.’

An Táin Arts Centre’s theatre residency programme supports companies with the resources to make new work. As part of the residency, companies are provided with rehearsal space, technical and marketing support, dramaturgical advice and a production stipend. Quintessence Theatre was the inaugural recipient of the award, in residence from 2015 to early 2019, and Encore Productions from 2019 to 2023. Follow their progress at #antainartists