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Rough Magic is one of Ireland's leading independent theatre companies. The core of the company's work is the development and production of new work for the stage.

Founded in 1984, the company began by presenting Irish premieres of major plays from the contemporary international scene, before beginning to commission and develop new plays from Irish writers. During the late eighties and throughout the nineties the company presented the debut plays of a number of significant writers including Pom Boyd, Declan Hughes, Paula Meehan, Gina Moxley, Donal O'Kelly and Arthur Riordan; eight of which were collected in Rough Magic: First Plays (New Island Books, 1999).

Following the establishment of a dedicated Literary Department in 2001, the company continued to commission, develop and present new plays by leading Irish playwrights. At any one time, the company's rolling programme of new play commissions includes a diverse range of work at various stages of development. There are currently seven new pieces in progress for future production. The Literary Department also reads, discusses and responds to the many unsolicited scripts submitted for consideration, and provides feedback and encouragement to promising playwrights on an ongoing basis.

In 2001, Rough Magic, in association with the Dublin Fringe Festival, initiated the highly successful SEEDS project - a new writing initiative designed to seek out, encourage, enable, develop and stage new Irish writing. Following the success of the initial project, a second phase, SEEDS II was launched in 2004. Three playwrights - Neil Bristow, Brian Delaney and Rosemary Jenkinson - are participating in the SEEDS II programme and are being mentored by Philip Howard, Jon Lloyd and Declan Hughes respectively. SEEDS II also includes a parallel Director's Training Programme. The three participating directors are Tom Creed, Darragh McKeon and Matthew Torney.

In 2005 the company launched Rough Magic Studio, a stream-lined production model that allows the company to present innovative work to a committed and informed audience. Rough Magic Studio, which is at home in Project Arts Centre's Cube performance space, is designed to showcase new plays and new writers and to provide production opportunities for talented young directors and designers.