An Táin Arts Centre in Dundalk announces new Company in Residence
Kismet Theatre Company announced as Company in Residence at An Táin Arts Centre
An Táin Arts Centre has said that it is delighted to announce Kismet Theatre Company as its Company in Residence for 2026/2027, continuing its commitment to supporting professional development opportunities for performing artists based in County Louth.
Founded by Lorianné O'Rourke in 2024, Kismet Theatre Company is a professional musical theatre company based in Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Driven by collaboration, passion and professional development, Kismet provides a platform for emerging artists to devise, perform and develop new work. Committed to diversity across both creative and performance roles, the company creates ambitious musical theatre that combines ensemble-led performance with compelling storytelling.
Kismet combines dynamic staging, original choreography and ensemble-driven performance to bring fresh perspectives to familiar repertoire. Each production is crafted with an emphasis on storytelling, physicality and vocal excellence.
As a company, their mission is to create compelling musical theatre that resonates with diverse audiences, sparks meaningful conversation and reflects the human experience through the power of live performance.
The Kismet creative team is made up of Director and Choreographer Lorianné O'Rourke, a long-standing choreographer for companies such as Elite Star School of Performing Arts, Starcamp, DkIT and Annacurra Foróige, and founder of Kismet Theatre Company; Assistant Director and Acting Coach Emiliano Vazquez, a Mexican-born theatre maker and professional performer; and Vocal Director Alisia de Brún, a professional actress and recording artist with more than a decade of experience in musical theatre.
Lorianné O’Rourke commented: “Securing the residency at An Táin Arts Centre represents a major step forward for Kismet Theatre Company. This partnership provides us with an incredible platform to showcase the vibrant talent of emerging musical theatre artists on a premier stage.
“We are incredibly grateful to the team at An Táin for welcoming us, and we cannot wait to welcome Dundalk audiences to our upcoming productions."
Paul Hayes, Director of An Táin Arts Centre says about the residency: “I am delighted to welcome Kismet as our newest Company in Residence, Dundalk is a town with a fine history of high calibre musical theatre, and it is a first for An Táin Arts Centre to support the professional development of a Musical Theatre Company.
“As the members are also graduates of DkIT, we are delighted to be able to continue ou relationship with the institution in terms of providing a direct career pathway. Kismet are high energy, wonderful performers, we can’t wait to see what they achieve during their residency.”
An Táin Arts Centre’s theatre residency programme supports companies with the resources to make new work.
As part of the residency, companies are provided with rehearsal space, producing, technical and marketing support, dramaturgical advice and a production stipend.
Since launching in 2015, An Táin Arts Centre’s Company in Residence programme has supported the development of new work by companies including Quintessence Theatre (2015-2019), Encore Productions (2019 - 2023) and Chalk on the Wall (2023-2026). Kismet Theatre Company is the first musical theatre company to be awarded the residency.
Audiences can look forward to seeing Kismet's work as part of An Táin Arts Centre's September - December programme beginning with Misfits Cabaret – an electrifying night of rock musicals, live music, dance, and powerhouse vocals in Toales on September 25th; Project: Echoes- a new Irish Musical which explores the lives of three young artists navigating grief, memory, and the stories we tell about the people we’ve lost, running 28th - 30th October; and the Misfits Gala, a spectacular celebration of music, theatre, and unforgettable live performance on 3rd December.
To book a show, or learn more about Kismet, visit antain.ie or follow them on instagram at @kismettheatrecompany