Help Josh bring a unique acting practice back to Ireland.

Can Ireland have its own Hollywood?



I’ve just been accepted onto a unique acting teacher’s workshop in Los Angeles, I've covered the course fee of $900 myself, however - the cost of travel and accommodation is currently an obstacle to me attending and I’ve got 14 days to turn that around. I’ve set up this GoFundMe in the hope that some support could help make this opportunity possible.

Hi, my name's Josh Duffy. I'm an actor and musician from the West of Ireland and this workshop is a rare opportunity that would allow me to not only deepen my own acting process, but also enable me to support others in doing the same.

What is the workshop?

The workshop is a small-group, week-long intensive focused on a powerful and emerging acting practice known as the 'non-dominant approach.' This practice removes the character-dominating language often used in traditional training — so an actor no longer feels the character is someone or something to be conquered, but instead meets them as an equal. It’s a deeply human and intuitive approach to acting. The workshop is open to both actors and teachers, allowing participants to deepen their own process and gain the tools to guide others through its core principles.

Why does it matter to me?

I’ve been an actor for a number of years, but I encountered this approach just a few months ago - and it has completely shifted my understanding of the art form. The ideas are intuitive, accessible and human. It prioritises ‘truth’ over ‘good’. That’s what resonated with me the most - because anyone can bring themselves closer to truth. The truth doesn't live in big cities or TV series, It lives within us.

What will I do with this training?

I will be one of the first people in Ireland, and the first in Belfast where I’m based - to train in the teaching of this acting approach. I’m excited not only to deepen my own process but to share what I learn with collaborators, students, and anyone looking to explore a more human, freeing approach to acting. This is just the first step of many I intend to take towards the vision I see for Ireland’s theatre and filmmaking scene. Again I ask, who's to say Ireland can’t have its own Hollywood?

The bigger picture?

I think it would be amazing to live in LA - the home of Hollywood and the biggest stars we've come to know. But whose to say we can’t have our own Hollywood here in Ireland? I think it’s a not-very-well-kept secret that Ireland is brimming with talent, bursting at the seams, waiting to be called into the light!

My younger sister Gabriella is only 16 years old, yet she is one of the most fabulous actors I've ever had the pleasure to see perform. I want to come back from this workshop with tools not just for my own practice, but with an ability to share those tools with Gabriella — and with young people like her across the country.

Imagine if young people were told they already have everything they need to create - within. I see young people crafting their own scripts, rehearsing scenes after school, making short films at the weekend — not waiting for permission to create and express themselves. If the dam is opened, what beauty might flow down the river of creativity? I believe there is much more to discover here than we realise.

What Your Support Will Cover

Any support I receive will go directly towards travel and accommodation costs during the 8-day trip. LA is an expensive city, and I’ve managed to cover the course fee, now I just need help to get there.

Estimated Costs (in euros):

Accommodation: €1,500–€1,800

Flights: €500–€700

Transport in LA: €200

Estimated Total: €2,300–€3,000

+ Course = €800

- Any funds raised beyond what I need will be donated directly to Helium Arts, an Irish charity that brings creativity to young people living with lifelong physical health conditions.

All donations will make a difference. If I’m able to make this journey, I return ready to share what I’ve learned and support this generation of actors.

Thank you for reading. I can’t wait to keep you updated along the way.

Josh Duffy