Culture That Made Me: Des Kennedy, the Belfast-born director of the Everyman in Cork

Kennedy tells Richard Fitzpatrick about touchstones that include  The Wire, Armistead Maupin, and Arthur Miller

Des Kennedy, artistic director at the Everyman Theatre in Cork. Picture: Darragh Kane.

Des Kennedy, 42, grew up in Twinbrook, West Belfast. In 2012, he worked as an associate director on the musical Once, which ran for several years. He started working on the hit play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in 2015, which opened in London’s West End that summer before touring internationally, including on Broadway. 

In 2024, he was appointed artistic director of the Everyman in Cork. Kennedy is currently directing Making History, by Brian Friel, at the theatre until April 26.