PRODUCING
Alison McKenna is a theatre and cultural event producer.
2025 Gyrfalcon by Frank McGuinness
World Premiere. Currently in development with Frank McGuinness, Conor Linehan and Sarah Baxter, featuring Fra Fee. There will be a Work in Progress showing of this project in late February, Dublin.
2024 New Plays
The year was about engaging with and familiarising myself with emerging generations at work in Irish theatre, including playwrights, diverse practitioners and directors whose work I was not previously aware of. It was extremely fruitful, and I am currently working with five playwrights on new plays and two new (to me) directors.
2023 Children’s Playground
Alison was on the steering committee of a new playground for central London. She worked closely with Caroline Streaks of Lambeth Council to deliver this highly successful project. Involvement included procurement, community engagement, extensive playground research and a particular focus on equipment for children with disabilities.
2023 Consultant Producer, From Out The Land, Clonmel Junction Arts, #Decadeofcentenaries
From Out The Land traced the journey of over a hundred years in Clonmel’s military life, Inspired by the experiences of Irish soldiers and their families.
Directed by Jack Reardon. The creative team includes Co-Author Áine Ryan (Kitty In The Lane), Jack Scullion (set & costume design), Eoin Lennon (lighting design), Shane Dempsey (movement), Michael Stapleton ( sound) and Kate Twohig (original composition).
See www.junctionfestival.com/from-out-the-land
Producer St Brigid’s Day, Irish Embassy, Grosvenor Place, London.
Alison worked as the creative producer under Ambassador Adrian O’Neill and his senior leadership team, to develop and deliver the inaugural “St. Brigid’s Day” for London in 2018 and was their producer for Brigid’s Day again in 2019. This blueprint was rolled out across Irish Embassies and Consulates by the Department of Foreign Affairs. In 2022, 1st February was signed into government as a new Irish public holiday from February 2023. St. Brigid’s Day.
Consultant Producer, to the Irish Consulate, NYC on The Centenary of 1916, New York
Alison was engaged as the producer by Consul General Barbara Jones to procure the technical team and programme the non-commemorative part of the day. This historic day, attended by 5,000 people, included an open air rock concert, a tall ship, theatre, cinema, and the staging of exhibitions.
See Centenary Coverage of New York by RTE
Salon Eire 100
Alison created, developed, and produced Salon Eire 100, a multi-disciplinary festival for New York over six weeks in Spring 2016. Salon Eire 100 traced the journey of the Irish artist over 100 years, from 1916 to 2016 through photography, literature, poetry, music, theatre, and art. The festival included artists such as Ánu, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Kim Haughton, Clair Wills, Liz Nugent, Louise Lowe, Geraldine O’Sullivan, Alvy Carragher & Conor Linehan.
