In 2017, Fishamble set out to find A Play For Ireland with an open call to the country. During 2018, 30 new plays were developed with Fishamble and its partner venues Draíocht, Everyman, Lime Tree Theatre & Belltable, Lyric Theatre, Pavilion Theatre, and Town Hall Theatre. Earlier this year, 6 shortlisted playwrights were announced, with the chosen Play For Ireland being announced this week.


As part of its 30th year in 2018, Fishamble: The New Play Company set out to find one, big, ambitious play, that bursts with humanity and tackles a subject about which the playwright feels passionate - A PLAY FOR IRELAND that captures the zeitgeist of the country, that demands to be produced.
Submissions were invited from across Ireland at the start of a two-year process, which encouraged the citizens of Ireland, and non-Irish citizens living on the island of Ireland, to write plays, engaging people aged 18+, from all communities, throughout the country. The initiative has seen Fishamble develop 30 new plays with playwrights throughout the island of Ireland during the first round of this initiative, and later this year will result in the production of one very special new play.
Last month Fishamble announced the 6 shortlisted plays which moved forward into the final stage of this process, where each was workshopped with the Fishamble team. This week, the chosen Play for Ireland will be announced.

Shortlisted titles & playwrights:
Duck, Duck, Goose by Caitríona Daly
In Passing by John Doran
Wreckquiem ­by Mike Finn
A Line of Work by Marina Ni Dhubháin
Ballybaile by Jody O’Neill
The Alternative by Michael Patrick & Oisín Kearney

The chosen Play For Ireland will premiere in the Dublin Theatre Festival as part of its nationwide tour in association with Draíocht, Everyman, Lime Tree Theatre & Belltable, Lyric Theatre, Pavilion Theatre, Town Hall Theatre in September and October 2019.

The programme is supported by Tesco Finest with transportation partner Irish Rail.

Click here to read about the chosen play and A PLAY FOR IRELAND’S 2-year process: www.fishamble.com/apfi