Will Wollen
Director & CEO, Gaiety School of Acting – The National Theatre School of Ireland 1986-2024
Ireland’s cultural presence on the global stage is thriving. From acclaimed screen performances to celebrated theatre productions, Irish voices are earning worldwide recognition.
Training grounds for a new generation
The Gaiety School of Acting holds the distinction of being Ireland’s longest-established full-time professional actor training institution, offering, since 1986, a comprehensive two-year programme that has been a steady force in developing professional talent. Its conservatory-style training equips students not just with craft but with the resilience needed for long-term creative careers. To ensure broad access, the school holds auditions in Cork, Athlone and Belfast each year, as well as at its Dublin base, identifying emerging talent across the country and breaking down barriers to entry.
To ensure broad access, the
school holds auditions in Cork,
Athlone and Belfast each year.
Lifting horizons, unlocking potential
The school’s vision of ‘lifting horizons’ extends well beyond performance. Through workshops, outreach and partnerships with schools and community groups, it encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to see the arts as a viable and valuable path — often where it hadn’t been imagined before. Today, hundreds of its graduates are working professionally in the arts; not just as actors, but as directors, writers, casting professionals, producers and comedians. Many are building sustainable, creative lives in an industry that increasingly values flexibility and range.
A creative force, at home and abroad
The list of notable alumni includes Colin Farrell, Aidan Turner, Daryl McCormack, and Olivia Wilde — artists who have brought Irish performance to global audiences, but the school’s legacy is broader.
Rising stars like India Mullen (Normal People, Brassic) and West End performers Callum Maxwell and Aisling Kearns represent the next wave of Irish-trained talent. Behind the scenes, casting director Louise Kiely (another alum) has played a key role in shaping productions like The Banshees of Inisherin and Normal People.
An evolving creative ecosystem
What’s emerging is a dynamic, evolving ecosystem — one where stories, collaboration and adaptability matter more than ever. As digital platforms and international co-productions redefine the landscape, Irish-trained artists continue to stand out. Often, their journeys begin in rehearsal rooms like those in Essex Street, where horizons are lifted, and the real work quietly begins.
