A good Gleeson to stay
The word ‘ambitious’ comes to mind when I think about Leeside theatre company Corcadorca, and newly appointed Company Manager Rachel Gleeson certainly fits that bill.
Rachel begins her new role having worked as an actor for 15 years before joining the Corcadorca team as Assistant Producer last July.
Somehow, while all of this was happening, she’s managed to secure three separate qualifications from three different colleges along the way, and she’s still only 31!
Rachel holds a BA in Drama & Theatre Studies from Trinity College, a law degree from The Honorable Society of King’s Inns, and an MA in Arts Management & Creative Producing from UCC.
Now, as she begins her next exciting chapter, Rachel says she can’t wait to get stuck in and help get the company get back to what it does best.
“I’m over the moon! I grew up attending Corcadorca productions and feel so lucky to be taking on such a long and rich legacy,” says Rachel.
“The work that Corcadorca produces is entirely unique. Pat Kiernan has long been an innovator in mounting large-scale, site-specific work in unusual and unexpected locations, and the company now stands firmly as one of the country’s leading producers of off-site theatre.”
However, with a certain virus still doing the rounds, Rachel’s new position will not be short on challenges.
“Our main challenge is getting back to our audiences. When crowds will be able to gather again is unknown, but we are committed to finding ways to still produce work and to engage in meaningful ways with our audiences.”
In her new role, the Blackrock native says she’ll have “a finger in every pot” with duties in every aspect of the company’s activities.
Looking forward, Rachel tells me we can expect big things from her and the team, and if the past is anything to go by, we should be in for a serious treat.
“I’m extremely excited about the coming years. The public can expect ambitious new productions ranging from immersive experiences in collaboration with emerging artists to impactful, city-wide spectacles.”
When she was very young, Rachel’s family moved from Cork to Dublin where her mother wasted no time in enrolling her and her siblings in drama school.
“We all caught the bug! I think my mother is to blame for her children’s addiction to theatre,” exclaims Rachel.
“It might also be somewhat in our blood as both of my grandmothers were performers before they got married. My maternal grandmother was a budding actress and my paternal grandmother was an opera singer who trod the Cork Opera House boards on many occasions.”
Now, delighted to be back in Cork, Rachel says her acting days are behind her but that she will be bringing all of her experiences and knowledge to the Corcadorca table.
Welcoming her into her new role, Artistic Director Pat Kiernan made no secret of how excited he is to begin working with her.
“Her passion, energy and knowledge of theatre brings a new dynamic to Corcadorca and will drive the company forward,” he said.
Corcadorca is an independent theatre company that has been bringing site-specific productions to Cork and beyond since it was founded in 1991.
With the company’s website currently under reconstruction, we can surely expect big things in the not-too-distant future. In the mean time, email info@corcadorca.com or visit their Facebook page for more information.