Theatre and Dance NI, in partnership with Belfast International Arts Festival  and with support from Arts Council of Northern Ireland and British Council Northern Ireland, are delighted to announce the recipients of the Edinburgh Fringe Fellowship 2025 bursaries.
The Fellowship Programme offers bursaries to support four early to established Northern Irish artists, directors and producers who are intending to take work to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in the future and promote themselves and/or their work to international arts industry presenters and promoters.
The bursaries provide financial support of ÂŁ600 that can be used towards travel, per diems, accommodation, tickets, or expenses while at the festival. The Fellowship Programme provides networking support alongside the opportunity to see high quality work and share learning and considerations when taking work to Edinburgh.
Ronan McManus | Executive Producer, Kabosh Theatre Company
Ronan is a Producer and Theatre Maker who has been Executive Producer of Kabosh since April 2025. In this role, he plans to nurture and build upon Kabosh’s 30+ years as a locally and internationally acclaimed Theatre company, creating work that challenges and transforms our understanding of who we are by giving Voice to site, Space and People, championing new writing, animating non-traditional locations, and focusing on stories that promote social change.
Ronan is particularly interested in improving arts access for working class and rural communities and using arts as a catalyst for social change and good relations across all communities. He also has a particular interest in programming new writing and supporting emerging artists and developing opportunities for local work to tour internationally. Ronan is delighted to be part of the fellowship program as an opportunity to build relationships with a variety of local and international artists and companies.
Carley Magee | Writer, Theatremaker and TDNI INVEST Fellowship Artist
 Carley Magee is a writer and theatremaker from Belfast. One of the BBC Belfast Voices for 2023, and a panelist for “Fade In: Emerging Writers In Conversation” at the LFF 2024. Selected for the INVEST Fellowship with Theatre & Dance NI 2024/2025, this bursary has enabled her to explore work that is experimental, surrealist in nature, and intersectionality feminist in its narrative. Carley’s play “Stuff & Things & Junk & Belonging”, longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2023, was selected for a rehearsed reading at the Front & Centre Theatre Symposium of Women & Non-Binary Writers.  As a recipient of the George B. Millar Award; her play “Seaborne” was produced by Youth Theatre Ireland and performed by Shout Out Youth theatre in Kerry. She worked as a facilitator to hold workshops with Shout Out in theatre devising, art and activism, and environmentalism. Then was commissioned by the Lyric Theatre Belfast to write a play about mental health for young people which will tour schools in 2026.
Lara Albergo | Development Manager, Bruiser Theatre CompanyÂ
Lara Albergo joined Bruiser Theatre Company as Development Manager and Producer in 2023, bringing expertise in cultural policy, arts management, and finance. With a Masters in Cultural Policy & Arts Management from UCD, Dublin, and BA in Comparative Languages and Cultures from L’Orientale University, she has extensive experience as Finance Officer in the charity sector. Lara facilitates Bruiser’s strategic development while building international opportunities and partnerships for company growth.
Bruiser Theatre Company is Northern Ireland’s foremost physical theatre company, producing high-quality theatre that excites and stimulates audiences. Founded in 1997 and based in Belfast, Bruiser creates exciting and innovative live theatre, touring across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and internationally. The company uses minimal set for maximum impact, with the actor as centre of the action, creating accessible theatre experiences. Education and engagement are core to their vision, providing training opportunities through programmes like A Day With Bruiser and The Arts Academy.
Gemma Mae Halligan | Co-founder and Creative Director, Amadan Ensemble
Amadan Ensemble is the premier theatre company in Northern Ireland specialising in the artistry and mastery of Clown and Devised Theatre as tools to produce original and accessible theatre that takes creative risks. They use theatrical styles not often used in NI, allowing audiences to experience a different cultural offering. Comedy plays an important role in their work, using laughter to relieve stress and create security to tell stories with challenging themes. The work is often non-verbal helping audiences introduce their own narrative, creating playful spaces where they can see themselves & their experience reflected in the characters.
Delivered by Spotlight on Theatre and Dance from Northern Ireland Working Group.
