Although her formal training has primarily been in classical music as a composer and pianist, Ailis has been writing texts for several years, often incorporating these within her musical compositions.  Her poetry has been published by Citizen 32, Lamport Court, Aesthetica Magazine, The Argotist, The Ugly Tree, This is it and Parameter. Her music-theatre work The Falling, comprising music and text by Ailis Ni Riain was premiered at the 24/7 Theatre Festival in 2005.

TILT

Her debut play TILT (also known as Beaten) was published by Nick Hern Books and premiered by The New Works in 2007 touring to Liverpool, Glasgow and Cork.  It was subsequently produced for the Blood and Bandage Festival at the Granary Theatre in Cork, directed by Tony McClean-Fay.  TILT received its London premiere in August 2009 directed by Tom Latter.  Beaten will receive its Swedish premiere at Göteborgs Stadsteater in Gothenburg running from 6th November 2009 to 23rd January 2010.  See Reviews .

CELL

CELL, Ailis Ni Riain's second play received its premiere as part of the 24:7 Theatre Festival in Manchester from 20th-26th July 2009 (see Reviews ). Directed by Paula Simms, CELL tells the story of Hickey, an Irish acute social withdrawal who hasn't left his bedroom for two years. Mickey, his ebullient alter ego challenges his decision every day.  This is a lyrical and percussive piece of new writing.

BBC Writers Bursary

Ailis has been awarded a BBC Writers Bursary towards her second play The Cells in collaboration with The West Yorkshire Playhouse Leeds.  

Tilt in Cork, September 2008           
Tilt , also known as Beaten will be produced by The Granary Theatre in Association with Meridian Theatre Company, Cork, directed by Tony MaCleane-Fay in September 2008. This will be the second production of Tilt. Dates to follow. Tilt is published by Nick Hern Books.

Stewart Parker Trust Residency
Ailis, along with three other Irish playwrights has been selected to attend the Stewart Parker Residency with Philip Thomas Howard at Annamakerrig in Co. Tyrone, Ireland in June 2008. 

Brief-Blue-Electric-Bloom

Brief-Blue-Electric-Bloom was premiered in the Greenroom Manchester in November 2007.  The work is based on a collection of poetry by Ailis Ni Riain. 

	The New Works theatre company produced and toured Ailis Ni Riain's first play TILT, directed by Graeme Maley, in Liverpool, Cork and Glasgow in April and May 2007. TILT is published by Nick Hern books in 2007. Click here to purchase TILT   Click here and here to read TILT reviews
	Ailis was selected as one of the most promising UK-based emerging writers to attend the Cubed3 Writers Residency  at the Traverse Theatre, Scotland's new writing theatre, in November 2006. Supported by the Scottish Arts Council.
	Emerge in Me... Deborah Brian performed Emerge in Me, a monologue by Ailis Ni Riain at Embryo, Studio Salford, 5th May 2006.
	Emerge In Me... was premiered by Deborah Brian alongside new works from North West based writers for four sold-out performances from 15th-17th February 2006 at Taurus Bar Theatre, Manchester.
	THE FALLING @ 24:7 Theatre Festival '05.  THE FALLING, a music-theatre piece, for harpist-actor and electronic score was performed at 24:7 Theatre Festival for five performances in July 2005 and at BLUE2, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester in July 2004; Bridge the Gap Theatre Festival, Zion Arts Centre, Manchester in November 2004, Bolton Little Theatre, June 2004.
	Two poems are published by Parameter Magazine in March 2006.
	And Now This published in The Ugly Tree in 2005.
	I remember published in Aesthetica Magazine in 2003.
	North West Playwrights LOWDOWN publication contains an article by Ailis Ni Riain on the Traverse Cubed3 Residency she attended in November 2006.
	Thank You is published in The Ugly Tree Issue 14, February 2007.
	SHAME is published in Citizen 32 Magazine, October 2006.
	Christy Brown has been published by Lamport Court, September 2006.