How DkIT helped shape the career of theatre maker David Ferreira-Alves

David's journey to Ireland began with a determination to pursue acting abroad.

"When I was 16, I made up my mind and knew I both wanted and needed to study acting abroad. I came here first, to Dublin to study English when I was 19. When I was doing research, I came across DkIT and thought the theatre course would be perfect for me. I was lucky enough to get a scholarship and that's when my career started."

A third level degree, when English was not David’s native language presented potential challenges, but DkIT provided an environment where they could grow both creatively and personally. The programme immersed students in acting, writing and research, while encouraging them to engage with a wide range of stories and perspectives. For David, one of the most valuable aspects of the course was the sense of community created within a small cohort.

“When I was in DkIT, we had space to play and fail and learn within a community. Every day within the group, we were discussing plays, but also learning lines and watching all types of performances, we were fully immersed in the world of theatre.”

As the course progressed, David became increasingly interested in creating original work. By final year, they were exploring their own experiences through performance, drawing on their Brazilian heritage while reflecting on migration and identity.

"I was really exploring my own identity; it became part of my work. I was writing and performing and dancing. About my culture, my own identity as a person who grew up in Brazil and migration, but also how I learned to embrace my queerness during my studies. It was a really beautiful time."

Alongside creative development, the programme introduced David to practice-based research, an approach that would later shape their academic and artistic career. After graduating from DkIT, they completed a Master's in Theatre and Performance at Trinity College Dublin, further developing their skills as both an artist and researcher.

Since graduating, David has built an impressive portfolio of opportunities within the Irish theatre sector. In 2024, they took part in Weft Studio, a Dublin Fringe Festival initiative supporting emerging Black artists and artists of the global majority. The residency provided time, resources and support to develop new work and deepen their artistic practice.

They have also completed a residency with the Abbey Theatre and are currently participating in ITI's Six in the Attic development programme. Alongside this, David is undertaking a mentorship with acclaimed theatre company Pan Pan, which continues to expand their exposure to new forms of performance and international artistic collaboration. As part of the mentorship, David and the other mentees will perform at the Dublin Theatre Festival in October.

Currently David is developing new work including a solo play, Fragments with Outlandish Theatre, exploring migration, belonging and identity through the lens of Afro-Brazilian theatrical traditions and their own lived experience.

While the theatre industry can be challenging, David believes that resilience comes from finding the right support network.

"Community is so important. You have to find a tribe of people that will encourage you in your ideas and support you."

Looking back to the first days in their theatre career, David encourages aspiring practitioners to embrace mistakes, experiment boldly and enjoy the process.