THE YEAR THAT WAS 2025
As the year draws to a close, let’s take a quick reflection of what an eventful year it was for us!
Our 18th year of operating began with the appointment of a new General Manager for the company. One of our original board members and long time stalwart, supporter and collaborator with the company Fionnuala Kennedy took the reins and brought a whole new creative energy to the company! We even painted our front door BRIGHT BRASS to welcome Finn to the madhouse, while also making an iconic statement on the entrance to the magical and wonderful world of Brassneck Youth & our shared rehearsal space!🤩🤗
We kicked off the year in February with a trip to the Beautiful Corrymeela community to work with the Start 360, Engage Women who took part in our ‘Theatre for change’ workshops lead by Finn. This is just the beginning of a long line of outreach projects that Finn has planned with the company over the coming years.
After the huge success of our 2024 commissioned play by Gina Donnelly, the multi award-winning ‘Anthem for Dissatisfaction’ at last years Féile as well as at the Edinburgh and Dublin Fringe Festivals, we brought it home to The MAC, Belfast! It was a great kickstart to our Summer season and still only the beginning for a show that has offers to not only be published, but also to travel to festivals around the world in 2026!✈️
June also saw the juggernaut that is BRASSNECK YOUTH flying high and representing at the National Theatre in London no less, where they were chosen from almost 300 youth companies across Ireland and the UK to perform on the National Stage. An incredible achievement for these young people and their facilitators lead by the indefatigable Alison McCrudden, who’s continued dedication and commitment, sees this amazing organisation go from strength to strength each year, with children and young people from our communities growing in self-confidence, obtaining the skills necessary for this industry and gaining many opportunities on stage, film and television. 🎭🎬Bravo👏👏👏
Brassneck’s biggest show to date, launched at the Lyric Theatre as part of Féile an Phobail this Summer, as we produced the Irish premiere of Oscar winning Terry George’s iconic Broadway hit ‘The Tunnel’. With a star-studded, local cast, the show sold out both weeks on the main stage and was one of the undoubtable cultural highlights of the year. The show was subsequently nominated for an Aisling Award and plans are now afoot to bring the production to the USA in 2026.🗽
Another previous hit Brassneck production, Fionnuala Kennedy’s powerful ‘Project Children’ returned once again in September, this time to the Garage Theatre in Monaghan, as the opening evening of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the organisation and the installment of the ‘Project Children’ archive at the new Peace Campus in Monaghan. We were delighted to once again host Denis Mulcahy, founder of Project Children with many other distinguished guests in attendance, including the two incredible women who without, Project Children would never have been the success story that it was; Monica Culbert & Sally Brennan. 💃💃
The third year of our pioneering project ‘The People’s Panto’ returned in December, once again to the beautiful, welcoming venue of St Comgalls! Our festive offering of ‘Snow White’ written by and starring Blue Lights regular Neil Keery, was once again a barnstorming success with the highest audience numbers ever attending the newest and most affordable panto in Ireland! We were delighted to host so many families and also M.E as our charity partner raising much needed funds for them! We hope to see you all back at next years offering which will be announced early in the new year.🌟
Alongside our Panto, we once again partnered with the hilarious Paddy McDonnell for the second installment in his Firestick comedy series, ‘Silent Night’ at the Roddys! 8 sold out shows, delirious and delighted audiences, the craic was mighty and we can’t wait to do it all again next year! 🤪
As always, we have several very exciting programming announcements in the new year folks and we cannot wait to share with you all!😍
Thankyou to our amazing board, all of our generous funders, our partners new and old, the incredible casts, crews and creatives and everyone who helped us make 2025 an outstanding and memorable year for everyone at Brassneck!🥰
Wishing you all a wonderful and a peaceful New Year and we look forward to sharing our exciting creativity with you all again in 2026!💚x
Our 18th year of operating began with the appointment of a new General Manager for the company. One of our original board members and long time stalwart, supporter and collaborator with the company Fionnuala Kennedy took the reins and brought a whole new creative energy to the company! We even painted our front door BRIGHT BRASS to welcome Finn to the madhouse, while also making an iconic statement on the entrance to the magical and wonderful world of Brassneck Youth & our shared rehearsal space!🤩🤗
We kicked off the year in February with a trip to the Beautiful Corrymeela community to work with the Start 360, Engage Women who took part in our ‘Theatre for change’ workshops lead by Finn. This is just the beginning of a long line of outreach projects that Finn has planned with the company over the coming years.
After the huge success of our 2024 commissioned play by Gina Donnelly, the multi award-winning ‘Anthem for Dissatisfaction’ at last years Féile as well as at the Edinburgh and Dublin Fringe Festivals, we brought it home to The MAC, Belfast! It was a great kickstart to our Summer season and still only the beginning for a show that has offers to not only be published, but also to travel to festivals around the world in 2026!✈️
June also saw the juggernaut that is BRASSNECK YOUTH flying high and representing at the National Theatre in London no less, where they were chosen from almost 300 youth companies across Ireland and the UK to perform on the National Stage. An incredible achievement for these young people and their facilitators lead by the indefatigable Alison McCrudden, who’s continued dedication and commitment, sees this amazing organisation go from strength to strength each year, with children and young people from our communities growing in self-confidence, obtaining the skills necessary for this industry and gaining many opportunities on stage, film and television. 🎭🎬Bravo👏👏👏
Brassneck’s biggest show to date, launched at the Lyric Theatre as part of Féile an Phobail this Summer, as we produced the Irish premiere of Oscar winning Terry George’s iconic Broadway hit ‘The Tunnel’. With a star-studded, local cast, the show sold out both weeks on the main stage and was one of the undoubtable cultural highlights of the year. The show was subsequently nominated for an Aisling Award and plans are now afoot to bring the production to the USA in 2026.🗽
Another previous hit Brassneck production, Fionnuala Kennedy’s powerful ‘Project Children’ returned once again in September, this time to the Garage Theatre in Monaghan, as the opening evening of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the organisation and the installment of the ‘Project Children’ archive at the new Peace Campus in Monaghan. We were delighted to once again host Denis Mulcahy, founder of Project Children with many other distinguished guests in attendance, including the two incredible women who without, Project Children would never have been the success story that it was; Monica Culbert & Sally Brennan. 💃💃
The third year of our pioneering project ‘The People’s Panto’ returned in December, once again to the beautiful, welcoming venue of St Comgalls! Our festive offering of ‘Snow White’ written by and starring Blue Lights regular Neil Keery, was once again a barnstorming success with the highest audience numbers ever attending the newest and most affordable panto in Ireland! We were delighted to host so many families and also M.E as our charity partner raising much needed funds for them! We hope to see you all back at next years offering which will be announced early in the new year.🌟
Alongside our Panto, we once again partnered with the hilarious Paddy McDonnell for the second installment in his Firestick comedy series, ‘Silent Night’ at the Roddys! 8 sold out shows, delirious and delighted audiences, the craic was mighty and we can’t wait to do it all again next year! 🤪
As always, we have several very exciting programming announcements in the new year folks and we cannot wait to share with you all!😍
Thankyou to our amazing board, all of our generous funders, our partners new and old, the incredible casts, crews and creatives and everyone who helped us make 2025 an outstanding and memorable year for everyone at Brassneck!🥰
Wishing you all a wonderful and a peaceful New Year and we look forward to sharing our exciting creativity with you all again in 2026!💚x