Shortt has a lot to smile about as production company trebles profits

New figures show that comedian Pat Shortt’s production firm, Short Comedy Theatre Co Ltd trebled its profits to €83,336 last year, resulting in accumulated profits jumping to €771,821 at year end.

The profit in the 12 months to the end of December last followed the firm recording a profit of €24,355 in 2012.

The figures show that the firm’s cash pile during the year decreased from €31,989 to €17,336.

The 47-year-old award-winning entertainer — who recently appeared in John Michael McDonagh’s Calvary — operates a number of companies to conduct his entertainment business, with Short Comedy Theatre Co Ltd acting as a parent company.

The figures from Short Comedy Theatre Co Ltd show that it is owed €869,197, and a large chunk, or €678,765 of that amount is owed by another Shortt firm, Gable End Media Ltd. Figures for the Short Comedy Theatre Co Ltd subsidiary show that it recorded a loss of €164,694 last year, resulting in accumulated losses of €366,883..

The Thurles native has been one of Ireland’s most popular entertainers over the past decade, and last year’s overall financial performance was boosted by Shortt starring in the West End production of The Cripple of Inishmaan that subsequently transferred to Broadway in New York City, after its runaway success. The figures for Shortt’s Gable End Media show that that its cash pile decreased from €133,771 to €79,165 last year.

Shortt is expected to add to his companies’ coffers soon with a long list of tour dates around Ireland, starting next month in Co Leitrim.

Along with his live comedy performance, Shortt has also acted in a number of TV shows and movies, mostly notably as Josie in the 2007 movie Garage.

He has also ventured into the hospitality sector, establishing the Pat Shortt bar in Castlemartyr in Co Cork.