Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1480. To ask the Minister for Culture, Culture, Communications and Sport the total cost to the State of the co-production of a play (details supplied), including any capital or programme funding provided to the theatre specifically for this production, and the projected or actual attendance figures used to justify this expenditure. [55087/26]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Mirandolina premiered in Treviso, Italy, in February 2026 as part of the Cultural Olympiad for the Winter Olympics. It has already toured to Belluno, Venice, Padua, Verona, Rijeka (Croatia), and Milan in Spring 2026.

The Dublin iteration of the production is part of Cultúr 2026, to mark Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026 and received a grant of €100,000 from my Department via Culture Ireland. Culture Ireland, which operates as unit of my Department, is responsible for promoting Irish Arts worldwide and ensuring that Ireland’s cultural excellence can be enjoyed internationally.

Mirandolina written by Marina Carr, after Carlo Goldoni, translated by Monica Capuani and directed by the Abbey Theatre’s Caitríona McLaughlin is an Abbey Theatre Ireland, Teatro Stabile del Veneto - Teatro Nazionale Italy, and Croatian National Theatre HNK Rijeka co production.

Mirandolina will run for 9 performances from 28th August 2026 - 5th September 2026 on the Abbey Stage at a budgeted cost of €286,526. During the Dublin run the Abbey are estimating that approximately 3,000 audience members will see the production. Of that they are projecting a paying audience of 330 in attendance every night, which represents 68% capacity, which would generate income of approximately €85,000 from ticket sales.

The production and tour in Italy and Croatia garnered great audiences, critical and diplomatic engagements. The Abbey Theatre continue to engage with the Italian Institute in Dublin, the Italian Ambassador and the Italian Embassy in Dublin who are also supporting the production coming to Ireland and as a result of these engagements they recently co-hosted visiting business leaders from the Veneto region to Dublin.

The funding provided by Culture Ireland has enabled Mirandolina to be performed on the stage of the national theatre during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and has facilitated Ireland's national theatre to deliver the project and develop these very worthwhile cultural partnerships on a European scale. As Ireland’s National theatre it is important that the Abbey took part in Cultúr 2026. The Abbey Theatre is core funded by the Arts Council (€9.5m) and the balance of the investment required for the production the Abbey's annual funding, box office and commercial income.