Artistic Director | Theatre Maker | Composer | Writer
Mike Ryan is a dynamic artist and artistic director. With over a decade of experience working in Ireland’s creative landscape, he is known for his innovative approaches to theatre, music, and storytelling. With a background in ethnomusicology and a career spanning theatre, music, film, TV, events and festivals, Mike brings a unique blend of artistic vision, puzzle solving, and strategic leadership to every project he undertakes.
As Artistic Director of the Briery Gap Cultural Centre, Mike spearheaded the reopening of this state-of-the-art venue, transforming it into a vibrant hub for the arts. Under his leadership, Briery Gap established itself as a cultural powerhouse, hosting acclaimed productions, forging national and international partnerships, and securing funding to support its ambitious artistic programme.
Photo by Barry Stanley
Beyond theatre administration, Mike is a prolific director, writer, and composer. His work is rooted in bold storytelling, often blending existing texts, interviews, and data into compelling theatrical experiences. His directorial credits include Heel/Turn (work-in-progress at the Everyman Theatre), Clowns on Fire (Granary Theatre), and The Nun’s Wood (Granary Theatre). As a playwright, he was shortlisted for the Abbey’s Emerging Playwrights Programme and has participated in prestigious development initiatives like MAKE and Tessellate.
Photo by Enrique Carnicero
As a neurodivergent creative, his interests and accolades cross multiple disciplines, allowing him to seamlessly blend elements of each to create work that is bold, layered, and unexpected. It also fuels his adaptability; he excels at problem-solving in high-pressure environments, making him an invaluable collaborator in fast-moving creative projects. Whether directing, writing, composing, or producing, Mike brings an innovative, detail-oriented, and deeply intuitive approach, making him the perfect partner for any ambitious artistic endeavor.
His expertise extends into event moderation, event programming, music journalism, artist liaison, and arts mentorship, having worked closely with University College Cork, The Thin Air Magazine, the Web Summit, the Abbey Theatre, Cork Midsummer Festival, and The Everyman. Whether developing new work, shaping large-scale cultural projects, or composing for theatre and film, Mike thrives at the intersection of creativity and innovation. He is now returning to freelance creative practice as a creative Swiss Army Knife, and is available for projects in theatre, music composition, TV, film, literary events, or anything ambitious and creative.
To collaborate with Mike, get in touch at 90mikeryan[at]gmail.com or via the contact page.
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