Touring to the UK mainland from North and South of the Irish border is not for the fainthearted. Paula Shields talks to two theatre companies, Northern Ireland?s Big Telly and Dublin-based Rough Magic, about the challenge of taking touring product to the UK mainland.

Undoubtedly, Irish theatre enjoys a high profile and reputation abroad, but beyond London and Edinburgh, Irish companies don?t tour that often to their nearest neighbours in England, Scotland, and Wales. And it?s hardly... more