Storyhouse Lab 2026 announces participants
Posted: 9th March 2026
Storyhouse Lab has introduced today the 2026 participants of STORYHOUSE LAB, a pioneering development initiative supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Fremantle, Coimisiún na Meán, Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet and Element Pictures. Our sincere congratulations to all selected participants.
Created to champion bold, original storytelling, STORYHOUSE LAB offers emerging screenwriters the opportunity to develop their projects through dedicated mentorship, meaningful industry connections, and rigorous creative and professional development.
This year’s cohort represents a dynamic range of voices and perspectives, with stories that are daring, distinctive, and deeply personal. Thirteen writers were selected from an exceptional pool of 581 applicants, a testament to both the appetite for ambitious new work and the strength of this year’s final group.
The writers will be mentored by acclaimed screenwriter Malcolm Campbell (What Richard Did, Herself).
In Malcolm’s words: “I'm really looking forward to meeting this year's group. Their projects are fresh and bold, and I can’t wait to see how they’ll develop”
Meet the full list of participants:
- Aisling Corristine
- Anna Rodgers
- Seán Connolly
- Eimear Reilly
- Dolapo Agunbiade
- Eve Connolly
- Jeda de Brí
- Megan Haly and Shannon Haly
- Rachel Carey
- Sam Baxter
- Ellius Grace
- Olivia McLaughlin & Emma Yardley
- Dara Fennema – Irish Language Participant 2026
Testimonies from past Storyhouse Lab participants:
Shannon Welby, Storyhouse Lab participant, 2025:
StoryHouse fueled me with creative inspiration and a push forward with resilience. I’m so grateful to have connected with the special community I met on this programme, and continue to connect with."
Alan Hopkins, Storyhouse Lab participant, 2025:
Storyhouse has been one of the best experiences of my career to date. Just being in the room with such talented writers, gave me confidence as a new writer, that this could become a real career path. The whole team really made me feel welcome, and I really can't overstate how beneficial I've found the entire experience. One that continues long after the event itself through their wonderful aftercare. I have spent the last year telling anyone who will listen that they should apply. My only regret is that I can't do it again this year. Finally, since taking part, I have received feature development funding for the first time and I can confidently say that this was in no small part down to the Storyhouse lab experience."
Rosaleen Cox, Storyhouse Lab, 2025:
I cannot recommend the Storyhouse Lab highly enough. As writers it can be rare to meet, collaborate and learn from each other – this Lab not only supports that, but gives you incredible opportunities to have so many brilliant, sparkling brains offer suggestions and advice on your ideas – turbocharging them into development. I woke up buzzing, I went to sleep buzzing, and each day I was inspired by the outrageous talent I got to share a room with.”
About Storyhouse Festival and Lab
STORYHOUSE champions, cultivates, and celebrates the art and craft of storytelling for the screen over a two-day programme of panels, keynote talks, interviews, and case studies featuring an exciting line up of acclaimed Irish and international screen storytellers. STORYHOUSE takes place at the Light House Cinema, previously featuring internationally acclaimed guests such as Peter Straughan (Conclave, Wolf Hall), Nia DaCosta (The Marvels, Candyman), Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester By the Sea, Margaret), Laurie Nunn (Sex Education), Tony McNamara (The Favourite, Poor Things, The Great), and many more.
In parallel with the main event, emerging and established screenwriters are selected each year for STORYHOUSE LAB with a feature length film or TV project they want to develop.
STORYHOUSE LAB is an inclusive professional development programme for 15 Irish screenwriters running alongside the main festival. This week-long programme is an intensive workshop under the guidance of Creative Mentor Malcolm Campbell (Bad Sisters, Shameless, What Richard Did), followed by access to all STORYHOUSE FESTIVAL events, as well as additional focussed sessions with STORYHOUSE speakers. This initiative targets emerging and diverse screenwriting talent and is looking for fresh, unique and distinctive projects to take part in the development programme.