Gaiety School of Acting

Organisation and location

The Gaiety School of Acting was founded in 1986 and is operated as a "self funded not-for-profit organisation". The school aims to train actors for theatre, film and television.

The school is based in Temple Bar, Dublin, with "Young Gaiety" classes also taking place in satellite locations in Bray and Malahide.

Courses

The school runs a two-year full-time Professional Actor Training course, part-time and youth courses in locations across Dublin, as well as a Masters of Arts in Theatre Practice in association with University College Dublin.

One year part-time courses include a Performance Year and Advanced Performance Year in Acting, and a Performance Theatre Company course. Shorter ten-week courses are also offered.

The school also hosts courses for international students, community and outreach schemes for Leaving Cert students, and corporate training programmes covering communication skills, leadership, and team building events.

Writers

Writers that the school has commissioned include Marina Carr, Lally Katz and Gary Duggan.

Notable graduates

The full time actor-training programme has produced graduate actors who have appeared in theatre, television and film productions both nationally and internationally. Graduates of the school have included:

• Colin Farrell
• Adam Fergus
• Sarah Greene
• Joanne King
• Becky Lynch
• Flora Montgomery
• Charlie Murphy
• Colin O'Donoghue
• Eimear O'Grady
• Aisling O'Sullivan
• Lorraine Pilkington
• Karl Shiels
• Stuart Townsend
• Aidan Turner
• Olivia Wilde
• Deirdre O'Kane
• Moe Dunford
• Don Wycherley
• Mark O'Halloran
• David Wilmot
• Eva Birthistle
• Simone Kirby
• PJ Gallagher
• Ian Lloyd Anderson

References

References

1. (2006). "Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Gaiety School of Acting, in the Smock Alley Theatre, Temple Bar".
2. tfarrell. (2024-02-23). "Spring has sprung at GSA!".
3. "FAQ".
4. "Professional Actor Training".
5. "Acting Courses - The Gaiety School of Acting". Irish Film and Television Network.
6. "MA Theatre Practice - Programme Details".
7. O'Gorman, Siobhán. (2014-10-02). "Writing from the margins: Marina Carr's early theatre". Irish Studies Review.
8. (2013-03-18). "Gerry's actor son Rex shows off his talent – in Ikea". The Herald.
9. (30 March 2019). "Colin Farrell: 'LA is superficial, but you get that in Dublin too'". Irish Times.
10. (2 February 2011). "Adam's Big Break". Independent News & Media.
11. (2 April 2013). "Alumnus of the Month – Sarah Greene".
12. (13 January 2010). "CAS Actor Joanne King".
13. "Rebecca Quin". Irish Film & Television Network.
14. (4 March 2001). "A fire-cracker with a secret life".
15. "Alumni".
16. (2013-03-07). "Know your limits , Highs and Lows with Stunt woman Eimear O'Grady".
17. (21 January 2007). "Diamond in the rough". Independent News & Media.
18. (16 July 2019). "Fair City actor Karl Shiels has died, aged 47". RTE News.
19. (18 October 1997). "'Fish' for compliments". Irish Times.
20. (1 September 2016). "Aidan Turner: 'It would be embarrassing if Poldark bombed'". Irish Times.
21. (28 October 2014). "Olivia Wilde: 'Colin Farrell was like God to my acting class in The Gaiety'". Independent News & Media.
22. (8 July 1997). "When your world's the stage". Irish Times.
23. (9 November 2014). "Interview of the Month: Moe Dunford". Gaiety School of Acting.
24. (2 December 2001). "The Don's Early Light". The Irish Independent.
25. (2 August 2011). "Double Take". The Irish Times.
26. (11 February 2014). "GSA Graduates, Charlie Murphy & David Wilmot star in new movie '71'". Gaiety School of Acting website.
27. (7 April 2014). "Eva Birthistle win's Best Actress in a Leading Role Television at the IFTA'S". Gaiety School of Acting website.
28. (27 May 2014). "Simone Kirby Class of 2020 star of 'Jimmy's Hall' takes to the red carpet in Cannes 2014". Gaiety School of Acting website.
29. (27 May 2014). "PJ Gallagher". Lisa Richards website.
30. (26 September 2015). "This much I know: Ian Lloyd Anderson, actor". The Irish Examiner website.