The Award Winning The Playhouse is one of N.Ireland’s flagships arts projects, and is based within the historic Walled City in two former “B1 Listed” Sister of Mercy Primary Schools built in 1887 and 1911. It was founded in 1992 by Pauline Ross and houses a state of the art 175 seater theatre, Dance Studio, Gallery space, workshop spaces, an Education and Outreach Department, and is also home to many cultural/arts based tenants. The Playhouse Theatre is one of only a handful of venues on the island of Ireland commissioning, producing and touring new work, winning the prestigious “The Stage – Outstanding Achievement in Regional Theatre”, the first theatre in N.Ireland to do so. It’s Education and Outreach Department was also the first in N.Ireland to run accredited training, with over 500 students a year graduating from it.

 

Through its international programme it collaborates with partners across the globe including partners in Germany, Italy, Poland, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Armenia, Lithuania and the USA to name but a few. Its historic buildings were restored in 2009 at a cost of £4.6 million, and upon completion immediately won a handful of architectural awards including the prestigious UK BURA (British Urban Regeneration Award), the first building in N.Ireland to do so. The Playhouse was honoured in 2014 winning the “Derry/Londonderry Business Award” for playing a pivotal part in the city becoming the first “UK City of Culture” in 2013. More information about The Playhouse can be found at www.derryplayhouse.co.uk , and http://www.theatreofwitness.org