Legendary Cork theatre company to close its doors

A leading light of the arts, theatre and entertainment in Cork is to close its doors after 31 years of operations, bringing down the curtains on a stellar list of national and internationally acclaimed productions.

The Corcadorca Theatre Company has released a statement saying it would not be applying for funding from the Arts Council for the coming year and is winding down its operations.

Corcadorca has launched the careers of several notable actors and showcased the best of Irish talent including Disco Pigs by Enda Walsh starring Eileen Walsh and Cillian Murphy, which went on to tour internationally.

Board member Paul O’Donovan told the Echo that rising costs have made life challenging for the sector. “After Covid, a lot of people left the sector and didn’t want to come back to work,” he said.

Insurance and accommodation costs have cut margins, making it much more difficult to run shows in Cork and Dublin. Budgets for the arts in Ireland are “good” but they are not “European good,” said Mr O’Donovan.

“We didn’t have to keep the heating on in a theatre because we’re not site-specific. We got good supports. We actually made work during Covid. We made Contact during Covid, where we went to the different greens and housing estates around the city.” Mr O’Donovan said it was coming out of Covid and realising that the cost landscape had changed, that made them make this decision. “We didn’t want to fade away, so we decided not to apply for Arts funding and start the process of winding down. It’s hard to keep a company going, trying to recruit staff.” Corcadorca has two permanent posts, the artistic director Pat Kiernan and a company director, a post which is vacant. Eight board members are drawn from academia, the arts, law and business.

They work closely with partners such as the Triskel Arts Centre, a vibrant cultural hub in the heart of Cork City, mentoring new and emerging artists to bring their work to the stage and on screen.

Mr O’Donovan works in UCC. “All of the board members have full-time jobs. They were giving their time and their expertise and I have nothing but praise for my fellow board members, and past ones as well.” 

Corcadorca can look back with pride on its achievements over three decades of “spectaculars” such as bringing the Merchant of Venice to a closed-off Washington Street in Cork, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Fitzgeralds Park, and The Trial of Jesus at Easter up and down Patrick’s Hill, all which were standout performances that the people of Cork will remember for the rest of their lives.

“People didn’t think they were at a play,” said Mr O’Donovan. Corcadorca managed to attract spectators who didn’t think of themselves as typical “theatre folk.” 

Corcadorca was at the forefront of fostering new talent, such as Eimear Reilly, a 27-year-old-writer and producer, who has made waves at the Dublin Fringe Festival this year with her debut work, The Spin.

Mr O’Donovan said the board members are involved in various capacities across Cork city and they will continue their voluntary work across a range of arts.