From 1988 – 1996, Fishamble was known as Pigsback, and produced 10 new plays between 1990 – 1996. Since 1997, Fishamble has continued to discover, develop and produce new plays. Fishamble has toured its productions throughout Ireland and to 19 other countries.
In 2013, to mark the company’s 25th birthday, Fishamble donated its living archive to the National Library. The National Library of Ireland accepted its archive to assist the increasing numbers of students and theatre enthusiasts interested in studying Fishamble’s body of work. This collection comprises complete and draft scripts, production and rehearsal schedules, notes, programmes, flyers and theatrical posters for plays produced by Fishamble.
In 2023 Fishamble turns 35, amid a year of national and international tours of award-winning and critically-acclaimed productions such as Heaven, Mustard, The Humours of Bandon and KING. As one way of marking the occasion, we are working in partnership with Youth Theatre Ireland to share a selection of plays which Fishamble has premiered over the past 35 years, with all 57 Youth Theatre groups in the country. Over 1,300 plays will be shared with young people, including the future theatre-makers of Ireland. The plays will include works that have been presented nationwide, been performed site-specifically, and toured to 20 countries, including transfers Off-Broadway and to the West End.
In 2013, to mark the company’s 25th birthday, Fishamble donated its living archive to the National Library. The National Library of Ireland accepted its archive to assist the increasing numbers of students and theatre enthusiasts interested in studying Fishamble’s body of work. This collection comprises complete and draft scripts, production and rehearsal schedules, notes, programmes, flyers and theatrical posters for plays produced by Fishamble.
In 2023 Fishamble turns 35, amid a year of national and international tours of award-winning and critically-acclaimed productions such as Heaven, Mustard, The Humours of Bandon and KING. As one way of marking the occasion, we are working in partnership with Youth Theatre Ireland to share a selection of plays which Fishamble has premiered over the past 35 years, with all 57 Youth Theatre groups in the country. Over 1,300 plays will be shared with young people, including the future theatre-makers of Ireland. The plays will include works that have been presented nationwide, been performed site-specifically, and toured to 20 countries, including transfers Off-Broadway and to the West End.
35 Years of Productions
A play for Ireland
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 this 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.
