The Corcadorca Theatre Company was an independent theatre company based in Cork, Ireland. It was founded in 1991,[1] and closed in 2022.[2]

The company specialises in site-specific theatre and produced its first show of this kind, A Christmas Carol, in Cork City Gaol in 1994.[3] One of the best-known new works produced by Corcadorca was Disco Pigs (written for the company by Enda Walsh). It was first staged in Triskel Arts Centre starring Cillian Murphy and Eileen Walsh and toured worldwide in 1996 and 1997.[4]

Among the company's site specific productions were: The Trial of Jesus on Patrick's Hill, A Midsummer Night's Dream in Fitzgerald's Park, the multi-stage The Merchant of Venice and Woyzeck at the Naval Base in Haulbowline.[5]

In 2005, when Cork was European Capital of Culture, Corcadorca's Relocation programme saw off-site theatre companies from Poland, France and the UK stage a series of productions in city centre sites such as Elizabeth Fort, the Grand Parade and the city morgue.[6]

Corcadorca also develops new Irish writing. Apart from Enda Walsh it has also produced new plays by Conal Creedon,[7] Raymond Scannell[8] Eamonn Sweeney, and Pat McCabe.[9]

Corcadorca has been nominated for a number of Irish Times Theatre Awards,[10] and has won four, including Best Play and Best Actress (Eileen and Catherine Walsh) for The Same,[11] and Best Lighting and Best Soundscape for Caryl Churchill's Far Away.[12]

In 2011, Corcadorca set up the Theatre Development Centre (TDC), a studio space based in Triskel Arts Centre, as a way of resourcing the theatre sector in the region. The TDC supports around thirty projects each year as well as running SHOW, an annual platform for work in development, every November.[13]

The name of the company is from the Irish Corca Dhorcha, or "dark Corca". This is a play on Corca Dhuibhne, the Dingle Peninsula, portrayed (jokingly) as a backward area of country bumpkins in Myles na gCopaleen's An Béal Bocht.[14]

The company announced its closure in October 2022.[15][16][17][18][19]

References

  1. ^ "Shakespeare's magic blossoms in Cork". IrishTimes.com. Irish Times. 19 June 2001. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Announcement". corcadorca.com. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Passionate about the passion". IrishTimes.com. Irish Times. 8 January 2000. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Disco Pigs: The Ignorance of Youth". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Previous Productions". corcadorca.com. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Bringing the stage on to the streets". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 30 April 2005. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Irish Playography - The Trial of Jesus". irishplayography.com. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Irish Playography - Losing Steam". irishplayography.com. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Irish Playography - Sacrifice At Easter". irishplayography.com. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  10. ^ "About - Awards". corcadorca.com. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  11. ^ "Irish Times Theatre Awards: Red gets to paint the town". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards 2017". theartsreview. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Theatre Development Centre". theatredevelopmentcentre.com. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Corca Dorcha". anghaeltacht.net.
  15. ^ O'Driscoll, Des (25 October 2022). "Curtain comes down on Corcadorca's final act". IrishExaminer.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022.
  16. ^ O'Driscoll, Des (25 October 2022). "Des O'Driscoll: Corcadorca's Disco Pigs stands as one of Cork's cultural moments". IrishExaminer.com.
  17. ^ "Legendary Cork theatre company to close its doors". EchoLive.ie. 25 October 2022. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Sad news as pioneering Cork theatre company Corcadorca to close after 31 years". 25 October 2022. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022.
  19. ^ Fitzpatrick, Richard (15 November 2021). "Culture That Made Me: Pat Kiernan of Corcadorca reveals his influences". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022.

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