Founded in 2007 Fregoli is a Galway based company that aims to produce and perform energetic and stimulating work that appeals to a large cross section of the public. We focus primarily on new and original work.
We take our name from Leopold Fregoli, the world’s most famous impersonator and an element of his character changing style is evident in our work. We are committed to the promotion of the arts and theatre on a local, national and international scale.
Fregoli’s debut production was Bedbound in 2007, with Shane McDermott, Rebecca Ryan, Rob McFeely and Maria Tivnan, artists Tracy Bruen, Ronan McMahon, Lucia Smyth joined in 2008. The company has seen many changes and developments since the early years, with many of these artists having developed careers in other areas and/or as performers internationally. Fregoli has been shaped by the energy, spirit, talent and generosity of all the artists who have worked with and continue to work with the company.
Maria Tivnan - Artistic Director
Maria is the artistic director of Fregoli since its founding in 2007, she has performed, directed and written with the company. Acting credits include: Disco Pigs (2010), Home (2012), Let Me Be (2013), Directing Credits include: Bedbound (2007), Breathing Water (2011), Dorset Street Toys (2013), Pleasure Ground (2015), You Could Be Us (2017), The Streets are Ours (2018), The Fregoli Heart Project (2019), Inside You Stay (2020), Writing Credits include: The Sweet Shop (2012), Shur Ill be Alright Here on Me Own (2014), Mary Mary Mary (2015) and I want you to know me (2020). Maria is also co chair of Galway Theatre Collective Theatre57 and is currently doing a PhD with the drama department at NUI, Galway on how theatre creates the meaning of home.
Rob McFeely - Company Manager
Rob is a founding member of the company, he directed with Fregoli Bedbound (2007), Tape (2008, 2016), Home (2012), Dorset Street Toys (2013). He currently designs posters for Fregoli, and supports the company with technical production and administration.
Eilish McCarthy
Eilish McCarthy is a Galway based performer with experience in devising, writing and facilitating youth and community theatre. She began working with Fregoli in 2015. Credits with Fregoli include Inside You Stay as part of Fregoli’s Roscommon Arts Centre residency 2020, The Fregoli Heart Project, You Could Be Us, Tape, Pleasure Ground and Mary Mary Mary. Other credits include the Playboy of The Western World (Justin McCarthy and Milestone Productions), Shelter (Druid Debuts), A Matter of Modesty (RTE Radio 1), The Dead School, and Vernon God Little (Decadent Theatre), and The Shadow Of Carmilla (Thereisbear!).
Kate Murray
Kate holds an MA in Drama and Theatre Studies from NUI Galway. Kate has been a member of Fregoli Theatre Company since 2011 and is currently working with the company as part of their year-long residency with the Roscommon Arts Centre; Finding Home. Kate has featured in two recent projects produced as part of this residency, Inside You Stay and Tangents, and is a cast member of Fregoli's current production in progress, Cross Street. Previous credits with Fregoli Theatre Company include The Heart Project, You Could Be Us, Pleasure Ground, Home, Let us Be, The Sweet Shop, Breathing Water. Other theatre credits include King Of the Castle ( Druid Theatre Company) The Dead School, Vernon God Little, The Pillowman, Doubt (Decadent Theatre Company) and Frank Pig Says Hello ( Galway Arts Festival)
Peter Shine
Originally from Roscommon, Peter has worked with Fregoli since 2015. Peter holds a BA in Theatre & Performance (NUIG). Peter has been longlisted for the BBC Comedy Writersroom (2019) and received the inaugural Druid FUEL bursary (2014). He is currently a recipient of the Dean Crowe Artist Residency (2020). This year, as part of Fregoli’s Roscommon Arts Centre Residency, Peter wrote three short plays for “Tangents”, a series of online read-throughs, directed by Kate Murray. He will also feature in the upcoming online performance of Cross Street by Jarlath Tivnan.
Theatre Credits include: The Cherry Orchard (Druid Theatre) The Thing About December; The Weir; The Pillowman; The Dead School; Vernon God Little (Decadent Theatre) You Could Be Us; Tape; Pleasure Ground (Fregoli Theatre) The Shadow of Carmilla (ThereisBear! Theatre) Film Credits include: Sooner or Later (on Amazon Prime Video); Hooked (Best Student Film, Shot by the Sea Fest.); Apparent Power (OFFline Film Fest. winner).
Oisín Robbins
Oisín is a theatre-practitioner from Offaly, based in Galway and has a Masters in Drama and Theatre from NUIG. He has worked with Fregoli since 2012. Alongside his theatre practice, he is the Youth Arts Facilitator at County Offaly Arts Office and is a corporate role player at roleplayersfortraining.ie.
Recent acting credits include David in Fregoli’s online production of I Want You to Know Me and Fregoli’s co-production with The Town Hall Theatre Bringing it All Back Home. Film acting credits include Garda Hill in Out of Innocence (Defiant Films& Telegael), Nigel in The Perished (Celtic Badger Media) and Kevin in Boardwalk (EFSOA Films).
Acting Credits: The Dead School (Decadent Theatre) The Heart Project (Fregoli), The Streets are Ours (Fregoli) and Tribes Alive (Galway Arts Centre). Writing credits include: Cry of the Curlew (Best New Writing ISDA Festival 2015), and King of Cats ( Selected for the New Theatre’s Fight Back Festival). He was selected for The New Theatre’s New Writing Week in November 2019.
He recently received the Arts Council YPCE Bursary Award and the Pavilion Theatre’s Studio Space Award and was selected by the BIBU Biennial Festival for its NEXT GENERATION programme in Sweden.
Tara Finn
Tara Finn joined Fregoli Theatre Company in 2019. In 2020 she wrote “Inside You Stay”, a digital work produced by the company as part of their Roscommon Arts Centre residency. During last year's residency she directed the company's community project “Home for Christmas”.
Recent theatre acting credits include: The Thing About December; The Pillowman; The Dead School; Vernon God Little; (Decadent Theatre Company) The Star Child; Wit; Yellowmoon; (Galway Youth Theatre/Galway Arts Festival) Crime and Punishment; (Morgan Creative)
Eimear Finan
Eimear Finan is an award winning actor with an M.A in Drama and Theatre Studies from NUIG. She continued her training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, NY. Credits include Jo in Anam Theatre’s Low Level Panic and Bernie in Fregoli Theatre's Mary Mary Mary. Writing credits include "Was it worth it?" from Fregoli Theatre's Heart Project and "Landed" as part of Fregoli Theatre's summer residency with the Roscommon Arts Centre. During Fregoli Theatre’s 2020 residency at the centre Eimear starred in Tara Finn's Inside You Stay which was released online during lockdown as well as a series of play readings called "Tangents".
Jarlath Tivnan
Jarlath became a member of Fregoli in 2011 with their touring production of Breathing Water. Since then, he has acted extensively with the company. Credits include — The Sweet Shop, Home, Tape and The Streets Are Ours. He has also acted many times with Decadent Theatre Company in shows such as A Skull in Connemara, The Pillowman and Vernon God Little. Jarlath is also a writer for stage and screen. Playwriting credits include Pleasure Ground and You Could Be Us for Fregoli, Walls- A Collection Of Short Plays for Galway Youth Theatre, and an adaptation of Donal Ryan’s novel A Thing About December for Decadent.