Philip Connaughton

Philip Connaughton is a Dublin-based choreographer whose work spans dance, theatre, opera, and visual art. A graduate of the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, he founded Company Philip Connaughton in 2014, debuting Tardigrade, which won Best Design at the Dublin Fringe Awards. Since then, he has continued to create dynamic, collaborative works that have toured nationally and internationally. Recent projects include Party Scene (2022), created with THISISPOPBABY, which toured Dublin, Edinburgh Fringe, Germany, and TROJANS (2023), which premiered to a sold-out run at the Cork Midsummer Festival. In 2024, he choreographed Carousel: A Concert at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre. Philip is currently working on a new dance film, Rebellious Hope, which explores age, vulnerability, and memory from a performance perspective. Supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and produced by Once Off Productions, Philip continues to explore new ways of creating and presenting work.

During his residency at the CCI, Connaughton wants to develop a live performance version of Rebellious Hope, an age-positive work celebrating older performers, exploring their resilience and drive to keep moving forward and performing, often defying societal and artistic expectations. The project features seven exceptional dancers, aged 45 to 85, three of whom are based in Paris. While collaborating with acclaimed, Tony Award-nominated Irish composer Mel Mercier, he is also supported by the Atelier de Paris Carolyn Carlson and Regard du Cygne and CND Pantin. The live performance will premiere at Cork Midsummer Festival 2026, followed by performances at Project Arts Centre.