How Brooke is making her mark in musical theatre
Brooke Rafferty Shaw, a final-year Musical Theatre student at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), has been dancing since the age of three. By five, the performance bug had truly taken hold of the 20-year-old Dundalk native, who soon began training in singing and acting.
“I’ve kept it up ever since,” she said. It was the main thing that got me through the Leaving Cert and the harder parts of school. It was such a fantastic outlet.”
Brooke’s first step into musical theatre came at age 11 when she performed in SONG Dundalk’s production of The Wizard of Oz. Since then, she has taken on a variety of roles, including one of her favourites — Killer Queen in We Will Rock You.
Also in the top two was her recent performance as Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors.
“It’s such a rare character to get to play on stage. Between the costume, directions and creative freedom I was given, it was just so much fun!”
These roles also gave Brooke the opportunity to perform in very different venues, moving from An Táin Arts Centre to the MacAnna Theatre.
“In larger theatres, it’s easier to look above the audience and let yourself be guided by the lights, keeping that fourth wall in place. But there’s something really special about smaller spaces like the MacAnna — the audience picks up on every little detail.”
As a teenager, Brooke embraced every opportunity to enhance her performance skills or get on stage. When it came to choosing a college course, she decided to follow her passion
“I figured I'd go with what I know and what I know, I love," she said, reflecting on her choice to study at DkIT.
Staying in her hometown made sense for Brooke, avoiding pressures like accommodation costs and long commutes, and getting the opportunity to study all of the musical theatre elements on her doorstep.
At DkIT, highlights have included performance classes, modules in the History of Musical Theatre, and the strong friendships developed within her course.
“We all really enjoy working together, it’s like a little community. Being in a smaller course is also a fantastic opportunity to develop close relationships with our lecturers.”
The small class sizes have allowed Brooke to benefit from one-on-one tutoring and increased performance opportunities. She recalls a standout project in 2025 which gave students the chance to perform a variety of solos, duets, and ensemble pieces. Brooke has also expanded her skills through choreography and dance modules, even beginning to teach at two stage schools.
Stage Management and working backstage is another area Brooke has really enjoyed.
“I always had a bit of an interest in stage management just from being very organised backstage in other shows. I don't think it's appreciated enough that it’s borderline impossible to do something without that level of organisation.”
Beyond performance, Brooke has seen huge personal growth during her studies. Once shy in unfamiliar situations, she has developed confidence through areas such as improvisation.
“Being confronted with situations where you don't know the end goal, and that you just have to react with what you're given to honestly help so much just for day-to-day life,” she reflects.
A professional performance career is “100% the end goal” for Brooke once she graduates but for now, she is planning to stay in DkIT and complete the add on year in Drama and Performance studies.
Her advice for aspiring performers or those contemplating studying Musical Theatre is:
“Go for it and! It’s a hard field and so you have to be prepared to hear the things that you don't necessarily want to hear sometimes, but if you are confident, and this is what you know you love, absolutely go for it!”
Learn more about musical theatre courses at DkIT: https://www.dkit.ie/courses/ba-hons-in-musical-theatre#overview
