The Marie Mullen Bursary is Druid’s annual award for women working on the island of Ireland as theatre artists in the fields of design, directing and dramaturgy.
Druid Theatre has announced that applications are now open for the 2024 Marie Mullen Bursary, with the deadline for applications being Friday 6 October at 5pm.
Named in honour of actor and Druid co-founder, Marie Mullen, the bursary is intended to address a historic imbalance and to support the professional development of women in Irish theatre.
The bursary is open to women working as designers, directors and dramaturgs who have a proven commitment to Irish theatre and are currently residing on the island of Ireland. This bursary provides the chosen theatre artist with the time, physical resources and mentoring necessary to support their work.
This will be the sixth year of the Marie Mullen Bursary. The previous winners of the bursary are: Eleanor White (Dramaturg, 2018-2019 ); Clíodhna Hallissey (Costume Designer, 2019-2020 ); Sarah Baxter and Emily Foran (Directors, 2020-2021 ); Katie O'Halloran (Director, 2022 ); and Suzie Cummins (Lighting Designer, 2023 ).
Bursary winners receive a residency with Druid on a upcoming mainstage production in 2024; a one-to-one session with Marie Mullen on working in the theatre industry; mentoring opportunities with theatre professionals; for directors and dramaturgs, a contract to act as dramaturg or director for a Druid Debut; opportunities to engage with the Druid Ensemble; opportunities to attend FUEL and Druid Academy workshops and events; a bursary award of €2,000.
Bursary winners often continue to work with Druid following the completion of their bursary years. In 2023, four of the six bursary winners formed part of the creative team for DruidO'Casey: Clíodhna Hallissey as Co-Costume Designer, Sarah Baxter as Associate Director, Katie O’Halloran as Assistant Director and Suzie Cummins as Assistant Lighting Designer.
The Marie Mullen Bursary is supported by Thomas Campbell Jackson and Penny Jackson.
