If you want to start acting in Ireland but have no experience, no agent and no formal training, the gap between where you are now and where you want to be can feel overwhelming. The good news is that everyone starts somewhere, and there are realistic, achievable steps you can take to build your first credits and experience.
This guide is for complete beginners. It covers where to find your first opportunities, what to expect, how to prepare, and how to avoid common mistakes that waste time or money.
Why first experience matters
Before you can get an agent, book professional work or build a career, you need to demonstrate that you can actually act. Your first experiences help you:
- Build a track record: Even small credits show you’ve done the work and understand what’s involved
- Develop skills: Acting is a practical craft. You learn by doing, not just thinking about it
- Create footage: Early work helps you build a showreel to show agents and casting directors
- Make connections: You’ll meet other actors, directors and crew who may become collaborators or contacts
- Test your commitment: First experiences help you figure out if acting is genuinely something you want to pursue
First roles won’t make you famous or pay your rent, but they’re essential stepping stones.
Where to find your first acting opportunities in Ireland
Community and amateur theatre groups
Community theatre groups and amateur dramatics societies exist all over Ireland. They welcome beginners, charge little or no fees, and produce regular shows.
What you’ll do: Audition for plays, rehearse over several weeks or months, perform in front of live audiences.
What you’ll gain: Stage experience, confidence, understanding of rehearsal processes, credits for your CV.
How to find them: Search online for drama groups in your area, check community centers and local arts venues, ask on local Facebook groups.
What to expect: Community theatre varies in quality. Some groups are well-run and produce strong work. Others are more social than serious. Try a few and see where you fit.
Youth theatre (if you’re under 18 or early 20s)
Many towns and cities in Ireland have youth theatre groups that welcome young people with no experience. They typically run weekly sessions and produce shows a few times a year.
What you’ll gain: Training, confidence, first stage credits, a supportive peer group.
How to find them: Search for youth theatre programs in your area, check local arts centers, ask at schools.
Short films and student films
Film students, amateur filmmakers and emerging directors are constantly looking for actors for short films. Most of these are unpaid, but they provide valuable on-camera experience and footage for your showreel.
What you’ll do: Audition (often via self-tape), attend rehearsals or script readings, shoot for one or more days.
What you’ll gain: On-camera experience, footage for showreels, understanding of how film sets work, credits.
How to find them: Online casting platforms, actor Facebook groups, film school notice boards, social media callouts.
What to watch for: Make sure projects are legitimate (not scams or exploitative), check that you’ll receive a copy of the finished film, and ensure the set environment is safe and professional.
Open auditions and community casting calls
Occasionally, professional or semi-professional productions hold open auditions or community casting calls for specific roles (often non-speaking, background or roles requiring specific looks or skills).
What you’ll gain: Experience working on a professional or semi-professional set, the chance to observe how professional actors work, a credit.
How to find them: Follow Irish casting directors on social media, check casting platforms, join actor mailing lists.
Fringe theatre and emerging companies
Fringe theatre companies in Dublin and other cities sometimes welcome actors without formal credits, especially if you’re willing to work for profit-share or low/no pay while gaining experience.
What you’ll do: Rehearse and perform in small, independent productions (often in non-traditional venues).
What you’ll gain: Professional or semi-professional credits, challenging roles, experience in new and experimental work.
How to find them: Follow fringe theatre companies on social media, check listings for upcoming auditions, attend fringe festivals and network.
Drama classes and workshops with showcases
Some acting classes and workshops culminate in showcases where students perform scenes for an audience, sometimes including agents or industry guests.
What you’ll gain: Training plus the opportunity to perform in a low-stakes environment.
How to find them: Research acting classes in your area that offer performance opportunities as part of the course.
For more on training options, see actor training in Ireland.
How to prepare for your first auditions
Even with no experience, you can prepare professionally for auditions:
Research the project
- Read the play, script or film synopsis if available
- Understand the character you’re auditioning for
- Learn about the director, company or production team
Prepare your audition material
- If you’re asked to prepare a monologue, choose something age-appropriate and within your range
- Learn your lines thoroughly (don’t just “sort of know them”)
- Make clear choices about who your character is and what they want
Dress appropriately
- Wear something simple and comfortable that suits the character type (don’t costume, but hint at the world)
- Avoid distracting clothing or accessories
- Look clean and put-together
Arrive on time
- Know where you’re going and allow extra time for getting lost or delayed
- Bring a printed copy of your CV (even if it’s sparse)
- Bring a headshot if you have one (a simple, clear photo is fine to start)
Be professional and pleasant
- Introduce yourself clearly
- Listen to instructions and direction
- Don’t apologize excessively or make excuses
- Thank the panel at the end
For more detailed audition guidance, see self-tapes and auditions for Irish actors.
What to expect from your first experiences
You probably won’t be very good yet
This is normal. Acting is a skill that develops with practice. Your first performances will be rough. That’s fine. What matters is that you’re learning.
You won’t get paid (or you’ll get very little)
Most first opportunities are unpaid or profit-share. This is standard when you’re starting out. Don’t expect to make money from your first few projects.
You’ll work with people at different levels
Some directors, writers and fellow actors will be talented and professional. Others will be learning too, or just doing it for fun. You’ll learn something from every experience, even if it’s what not to do.
It will take longer than you expect
Rehearsals, shoots and admin always take longer than planned. Be patient and reliable.
You’ll make mistakes
Everyone does. Forget lines, miss cues, misunderstand direction. Apologize, learn from it, move on.
Building your first credits and materials
As you gain experience, start building the materials you’ll need for the next stage:
Keep a record of everything you do
- Maintain a CV with all your credits (even small ones)
- Note directors, companies and venues
- Collect programs, flyers and any promotional materials
Get footage
- Always ask if you can have a copy of any film you work on
- Attend filmed performances of stage work if possible
- Start compiling clips for a future showreel
Take photos
- Ask photographers at shows if you can have a copy of good production photos
- Eventually invest in proper headshots, but for now, a clear, well-lit photo is fine
Build connections
- Stay in touch with directors, actors and crew you work well with
- Support other people’s work by attending their shows and films
- Be someone people want to work with again
Common mistakes beginners make
Paying for fake opportunities
Avoid “agencies” that charge upfront fees, promise work in exchange for expensive headshots or classes, or guarantee success. Legitimate opportunities don’t require large upfront payments.
Being unreliable
If you commit to an audition, rehearsal or shoot, show up. If you must cancel, do so as early as possible with a genuine reason. Building a reputation as unreliable will close doors fast.
Exaggerating your experience
Don’t claim skills, credits or training you don’t have. You’ll be found out, and it damages your credibility.
Being difficult to work with
Directors and fellow actors remember people who are late, unprepared, rude or create drama. Be professional, prepared and pleasant, even in unpaid projects.
Expecting too much too soon
You won’t book every audition. You won’t be discovered overnight. Building an acting career takes years, not months. Manage your expectations.
How long does the “beginner” phase last?
There’s no fixed timeline, but most actors spend at least 1–2 years (sometimes longer) building initial experience before they’re ready to approach agents or audition for professional paid work.
During this time, you should be:
- Gaining credits through community theatre, short films and student projects
- Taking classes or training to develop your skills
- Building a basic showreel and professional materials
- Learning how the industry works
- Figuring out if acting is genuinely something you want to pursue long-term
For a broader overview of the acting career path in Ireland, see how to become an actor in Ireland.
Moving beyond beginner opportunities
Once you have a few solid credits, some footage, and more confidence, you can start:
- Submitting to casting directors for low-budget paid work
- Approaching agents with your materials
- Auditioning for higher-profile fringe and independent productions
- Seeking out more challenging roles
But don’t rush it. Build a foundation first. Agents and casting directors would rather see solid beginner work than a desperate attempt to jump ahead without the necessary experience.
Final thoughts
Starting from zero is daunting, but it’s also the only way to begin. Everyone you see on stage or screen started with their first role, their first audition, their first awkward attempt at a monologue.
Focus on finding opportunities, showing up prepared, being professional, and learning from every experience. Over time, those early credits and connections become the foundation for everything that follows.
The acting industry in Ireland is small enough that consistent, professional work gets noticed. Start where you are, do the work, and build from there.