Testimonials.
Dan Horrigan is a true bright light on the horizon of SciFi. He has crafted two films that were highly regarded in our festival, a screenplay that was placed in our competition, and in later years, reviewed films and screenplays for inclusion in our festival from other filmmakers. I have the utmost trust in Dan's judgment and am anxious to see the next classic he crafts. I think any screenwriter would benefit from his thoughts.
Bears Rebecca Fonte. Founder Artistic Director Other Worlds Film Festival
Dan Horrigan has been on the MiSciFi team since we selected his film Populace to screen in 2016. Since then, he has been a valued screenplay coordinator and judge. His written reports have been very well received and provided useful feedback for our many entrants to the award each year. We have taken Dan’s opinions seriously awarding finalists and winners laurels to numerous screenwriters and Dan’s work has been vital in providing a resource for those attending Florida’s largest Genre film festival. Troy Bernier Artistic Director
Miami International Science Fiction Festival
Danny Whitehead
Country Director China at British Council
I have known and worked with Dan for four years, during which time he has constantly impressed me with his commitment to and excellence in mentoring, teaching, directing, and leading others, and his expertise and inspiring leadership in theatre as a director. Dan's learner-centered approach to teaching and directing, and his sensitivity to learners' and theatre colleagues' needs sets him apart from others. He inspires and motivates those with whom he works and brings with him professionalism and personal positivity which is a model to his peers and colleagues. As a Director, Dan is one of the most motivating, sensitive, and inspiring leaders I have worked with. Dan brings a deep understanding of theatre practice to a play, which he leavens with inspired creativity. He is extremely talented at getting the best out of actors and crew. I have no hesitation at all in providing the highest recommendation for Dan and am confident that he will make an outstanding contribution to your team.
Melli Bond Creative Director PARK Theatre
Dan Horrigan has a proven track record of inventive new writing that explores the human condition. I've had the pleasure of witnessing him leading workshops for Transmission Workshop - which I co-founded and runs Tuesday evenings at Park Theatre. He is motivational and engages the actors in every session giving them a variety of techniques to learn. He is passionate about his work and shows a real commitment to exploring new ways of working and thinking.
Ola Animashawun.
Creative Director, Euphoric Ink. National Theatre.
I have known Dan since 2010 when he first attended one of our Introductory Playwriting courses. During this time, I have worked with him as a dramaturg on several occasions and I have come to regard him as one of the most passionate, dedicated, tireless, fearless, and committed artists, working in new writing today. Dan is a big personality, with big ideas, beautifully balanced by his vision, drive, and belief in the power and force of theatre. A force, which he fully regards as a wholly positive and constructive force for change and a force for good. Dan has an insatiable appetite for theatre, which he seeks to feed at every opportunity. It is this appetite that inspires him to make theatre (as a writer and a director) that is bold, challenging, imaginative, and exciting. In short, I have no hesitation in providing a positive reference for the above-mentioned person, by virtue of his utter commitment to the art form and his dedication to his practice.
Lisa Caggnacci – former associate artistic director of Theatre503.
Dan Horrigan is a dedicated, ambitious and hard-working theatre maker with multiple strings to his bow. The work he has produced, written, and directed at Theatre503 has been testament to his efforts to make great theatre happen. Although his company, Sky or the Bird, is relatively young, Dan is working to put the foundations in place to ensure that his work stands the test of time and that the company is making theatre for years to come. I’m sure I’ll continue seeing Dan’s work in theatres around London in the future. Dan can attract good people to work with him and for each production Sky or The Bird has brought together strong diverse teams to realise his vision.
Tony Bell - Actor.
I am an actor of thirty years' experience mainly with Propeller an internationally acclaimed Shakespeare company. Dan saw me acting and asked if I would work on his new play. I saw a production at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London and was impressed with the intensity of the piece. We spent three days reading and discussing new drafts with time in between for Dan to rewrite. I was really impressed with his writing in the first place which was both searingly honest and written with a visceral rhythm and poetry that was a gift for an actor. I was also impressed with how seriously he listened to the actors’ comments, criticisms, and ideas and how he was able to take them on board so that each draft came back better. I had a brilliant time working with him and the other actors. What I like about Dan is how seriously he takes the work and how honest and searching he is. But also, how much fun we have by taking the creative process seriously. And he is willing to take criticism with the good humour it requires - there is rigour but no defensiveness at all. I should add that I also had the good fortune to act in a lovely radio play he had written while working at the radio rep. It was a very clever piece again with complexity, ambiguity, and a feeling of suspense. I had a great time and so did my co-actor. It was our favorite of the new plays we recorded that day. I have a huge respect for Dan's writing and love working with him and hope to act in another of his plays as soon as possible.
Dominic Kelly
Acting Teacher/Director
I was invited to join Dan on an exciting project bringing writers and directors together to create a compendium of scenes covering what it is like to live in certain areas of London at Theatre503. London: Four Corners, One Heart was extremely professionally managed and put together, and the experience strengthened my company's presence. The process was well supported; offering all members support and feedback, while also creating a company atmosphere; a fantastic feat. Dan had four teams all meeting and rehearsing in venues scattered around London. He was able to involve Arts Council representatives and high-profile theatre directors such as Che Walker, to bring interest and build impact. At all times, it was Dan's firm grasp of the project, artistically, and its impact, commercially, that made my involvement in the project extremely rewarding.