Theatre Shop was established by Siobhán Bourke in 1994 and has developed into a valuable resource for Irish theatre practitioners and for international producers and presenters with an interest in Irish theatre. In July 2006, the organisation launched its seven year strategic statement (2006 - 2012) and was renamed Irish Theatre Institute.

International
ITI has organised an international networking event each year since its establishment, to coincide with the Dublin Theatre Festival, at which international presenters and producers engage in dialogue and project development with Irish producers. Many productive relationships have emerged from this event and a number of Irish companies and theatre artists have toured internationally as a direct result. The 15th Annual ITI International Theatre Exchange took place from 2nd – 3rd  October 2008 alongside a curated showcase of Irish work, ReViewed, presented by the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival and Irish Theatre Institute with support from Culture Ireland.

ITI has developed, built and maintained international and research contacts with numerous agencies, organisations, artists and festivals round the world. Since 2000, ITI has had a regular presence at key international events including the annual Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference (APAP) in New York, CINARS - a major biennial arts market and showcase platform in Montreal and, more recently, at the Edinburgh Fringe and at the Australian Performing Arts Market in Adelaide (APAM).
ITI was the producer of Ireland’s first ever participation in Prague Quadrennial (PQ) Exhibition of Scenography and Theatre Architecture (June 2007) which showcased the talents of Irish theatre designers. ITI is currently working on Ireland’s participation in PQ 2011.

Information & Research
Information provision has been central to ITI activities since its inception and, to complement the exchange of information enabled through networking events, ITI has published the Irish Theatre Handbook, now in its fourth edition since 1996.
ITI realised the potential of the Internet in the promotion of Irish theatre abroad and created, designed and built a suite of searchable databases as research and information tools in a number of relevant areas such as New Writing, Irish Playography; detailed information on Irish theatre and dance organisations and a new Irish theatre artists database, Irish Theatre Online. ITI is working on the Irish language new writing repertoire Playography na Gaelige which will be launched in 2009.

Premises
Recently, Irish Theatre Institute moved to an early Georgian building located at 17 Eustace Street in Temple Bar, the cultural heart of Dublin. This move marked the significant growth of the organisation and means that ITI can continue to meet its artistic and management objectives by providing a high quality, professional service to the Irish theatre sector and to international colleagues. The four storey building has been fully refurbished to ITI’s brief and represents an important new asset for theatre in Ireland as well as a permanent base from which ITI can continue to expand and grow.

About the House
The building itself is of cultural significance and has a long and varied history, having been constructed sometime between 1708 and 1715. Number 17 can be considered quite unique, as throughout its history, it accommodated a broad range of occupants from a Lord Mayor of Dublin, Sir Thomas Blackhall, through to merchants, goldsmiths, gun-makers and solicitors. The street itself was home to the infamous Eagle Tavern, which played a crucial role in 1798 rebellion. 17 Eustace Street was also a tavern - The Sign of the Three Stags Heads - in the 18th century, when it played house to the Corporation of Apothecaries.
Download the full house history on Irish Theatre Institute's premises, 17 Eustace Street

Facililties
The new premises also allows ITI to provide an enhanced service for Irish companies and artists and for guests from abroad including meeting facilities and resources, a research room, wireless internet access, subsidised ‘hotdesks’ for short term projects and room rental. For information and booking please contact admin[at]irishtheatreinstitute.ie

Memberships
ITI will represent Ireland as the Irish centre of the international Theatre Institute network, a UNESCO initiative to promote cultural exchange. ITI is a member of Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP), European Network of Information Centres for the Performing Arts (ENICPA), Informal European Theatre Meeting (IETM), Société Internationale des Bibliothèques et des Musées des Arts du Spectacle (SIBMAS), Federation of Scottish Theatres (FST), Northern Ireland Theatre Association (NITA) and Theatre Forum Ireland.

Patrons: Brian Friel, Tom Hickey, Garry Hynes, Tom Murphy and Phyllis Ryan.
Board: Siobhán Bourke, Catríona Crowe (Chair), Loughlin Deegan, Ali FitzGibbon, Fintan O’Toole, Gavin Quinn and Mary Swords