Professional Development
Fostering Professional Development is part of our mission.
Our studio at 42 Fairview Strand enables us to provide imaginative opportunities for independent artists and performing arts professionals.
In addition to bespoke masterclasses, internships and tailored studio supports, we work together with a number of organisations, collaborating on transparent structured creative programmes, including the CoisCéim Movement Award with Dublin Fringe Festival and Irish Theatre Institute’s ITI Offsite @ CoisCéim programme.
CoisCéim is also a founding partner of, and administrates the Emma O’Kane Bursary, which provides an unbounded opportunity for artists to explore and embrace dance, movement or a physical language in their work.
Artists we've supported at 42 Fairview Strand …
25 - 29 August 2025
Mai Ishikawa
ITI Offsite @ CoisCéim residency 2025
"In the quiet, atmospheric studio of CoisCéim, I was able to explore my own physical identity, which to me is all about slowing down and being aware of your environment; it was a great chance to work on my audio-physical piece “Constriction” for this year’s Dublin Fringe Festival, and add the last physical layer. It was wonderful to have the space to explore on my own and to invite some of my collaborators." - Mai Ishikawa
18 - 22 August 2025
Hidden & Forbidden Collective
ITI Offsite @ CoisCéim residency 2025
"Having the opportunity to spend time at CoisCeim has been phenomenal! Having the time and space to explore the world of 'Love Letters' has been truely transformational for the piece. A seed has been planted that we hope will flourish in time." - Siún & Aoife, Hidden & Forbidden Collective
August 2025
Julie Kelleher
Dance floor equipment support.
Julie Kelleher is developing a new work for theatre, which takes as its inspiration a contemporary memoir that deals with the subject of abusive same-sex relationships. Collaborating with scenographer Aedín Cosgrove, and three performers, she spent a week experimenting with text, set and lights at Mermaid Arts Centre. The development process is supported by a project award from the Arts Council, and in kind supports from Mermaid Arts Centre, Cork Midsummer Festival and CoisCéím.
June 2025
Sasha Krohn
Dance floor equipment support for THE WEIGHT OF SHADOW performances at Civic Theatre Tallaght.
9-13 June 2025
Aoife Cassidy
The first ITI Offsite @ CoisCéim residency of 2025.
"The week at CoisCéim was so useful. I’m developing a show which is a combination of verbatim and drag-kinging, about a TikTok Tradwife. To have a dedicated professional space to explore and further the material was fantastic. I’m thankful to everyone at the Irish Theatre Institute, and at CoisCéim, who were all so supportive and welcoming." - Aoife Cassidy
June 2025
PETER POWER & LEON BUTLER
Projection equipment support for the development of FOOLISH FLAME at the Digital Hub in preparation for its premiere at this year's Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria. Produced by Once Off Productions.
June 2025
Brokentalkers
Fogger equipment support for performances of BELLOW at Festspillene i Nord-Norge.
26 May - 10 June 2025
Sian Ní Mhuirí & Em Ó Ceallaigh
ProjectIon equipment support for SÍOMHA AND THE OTHERWORD, a new, immersive theatre show for young audiences. "Without Coiscéim's support we would not have been able to realise sophisticated AV design, which was pivotal in the creation of a fairy fort that shimmered with fiáin fairy magic. We are extremely grateful for their support."
May/July 2025
Luke Murphy - Attic Projects
Computer and projection equipment support for the premiere of SCORCHED EARTH at the Abbey Theatre for Dublin Dance Festival and Galway International Arts Festival 2025.
26 May - 30 June 2025
Marion Carriau
Research on Irish traditional keening & celts water rituals...
"I feel so truly privileged to be part of this project.
A seed is planted." - Marion Carriau
March 2025
Irish National Opera
Projection equipment support for the premiere of THE FLYING DUTCHMAN at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre.
February 2025
Aideen Barry
"The CoisCeim Studio was a vital part of the infrastructure needed to prepare for my upcoming short film "Embroidering the Earths Mantle" inspired by the paintings of the forgotten surrealist Remedios Varo, which is commissioned by the Project New Work Film Award from the Arts Council of Ireland in 2025. The space to work with my wonderful team of dancers and choreographers Junk Ensemble was Vital. The space offers refuge and safety to my performers who, like Varo, have experienced persecution, occupation, war, othering and challenging life situations. This kind of safety, warmth and space of solace is a vital component in a project that was about trust building and sharing of traumatic experiences. I am enormously grateful for the holistic approach by the CoisCeim studio and the kindness and warmth that the staff create."
20 - 24 January 2025
One Two One Two
One Two One Two are collaborating with Aoife McAtamney to develop a live performance based on Aoife's debut album, Pink Breath. The week culminated in a private sharing of the work-in-progress featuring dancer Justine Cooper and a four piece band.
January 2025 & July 2024
Neil O'Driscoll
"Over the past eight months I have worked on two separate projects in the CoisCéim Studio in Fairview, with studio and equipment support in-kind from CoisCéim. The first was a shoot in July for short film, 'Moan', which was written, produced and co-directed by Roisin O'Donovan, with funding from the Actor as Creator fund in partnership with Bow street academy and Screen Ireland.
In January myself and several other theatre professionals held a workshop to experiment with light and projection, for which we received a theatre bursary."
2 - 6 December 2024 & 5-17 May 2025
Nick Nikolaou
Part of ITI Offsite @ CoisCéim Residency
"The 1 week residency in CoisCéim was very helpful and needed. The winter season can be a lull for artists and their practice, so having full access to a space for a week really helped with organising my needs and plans for the new year. Getting to also use the beautiful dance studio for some dance practice was a great addition one that we can never take for granted as dancers. Thank you so much to the Irish Theatre Institute and to Sarah from CoisCéim for their openness and their help!"
2 - 6 December 2024
Sibéal Davitt
Arts Council Agility Award - Traditional Arts residency with Emily Kilkenny Roddy.
4 - 8 November 2024
RENN MIANO, BLACKMAGICRAWR
ITI Offsite @ CoisCéim Residency
BLACKMAGICRAWR is an afro futurist exploration of weaving ancestral storytelling accompanied by present time responsive work/s through movement, backdropped by sonics and voice/breathwork. This ongoing focus on grounding the body and reenergizing stillness has accumulated in performances at: IMMA, Nuns Island, Live Collision, CCI Paris and The Complex. For this ITI at CoisCéim residency, Cami, Osaro, Renn, along with their A/V collaborator Sal, delved further into their project and create a repertoire of body poems.
October/November 2024
Mónica Muñoz
"During my time at CoisCéim Studio, I developed ROLLING! with dancer Cristian Dirocie as part of my residency at ATU, Atlantic Technical University.
ROLLING! is an interactive performance for children aged 3 to 6. A dancer builds his own world with cardboard tubes in a visual performance about how to make sense of the world: transport, rotate, pile, drop, connect… A process of Trial and Error to find out how things work that engages with everyday materials in a fun and challenging way. We performed ROLLING in early years settings and schools in Castlebar and Galway in December 2024 and there are more performances for 2025 to come."
April 2024
Once Off Productions
Projection equipment support for STRAYMAKER and THE ABBEY THEATRE in association with MIROIRS ÉTENDUS and ONCE OFF PRODUCTIONS presentation of ELSEWHERE, A NEW OPERA BY MICHAEL GALLEN.
Spring 2024
Katie Honan
Writer and Performer
As a theatre maker, Katie was awarded an Arts Council Bursary to develop her movement practice through the lens of neuroscience — supporting the growth of a unique physical language in her work, with research keenly focussed on kinaesthetic empathy in cultural and creative practices. The investigation included how to bridge the gap between spectator and performer, by considering an audience’s sensory systems. She has collaborated with nationally acclaimed theatre practitioners, while also engaging with psychologists and neuroscientists at the South East Technology University. Through the support of CoisCéim, Katie was afforded dance studio space to explore with Megan Kennedy of Junk Ensemble.
Summer 2023/Spring 2024
Alex O'Neill
January-March 2024
Laura Murphy
Laura continued work on her film THIS IS IT 8 DANCE PORTRAITS, which premiered in spring 2024.
3-7 January 2024
Aoife McAtamney
"My working year started the 8th of January. I knew in the months ahead I would be presenting a record of original music and a multi-disciplinary film, two big projects that needed me fresh and focused. I needed time to be in a rehearsal space alone, to hear my thoughts and begin practice after the Christmas holidays. The space gave me a moment of calm before my official working year began and a time of reflection to help me gather my thoughts and prepare my body, giving me the best start to a creative year of work." - Aoife McAtamney
December 2023 & January 2024
Gap Day 2023-2024
SOPHIE COOTE & BRIAN KEEGAN
Gap Day gives professional freelance theatre practitioners across the island of Ireland paid time to think, dream and plan. It is run by Michelle Cahill with Mermaid Arts Centre, Wicklow and is supported by the Arts Council.
November 2023
Honey & Lemon
Multidisciplinary artists Millie Daniel-Dempsey & Amy Robyn Lyster.
November 2023
Shane Lambert
Photographer / Dancer / Filmmaker
November/December 2023
Jonathan Mitchell
Choreographer
May 2023
Emily Kilkenny Roddy
Choreographer
Rehearsals for RUINING THE ACT – performed by Sibeál Davitt, Millie Daniel Dempsey, Rosie Mullin & Emily Kilkenny Roddy.
January & February 20233
Gap Day 2022-2023
MICHELLE CAHILL and MICHELLE READ.
Gap Day gives professional freelance theatre practitioners across the island of Ireland paid time to think, dream and plan. It is run by Lian Bell with Mermaid Arts Centre, Wicklow and is supported by the Arts Council.
September 2022
Favour Odusola
Arts Council Bursary Project
Winter 2022 – Spring 2023
Laura Murphy
Choreographer
“With a warm and bright studio and a cosy atrium space, the CoisCéim space is a supportive haven for me to work in.”
August – September 2022
Hot Brown Honey & Dublin Fringe Festival
HIVE CITY LEGACY: Dublin Chapter rehearsals
“CoisCéim was a brilliant home for Hive City Legacy, Dublin Chapter. Great natural light, resources, space and independence. The team at CoisCeim were also welcoming, helpful and flexible with us. Couldn’t recommend more!”
June 2022
Jim Roche
COUNTERPARTS | Livestream, Oslo Bloomsday Society
“What a fabulous place to rehearse + marvellous people”
February 2022
Bluehouse Theatre
TWO HUNDRED DEER TO EVERY LION development | Smock Alley’s Scene + Heard Festival 2022
November 2021
Jonathan Mitchell
Arts Council Agility Award Recipient