Gaiety School of Acting

Name

Gaiety School of Acting

Legal name

Gaiety School of Acting

Website

https://gaietyschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Gaiety School of Acting is a Dublin-based private acting school (founded 1986) operating as Ireland's National Theatre School, delivering a two-year full-time conservatory programme, part-time adult courses, youth and summer programmes, study abroad, corporate training, and Erasmus+ projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE)

Keywords

• Professional actor training
• Theatre education programs
• Corporate communication training
• Youth drama courses
• Performing arts school

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Course Fees: Primary revenue stream from full-time actor training programmes (€6,250 EU / €17,000 Non-EU per annum), part-time adult courses (€2,250 per year-long course), youth courses, summer camps, and study abroad programmes. Fees include application/audition fees of €65.
2. Corporate Training (GSA In Business): Business training services including team building, communication skills, leadership development, and brand storytelling workshops for corporate clients. Clients include Teelings Whisky Distillery, Guinness Storehouse, Jameson, and Brown Thomas.
3. Production and Performance Revenue: Revenue from theatre visits levy (€500), production levies (€650), and graduation play productions.
4. Supplementary Revenue: Merchandise sales (t-shirts, hoodies), gift vouchers, and one-to-one coaching sessions (€85/hour).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Gaiety School of Acting is Ireland's National Theatre School, offering a two-year full-time conservatory training programme for aspiring professional actors, alongside a four-level part-time training suite for adults (GSA START, STUDIO, STAGE, SELECT), a year-long musical theatre course (GSA MT CORE), youth drama courses, themed summer camps, study abroad programmes, and one-to-one coaching. It also delivers corporate communication and team-building training through its GSA In Business unit, and educational outreach through GSA In Education including Erasmus+ European projects.

Product overview

Gaiety School of Acting, Ireland's National Theatre School of Ireland founded in 1986, offers a comprehensive portfolio of acting and theatre education programs. The core offerings include the Two Year Full-Time Intensive Professional Actor Training (a conservatory program rated nationally and internationally) and the MA in Theatre Practice (in partnership with UCD). The GSA Part-Time Training Suite provides year-long programs across four progressive levels: GSA START (beginners), GSA STUDIO, GSA STAGE, and GSA SELECT, with GSA MT CORE offering specialized musical theatre training. Additional offerings include Youth Courses at three Dublin locations (Temple Bar, Sandyford, Malahide Castle), Summer Camps for ages 8-18, adult short courses (Acting for Camera, Stand-Up Comedy, Musical Theatre, Accent classes), one-to-one coaching, and free trial classes. The school also operates Study Abroad Programs (JTerm, Irish Theatre Summer Programme, The Original Theatre Project, IES Semester), GSA In Business corporate training, and GSA In Education outreach programs. Erasmus+ collaborative projects address societal issues including dementia care, sustainable theatre, and refugee support. Multiple scholarship funds (Empowering New Voices, Philip Lee, Butlers Chocolates Bursary, Screen Producers Ireland) support access to training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GSA START: Entry level part-time beginners performance course for people interested in embarking on their performance journey with limited experience.
• GSA STUDIO
• GSA STAGE
• GSA SELECT
• GSA MT CORE
• Young Gaiety
• GSA In Business
• GSA In Education

Products and services

• Two Year Full-Time Intensive Professional Actor Training Intensive two-year conservatory training programme for aspiring professional actors covering acting skills, voice, movement, Shakespeare, screen acting, stage combat, and professional practice. Rated nationally and internationally with notable alumni including Aidan Turner, Colin Farrell, and Charlie Murphy. EU tuition: €6,250/year; non-EU: €17,000/year.
• MA in Theatre Practice Master's degree offered in partnership with University College Dublin, designed to create future leaders in the theatre industry with an all-round skills base in theatre practice through hybrid academic and practice-based modules.
• GSA START (Part-Time Beginners Course) First level in the GSA Part-Time Training Suite for adults with little to no experience. Runs Monday and Wednesday evenings across three terms covering ensemble, basic stagecraft, voice, movement, and improvisation. €2,250 per year.
• GSA STUDIO (Part-Time Intermediate Course) Second level in the GSA Part-Time Training Suite for adults with some prior acting experience. Covers character development, text analysis, contemporary and 20th century playwrights, monologue, and scene work.
• GSA STAGE (Part-Time Advanced Course) Third level in the GSA Part-Time Training Suite, an advanced course for adults with substantial experience or prior actor training. Focuses on complex text analysis, classical playwrights, the director-actor relationship, and ensemble work.
• GSA SELECT (Part-Time Advanced Immersive Course) Final level in the GSA Part-Time Training Suite for advanced students, covering screen acting, radio, theatre writing and directing, multimedia performance techniques, and devised pieces.
• GSA MT CORE (Musical Theatre Course) Year-long musical theatre course offering comprehensive training in singing, dancing, and acting under the guidance of industry professionals. €2,250 for the year-long course.
• Summer Camps Themed drama and performance camps for ages 8-18 covering acting, musical theatre, film-making, acting for camera, and themed experiences like Harry Potter, Hamilton, and Wicked. €235 per child per camp.
• Youth Courses (Young Gaiety) Year-round drama and acting courses for children and teenagers including acting, musical theatre, and acting for camera at three Dublin locations (Temple Bar HQ, Sandyford, Malahide Castle). Led by Garda Vetted and Child Protection Trained facilitators.
• One-to-One Coaching Private coaching sessions with accomplished tutors for audition preparation, monologue work, or specific performance skills. €85 per hour, with a free session offered when five sessions are purchased.
• Irish Theatre January Programme (JTerm) Three-week immersive study abroad programme in Dublin exploring Irish theatre covering Samuel Beckett, Brian Friel, J.M. Synge, Sean O'Casey, and contemporary playwrights. €2,250 including accommodation and cultural visits.
• Irish Theatre Summer Programme Four-week intensive summer study abroad programme covering Irish playwrights from Samuel Beckett to Martin McDonagh with practical acting workshops. €3,250 with accommodation, €2,700 without.
• The Original Theatre Project Four-stage collaborative theatre project where students develop, rehearse, and perform a one-hour original theatre piece, including a week-long intensive in home country, three months writing, three-week Dublin rehearsal and performance, and home country premiere.
• IES Semester Programme Semester-long study abroad programme through IES Abroad following the NTSI first-year curriculum, integrating with Dublin's Fringe Festival in September.
• GSA In Business (Corporate Training) Corporate training services applying acting skills to business contexts. Offers team building, communication skills, leadership development, and brand storytelling workshops delivered on client sites. Clients include Guinness Storehouse, Teelings Whisky Distillery, Jameson, and Brown Thomas.
• GSA In Education (Outreach Programmes) Educational outreach initiatives including workshops for primary schools, post-primary schools, higher education institutions, language schools, and community groups, including English through Drama for language schools.
• Acting For Camera (Summer Course) Short summer course in acting for camera techniques, priced at €280 for the course.
• Stand-Up Comedy Course Short course in stand-up comedy performance and writing, priced at €350 for the course.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates have received Tony and Oscar nominations and numerous UK and Irish awards
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Screen Producers Ireland (SPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Partner scholarship covering full student fees for the Two Year Actor Training Programme for students from underrepresented backgrounds. Reflects both organisations' commitment to creating a more inclusive, equitable, and representative environment within screen and performing arts.
• Philip Lee LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Scholarship partnership providing vital financial support to aspiring actors from underrepresented backgrounds. The Philip Lee Scholarship is awarded annually to one student enrolling in the Two Year Full Time Actor Training Programme. Philip Lee LLP is one of Ireland's leading corporate and commercial law firms, founded in 1993, employing more than 180 people.
• Butlers ChocolatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Bursary partnership providing one recipient aged 5-16 years the opportunity to train for a full year in Young Gaiety courses and attend Easter and Summer camps, including travel costs. Both companies are Irish owned, established in Dublin city centre. Butlers Chocolates, founded in 1932, employs more than 500 people and operates 26 Butlers Chocolate Cafés.
• UCD (University College Dublin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint MA in Theatre Practice programme. Hybrid approach through academic modules at UCD and practice-based modules at Gaiety School of Acting. Also provides accommodation for international study abroad students during summer programmes.
• IES AbroadcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIES Abroad Dublin programme allows students to fully enroll in NTSI/GSA courses after an initial three-week intensive theatre course combined with Dublin Fringe Festival attendance and volunteer work.
• Southern Illinois UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal Theatre Project partner - creating original plays annually with world premieres held in Dublin and US premieres at partner institutions.
• Carthage CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal Theatre Project partner for creating and performing original theatre pieces.
• Smock Alley TheatreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for Original Theatre Project performances and storytelling programme presentations in Dublin.
• CHALLEDUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIRCLE-T project coordinator for sustainable theatre practices. GSA is the coordinator of this Erasmus+ project building an international community of theatre-makers for greener, more sustainable theatre production.
• Droichead Youth TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in CIRCLE-T project for integrating sustainable methods into youth theatre practice.
• VarsztatovniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in CIRCLE-T project for sustainable theatre practices in Poland.
• FRODIZOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NARRATE-D project creating dementia-friendly library environments in Greece.
• FCW (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NARRATE-D dementia-friendly cultural environments project.
• FONDAZIONE AIDAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily Theatre Project coordinator based in Italy, leading EU consortium to develop family theatre format.
• InSite DramaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Family Theatre Project EU consortium.
• Dubrovnik Summer FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Family Theatre Project for developing family-oriented theatre at EU level.
• CHALLEDU (Greece)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinator of ESCAPERS project for intergenerational connections and digital empowerment of seniors.
• ASSOCIAZIONE CULTURALE EDUVITA E.T.SminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ESCAPERS project for intergenerational learning.
• Odd Statue GamesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ESCAPERS project for game-based intergenerational learning.
• ASOCIACIÓN FAMILIARES ENFERMOS ALZHEIMER VALENCIAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ESCAPERS project supporting dementia care through intergenerational activities.
• Panhellenic Federation of Alzheimer DiseaseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Curate-D project for dementia-friendly cultural communities.
• Herakleidon MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Curate-D project for inclusive access to culture for people with dementia.
• The Scoop FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerI-SAVE project partner for empowering young refugees and asylum seekers through self-advocacy education.
• IGAM (Turkey)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerI-SAVE project partner for refugee empowerment in Ankara.
• Greek Forum of RefugeesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerI-SAVE project partner for refugee advocacy in Athens.
• Freiwilligen-Zentrum (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerI-SAVE project partner for refugee support in Augsburg.
• Ravdanur (Turkey)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStoryCo-Op project partner for empowering rights activation in young adults.
• OneBridge (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStoryCo-Op project partner for youth-led advocacy against discrimination in media.
• Malahide Portmarnock Educate Together Secondary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school in ShakesVR Erasmus+ project for digital Shakespeare learning tools.
• Colegiul National Gheorghe Sincai (Romania)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner school in ShakesVR project for digital Shakespeare education.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Royal Central School of Speech and Drama: University-affiliated London conservatoire offering multi-year full-time actor training plus shorter courses and corporate/applied theatre work; directly comparable in product mix including full-time, part-time, and corporate training analogues of GSA In Business.
• London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA): UK conservatoire with full-time professional actor training programmes, audition-based entry, and similar progression through levels; comparable to GSA in mission, structure, and credential positioning.
• Bristol Old Vic Theatre School: UK conservatoire offering full-time acting, musical theatre, and short courses alongside school outreach; comparable to GSA across full-time, part-time adult, and youth programming verticals.
• National Youth Theatre (UK): UK organisation delivering youth drama training, holiday programmes, and showcases for 14-25 year-olds; comparable to GSA's Young Gaiety sub-brand and youth courses across multiple age groups.
• Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts: UK performing arts school offering full-time degree-equivalent training plus part-time adult courses, youth programmes, and corporate training; comparable to GSA's blended full-time, part-time, youth, and corporate offerings.
• The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art: Ireland's other leading conservatory-style drama training institution, also based in Dublin and offering multi-year full-time professional actor training with similar admissions and tuition model; the closest direct competitor to GSA's Two Year programme.
• Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA): The UK's leading conservatoire offering multi-year full-time actor training with similar conservatory methodology, audition-based entry, and an industry showcase model; comparable in structure, prestige signalling, and target student persona.
• Drama Centre London: Conservatoire-style London school now part of Kingston University delivering multi-year full-time acting training with method-based and screen acting focus; comparable to GSA in pedagogical emphasis and core student persona.

Broad incumbents

• National Theatre School of Canada: Canada's national conservatoire delivering three-year acting programmes plus youth, production, and playwriting streams; functions as a national-scale analogue to GSA's designated role as Ireland's National Theatre School.

Regional players

• Cours Florent: Leading French drama and performing arts school offering multi-year conservatory and part-time programmes across Europe; comparable to GSA in curricular structure but serves a different geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLOb-1HfyckwlgVok1mPrx-biVvmqKjnok
• Xx.com/Gaietyschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/gaietyschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-gaiety-school-of-acting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gaiety School of Acting