Galway’s Blue Teapot Theatre Company has launched a campaign for new actors aged 18 and over to join its full-time theatre ensemble.

The award-winning company is inviting aspiring actors with an intellectual disability to audition for a permanent place within the resident company of artists. This development is part of an overall expansion, aligned to the company’s Strategic Arts Plan (2023-2027).

The company’s artistic director Petal Pilley describes this as “a rare opportunity to join our coveted, professional ensemble”.

Blue Teapot will be holding open auditions for a small number of places, casting the net wide in search of talent.

Previous acting experience is not necessary, Petal says. “Many actors come to their careers as diamonds in the rough looking for an opportunity to shine. The successful candidates will join our vibrant, experienced cohort of actors to develop and perform theatre on Ireland’s main stages and beyond”.

Company actor Kieran Coppinger has one bit of advice for potential applicants: “Be yourself, be proud of the fact you have a disability. When you’re on that stage, it’s a whole different world.”

For almost thirty years, Blue Teapot has worked steadily to radically transform theatre practices by telling stories through the lens of disability, paving the way for inclusive practices to become the norm. Its theatre productions include Sanctuary, Dancing At Lughnasa and last year’s production of Into the Dark Woods, written by company member Charlene Kelly in a co-production with The Abbey, as well as being twice nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Award.

Writer Christian O’Reilly whose work for the company includes the stage and screen version of Sanctuary, describes the call as “a unique opportunity to join an extraordinary ensemble of brilliant actors and to develop artistically in an environment that is professional, supportive and fun”.

Interested candidates can apply to audition by emailing admin@blueteapot.ie or by calling 091 520977 (Monday to Thursday, 9am-5pm). The deadline is 12pm on Monday, November 13.

Auditions will be held late November and early December. For detailed information, visit www.blueteapot.ie/audition which includes accessibility controls for the visually impaired.

Pictured: Blue Teapot members Michael Hayes and Valerie Egan performing in Into the Dark Woods, written by company member Charlene Kelly.