One of the country's best known theatre companies, Cork-based Corcadorca, has announced it is to close after 31 years.
In a statement this lunchtime, the company, which launched the careers of actor Cillian Murphy and playwright Enda Walsh, said it is "with much regret" that the decision has been taken after three decades.
The award-winning theatre company and its artistic director/founder Pat Kiernan have been responsible for some of the most exciting and dynamic site specific theatre productions in the country.
Among their notable productions are Disco Pigs by Enda Walsh, which kickstarted the careers of actors Eileen Walsh and Cillian Murphy, as well as Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest in Fitzgerald's Park, Woyzeck at the Haulbowline Naval Base and Guests of the Nation at the Triskel and Cork Opera House.
Mr Kiernan said that in its 31 years of operation, the company had made "outstanding work" and he was very proud that they were "part of the cultural fabric of Cork City".
Thanks for all your kind messages and for amazing support over three decades pic.twitter.com/wC7UgHoAmJ
— CorcadorcaCork (@CorcadorcaCork) October 25, 2022
Chairperson Paul O'Donovan said it was a tough day for them, but like a lot of sectors the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted on the availability of staff and rising costs were also a factor in the decision to close.
"The company wanted to get back to the big spectaculars but the budgets are no longer there for them", Mr O'Donovan said, so the difficult decision was made "to bank our legacy and move on".
