Actors’ agency plunges into red

A COMPANY that operates an agency representing some of Ireland’s best known film and stage actors, writers and comedians went into the red last year.

Clients of the Lisa Richards Agency include Hollywood actor Cillian Murphy, creator of Gift Grub Mario Rosenstock, and actor and author Amy Huberman.

The firm, based at Dublin’s Upper Leeson Street, also has on its books ex-Irish soccer international and pundit, John Giles; 2FM’s Hector Ó hEochagáin; comedian Dara O’Briain and young actor Robert Sheehan of Love/Hate.

Accounts just filed by Lisa Richards Ltd to the Companies Office show that the company’s accumulated profits declined by €92,760 from €434,635 to €341,875 in the 12 months to the end of June last.

This followed a profit in 2009 where the company’s accumulated profits increased by €65,601 from €369,034 to €434,635.

A note attached to the abridged accounts for 2010 states: “Lisa Richards Ltd experienced a loss in 2010.

“The directors have adequately assessed the company’s financial position and its cash requirements for the next 12 months and thus correctly prepared the accounts on a going concern basis.”

The figures show that the company’s cash declined during the year from €380,202 to €223,121.

The company’s net assets at the end of June last year totalled €342,002.

The abridged accounts do not provide the company’s revenues for the year.

The Dublin-based talent agency also represents a host of comedians, including Des Bishop, Colin Murphy, PJ Gallagher and Neil Delamere.

The Lisa Richards Agency was founded in 1989 by Lisa and Richard Cook and was originally established as a theatrical agency.

Today it represents many of the country’s best-known actors, including Aidan Turner, currently starring in BBC’s Being Human, and actors, Michael McElhatton, David Pearse, Garrett Lombard, Tom Hickey and Denis Conway.

Other clients include actor and author Pauline McLynn and actors Victoria Smurfit, Cathy Belton and stars of RTE’s Raw, Charlene McKenna and Marcella Plunkett.

According to the agency’s website, it employs a staff of 12 across its departments that represents actors, comedians, voice-over artists, authors and playwrights, directors, designers and presenters.

The directors are listed as Alan Cook, Lisa Cook, Richard Cook, Miranda Pheifer — all of whom have shares in the company — and Patrick Sutton and Fergus Cronin.

The agency declined to comment on the results.