YTI Team

louise@youththeatre.ie

Louise is responsible for managing all Child Protection and Welfare aspects of our work. She acts as the information point for our members on all welfare matters and as Liaison Person for the Youth Theatre Ireland Garda Vetting Consortium. Louise is a former member of Galway Youth Theatre.

producer@youththeatre.ie

Kelly Phelan began her career as programme manager and producer for The Performance Corporation, Ireland's leading site specific theatre company. Following a stint producing world class comedians in Edinburgh and Melbourne, she joined The Abbey Theatre in 2010 as Casting Director. While at The Abbey Theatre, Kelly cast over 60 productions including 27 world premieres. She convened three international symposia and also produced the world premiere of Roddy Doyle's, TWO PINTS. Kelly has been working as a freelance producer and casting director since 2017, working with companies as varied as The Ark Theatre, RTE, and The Donmar Warehouse. She is also Creative Producer of IT Productions and manages their portfolio of Government clients.

( Appointed June 2021 )

Julie is responsible for Creative Learning with Graffiti Theatre Company and the Activate Youth Theatre Director

( Appointed June 2021 )

Barry is the Artistic Director of Flocking Arts Youth Theatre and Development Officer with BelongTo.

(appointed August 2020)

Conor Ryan, an FCA Chartered Accountant with almost 20 years’ experience in practice, is a Director of Ryan and Crowley Chartered Accountants. During this time, he has led audit teams and oversaw compliance in the practice. He has given hands-on support to a wide range of clients including many charities and, as Treasurer of Youth Theatre Ireland, brings with him a wealth of financial and governance acumen. Conor also serves as Treasurer of Templeogue Basketball Club.

(appointed November 2014)

Fionn Woodhouse is a director, producer and facilitator of drama/theatre with particular interest in youth participation and learning through practice. Fionn is an active educational drama practitioner, having trained and worked with Graffiti Educational Theatre Company for over 14 years. During this time, he has co-designed and facilitated various programmes including anti-racism/bullying, UCC Plus+ Drama Workshops, CIT Access Workshops, etc. He currently works in UCC's Drama and Theatre Studies Department. With a strong interest in youth theatre, Fionn is the Artistic Director of Lightbulb Youth Theatre and Footlights Youth Theatre, and a founder member of With an ‘F’ Productions theatre company that has toured shows both nationally and internationally. He was a former member of Cork’s Activate Youth Theatre.

(appointed June 2019)

Leish Burke studied with the Leinster School of Music and Drama at Griffith College, Dublin and has facilitated drama in many schools throughout Kildare and Wicklow. She is the founding Artistic Director of Griese Youth Theatre, which began in July 1999 in the Meeting House in Ballitore. It followed a proposal put to Kildare County Council Library Services and Action South Kildare by Leish and Artist Jacques Candelay to provide a complimentary learning experience to local young people through the medium of art and drama. The ethos in the group is very much holistic, nurturing both the artistic and social development of the young person. The group has now over 100 members aged 6 to 20 divided into Junior Griese and Griese Youth Theatre, and offers weekly drama workshops. GYT have performed both nationally and abroad and have been fortunate to work with many of Ireland’s leading theatre practitioners.

(appointed April 2016)

Máire O'Higgins is an Assistant Principal, Chaplain and Partnerships Coordinator at Larkin Community College Dublin. She has worked in the inner-city for 26 years. For six years Máire established and ran a unique three-year specialist arts education Junior Cycle programme. It was the first dedicated learning through arts schools programme in the State. Máire worked as a Theatre Director with Passion Machine Theatre Company and is a founding member of Pigsback Theatre Company.

Máire holds a BA in Italian and English, an MA in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care, a PostGrad in Entrepreneurial Education and a PostGrad in Educational Leadership. She is also a trained mindfulness in schools teacher. Máire is currently on the Boards of Localise Youth and Community, Encountering The Arts Ireland – ETAI - and Youth Theatre Ireland. Máire is passionate about reform of the second level Irish education system and creative engagement.

(appointed May 2020)

Niall is the Artistic Director and CEO of Graffiti Theatre in Cork. Graffiti creates theatre for young audiences, hosts Activate Youth Theatre, Fighting Words Cork, BEAG Early Years and is a creative hub for children and young people. Niall previously held the role of head of Outreach and Education with the company. Niall was a former Artistic Director of Droichead Youth Theatre and worked as an associate director and facilitator with Galway Youth Theatre, Sligo Youth Theatre, Backstage Youth Theatre and was an assistant facilitator with Play Youth Theatre and Fracture Youth Theatre. He also has much experience in professional theatre, both as an actor, director and company manager, principally with Decadent Theatre Company, of which he was a founding member.  Niall has served on the board of Youth Theatre Ireland since 2016 and was a former board member of the Galway Theatre Festival. He is a committee member of Theatre for Young Audiences Ireland. He holds a BA in English and History from the University of Limerick and a Professional Diploma in Education from NUI Galway. He trained as a drama facilitator with Arts Train in association with National Association for Youth Drama.