Theatre and Dance NI is delighted to announce the recipients of this year’s bursaries to attend Dublin Fringe Festival and Dublin Theatre Festival: Niamh McPhillips and Rachel Kennedy.
These bursaries are designed to support artists and arts professionals from Northern Ireland to engage with two of Ireland’s most exciting international festivals, providing opportunities to connect, collaborate and develop their practice.
Meet the Bursary Recipients
Niamh McPhillips
Originally from the border town of Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, I have a deep and growing interest in cross-border collaboration. I’m particularly passionate about using the arts to bridge communities, build creative connections among young people, and support inclusion and access across cultural and geographical lines.
I hold a BA in Drama (Performance) from TU Dublin Conservatoire and a Master’s in Movement Directing and Teaching from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London. I also hold a Level 6 qualification in Drama Facilitation with Youth Theatre Ireland. My practice centres on movement and visual storytelling, drawing from techniques such as Commedia dell’Arte, Lecoq, Clowning, Laban, Viewpoints, Mask, and Puppetry.
The work I most enjoy making is collaborative, physical, and visually bold, work that sparks dialogue and leans into the political power.
Rachel Kennedy
I’m a creative producer with 20+ years’ experience devising, developing and delivering professional, successful events and festivals in the arts and culture sector in Northern Ireland, with a people-led approach. I started my own company, Grasshopper Creative Productions, in March 2025 and specialise in producing and managing creative projects, fundraising support and strategic consultancy.
In my most recent role with EastSide Arts, I was Director of the EastSide Arts Festival (2016 – 2024) and the C.S. Lewis Festival (2016 – 2019). I have a particular interest in theatre and have commissioned and produced new work by Reggie Chamberlain King, Stephen Beggs, Alice Malseed and Rosemary Jenkinson. Current projects include Line Producing Dear Arabella by Marie Jones at the Lyric Theatre, delivery of the Breakthrough Programme for Terra Nova Productions, and fundraising support for a number of clients.
My favourite way to relax and unwind is hot yoga, which I started 3 years ago, and is now a weekly practice. I also love experiencing other cultures and my partner and I have started spending a month a year in a different county. We try to learn some of the language and experience life from a different perspective. If I’m not working, at yoga or travelling, I’ll be in the garden with my cat Henry.
Supporting Artistic Development
Theatre and Dance NI is proud to support Niamh and Rachel in attending Dublin Fringe Festival and Dublin Theatre Festival this year. These opportunities will enable them to expand networks, experience new work, and develop future collaborations that strengthen the performing arts sector across the island of Ireland.