Drama is it's own reward..
ABOUT US
Arclight Drama Studio (formerly the Stage craft Academy) opened in 1992, when the Paul Cullen School (est. 1985) joined forces with the Ciara Phelan School (est. 1990). All classes are taught by either Paul or Ciara.
In its time, more than 4,000 students have passed through its doors. Arclight produces more than 60 plays a year including our annual January Pantomime at the Pavilion Theatre, runs poetry and drama festivals, prepares students for examinations, workshops annually with The Royal Shakespeare Company, organises Summer Schools and in-school workshops, and writes and publishes resource books of drama. We also have a very successful Adult Theatre Company.
Our groups have performed widely at theatres and performance spaces both nationally and internationally, including Pavilion, Dun Laoghaire, Smock Alley Theatre, The New Theatre, The Dell, Stratford upon Avon (in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company), The Dolmen Theatre and The Ivy House Theatre. Our students love to perform, and at Arclight they are given lots of opportunities to appear onstage.
Paul Cullen
Paul is a Board Member of the International Drama Studies Foundation and Artistic Director of Arclight Theatre Company. He has produced, directed, written and acted in productions at venues such as The Olympia, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Pavilion, Vicar Street, The Focus, The Crypt, The Project, The Temple Bar Music Centre, the New Theatre and Oscar Theatre. Paul has also worked extensively in Film, TV and Radio. Paul is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and The Irish Board of Speech & Drama.
Ciara Phelan
Ciara is a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, and holds a Fellowship from the Irish Board of Speech & Drama. Ciara has been teaching Speech & Drama for more than 25 years, both in schools and privately. She co-produces, acts in and designs costumes for most of Arclight’s productions. As a performer, Ciara has worked in theatre, radio, TV and Film. Ciara works as a Speech and Drama examiner and has adjudicated at many Feiseanna all over Ireland, including Derry, Limerick, Sligo and Dundalk.