History

Jay Finocchiaro, a director/writer from Australia is the founder of The Actors Point.

Name Origin
In 2015, he was hired to teach a course for the Dublin Central School of Acting.

One night, after class, Jay was waiting for a bus near the Spire when one of his students came up and suggested that Jay should consider offering acting classes independently after the course finishes.
At first, Jay didn't think much of it, but thanked the student for the suggestion and got on the bus as it arrived.
The suggestion continued weeks later from some other students, which made Jay reconsider the idea.

Looking back on the initial conversation, Jay remembered where the idea had first taken shape: at the Spire, the point where it all began - and thus, the name was thought of: The Actors Point.

In 2016, The Actors Point was created.

Early Years

Enrichment Starting Point

The initial intention of The Actors Point was as an enrichment option for adults who were currently training as professional actors. Setup up as drop-in classes in Cork and Dublin, students from various acting institutes attended on a weekly basis. From time to time, workshops were added. A few years later, Limerick was added with classes open for beginners.

The setup of running weekly classes in the 3 major cities of Cork, Dublin and Limerick ran from 2016 until January 2020 and ceased operating due to COVID.

An early class moment of The Actors Point in Cork.

Arts Theatre, Cork

Teachers Club, Dublin

Mary Immaculate College, Limerick

Courses

In addition to classes, The Actors Point creates courses from time to time. Each course focuses on a specific area of acting with the purpose of combining information, practice and improvement in the area.

The unique nature of the courses is that they only appear once. This is due to the reaason that courses are specific to the availability of resources, location and number of students seeking the course at any given time.

The Actors Portfolio

The Actors Portfolio was a unique and successful course which covered acting for stage, screen and voiceover.

It became Ireland's first independently run course for adults at a further education standard.

Some of the other workshops and courses have been:

Getting Into Character

The Actor's Took Kit: Part 1

2020 | Online | 3 Month Course

The Actor's Tool Kit: Part 2
2020 | Online || 3 Month Course

Dream Work and Personalisation Intensive
2020 | Online | 1 Month Course

Round Robin Acting Sessions

2021 | Online | Year Long 'Drop-In' Classes

Masterclasses

On the odd occasion, The Actors Point gets lucky to put on masterclasses led by respected industry professionals.

Past profiles have been:

Lesley Conroy
Lesley Conroy is an IFTA-nominated Irish actress and award-winning writer whose career spans film, television and theatre. Her performance in Eden earned her an Irish Film & Television Award nomination for Actress in a Supporting Role. Her screen credits include Citizen Lane with Michael Gambon, The Cured with Elliot Page, and The Miracle Club, featuring Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates and Laura Linney, alongside television roles in Fair City and Bad Sisters. As a writer, her short film Cleaner won awards at Cork and Nottingham International Film Festivals. In 2026, Lesley wrote and performed Epiphany, inspired by James Joyce’s The Dead.

Alison Crosbie
Alison Crosbie is a casting professional with over three decades of experience across film, television and actor development. Her screen career began on Jim Sheridan’s In the Name of the Father, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Emma Thompson and Pete Postlethwaite. Alison later moved into casting, with credits including Atom Egoyan’s Felicia’s Journey, Philomena, starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, Stitches and Let Us Prey. A longstanding collaborator with Maureen Hughes Casting and former Spotlight Ireland casting expert, Alison has worked extensively with professional actors. In 2026, Alison and Maureen received an IFTA nomination for casting Ready or Not.

Emma Gunnery
Emma Gunnery is an IFTA-nominated Irish casting director with more than a decade of experience across film and television. Emma began her screen career working in assistant directing, production and locations on major films including Skyfall, World War Z, Maleficent and Woman in Gold, before training at Lucy Bevan Casting. Her casting credits include Oddity, Baltimore, Kathleen Is Here, My Sailor, My Love, Lola and Rose Plays Julie. In 2025, Emma received an IFTA nomination for her casting of Baltimore. Based between Dublin and London, she works across Irish, British and international productions.

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