The winner of this year’s Special Tribute Award at the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards 2015 is Anne Clarke of Landmark Productions. The company was founded in 2003, with Clarke being the guiding light behind its success. It has grown to produce shows such as Ross O’Carroll Kelly’s Breaking Dad, and Enda Walsh’s The Walworth Farce, starring Brendan, Brian and Domhnall Gleeson. It is one of Ireland’s leading theatre producers and has had productions staged as far afield as New York and Korea.

Asking how it feels to join the likes of Stephen Rea and Marie Mullen in receiving the award, Clarke remains modest, despite her company’s repertoire. “I didn’t know where to place myself,” she jokingly admits and confesses most of her surprise at winning the accolade derived from her profession itself – producers do not generally win this award. Academy Award-nominated actor Stephen Rea was last year’s winner and Clarke cites his acceptance speech as the highlight of the evening. This year’s ceremony will take place on March 6th at the National Concert Hall in Dublin and Clarke’s excitement is palpable: “I will be following in the footsteps of one of my biggest heroes”. The winner is chosen by a specially comprised organising team, including Irish Times editors and writers.

Looking back at establishing the company over a decade ago, it must be hard to fathom how far the company has come in that period, in becoming one of Ireland’s largest theatre producers. “Not in a million years did I expect this,” she explains. “It started out doing a few separate things: managing tours, a bit of consulting and casting, with only a bit of producing. But then the producing grew. Everything was quite organic”. Since its establishment, the company has produced eighteen plays, all over the world, and continues to grow.

“Organic” is another word Clarke uses when describing how the company has adapted itself to produce such a wide variety of shows. From operas to musicals to comedy, the company has covered all sorts of genres. So, does Clarke have a favourite genre? “No,” she says simply. “We work on a production to production basis. It is more about the people and the collaborators rather than the genre”. The company’s most recent production, an opera by Donnacha Dennehy and Enda Walsh called The Last Hotel, had popular stints in London and New York. Clarke confides that such was the popularity of the production, it is being adapted into a film for broadcast by Sky Arts, directed by Enda Walsh.

The respect held for Walsh by Clarke is obvious, emphasised by the volume of productions the two have worked on together. “Enda can do anything,” she explains. “He is an absolutely brilliant collaborator and makes things happen”. The pair have collaborated on Misterman, Ballyturk and The Walworth Farce, to name but a few.

The Walworth Farce in the Olympia Theatre was one of the most sought after tickets of 2015. Starring Brian, Brendan and Domhnall Gleeson, it tells the story of a father and his two sons after moving to London. Clarke described working with the Gleesons as a fantastic experience: “What made it special was it was their project. It was something they really wanted to do.” Such is a mark of the hard-working nature of the family – Clarke tells us Domhnall started rehearsing the day after he returned home from filming The Revenant. As such, it is not surprising the Olympia was packed out every night. Despite having travelled to various theatres all over the world, Clarke admits a “full house at the Olympia really is something special.”

The Olympia is where the multi-award-winning musical Once returns to Dublin this coming July. The show has had stints in New York, London and Korea, and boasts eight Tony awards. Clarke calls its appearance on the Korean stage “a happy accident,” but is adamant its success comes down to its adaptability all over the world: “The quality of Irish theatre is up there with the best in the world. Once just screams authenticity.” Ten out of the original twelve strong cast will be reprising their role for its return this summer. Ross O’Carroll’s Kelly Breaking Dad also returns this year, appearing in the Gaiety and University Concert Hall, Limerick.

On the future of the company, Clarke is understandably upbeat: “I just hope we continue what we are doing, and continue to find an international platform to show our work”. She is equally hopeful for the future of Irish theatre, and with a tinge of pride argues that Ireland continually punches above its weight worldwide. “Ireland has so much to offer,” she explains. “We need to harness this by emphasising the importance for artists to be as ambitious as anyone from any country. It is important for us to get our work out”. She acknowledges that often artists of all forms, regardless of talent, do not get the opportunities for whatever reason. As such, apprehensive about the upcoming election, she hopes that the forthcoming government is “enlightened in that the arts needs far more support that it has been getting”.

Like many, she was deeply disappointed by the Abbey’s Waking the Nation programme. The programme is completely gender imbalanced – one of its ten programmed plays is written by a woman, despite hopes the programme would be representative of society. Nevertheless, Clarke sees it as a “watershed moment” and believes only good things will come of it. “Within the next few years, everything will change and there will be far more female representation across theatre”.

A conversation with Anne Clarke is inspiring. With her growing company, and collaborations with brilliant individuals such as Enda Walsh, the opportunities are endless. The future looks bright for Irish theatre, and with companies like Landmark Productions out there, perhaps the best is yet to come.

Ross O’Carroll Kelly’s Breaking Dad runs 29 March – 2 April 2016 at the University Concert Hall, Limerick.

Once returns to the Olympia Theatre 2 July – 27 August 2016.

Featured photo by Ste Murray.