Gay Theatre Festival returns to Dublin in May

The 21st International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, a beacon for inclusive and diverse storytelling, announces its return from May 6th to May 19th, 2024.

With a history of fostering inclusivity and creativity, this year’s festival promises an array of productions that span genres, themes, and experiences, reflecting the diversity of talent and creativity.

Brian Merriman, founder and artistic director of the festival said “as we unveil the 21st edition of the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, I’m filled with pride and reflection.”

“From our inaugural event in 2004 to today, we’ve nurtured over 500 plays and hosted 4,000 performances, bringing the rich tapestry of LGBTQ+ stories to Dublin’s stage. This landmark year celebrates diversity, with a line-up that spans genres and geographies. This festival, born from passion and sustained by a community’s dedication, is at a pivotal moment. It’s time for new leadership to carry forward our legacy.”

“I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who has been part of this journey—artists, audiences, sponsors, volunteers, and our supportive Department of the Arts. Your contributions have made this festival a beacon of LGBTQ+ culture. As we look to the future, let’s come together to ensure the continued success of IDGTF. Here’s to a memorable 21st festival and to the many more chapters yet to be written. Thank you for making this journey unforgettable””

23 productions will be performed over two weeks in five Dublin City Centre locations, and patrons can avail of a venue ticket for only €25. This allows patrons to see the two shows in one venue on the same evening.

The 2024 line-up features productions from around the world. The two-week program is packed with an array of performances ranging from drama to comedy, cabaret to historical plays, each reflecting the rich tapestry of experiences.

Week One

The festival kicks off with a free play reading “Untitled Dream” by Anthony Wilson on Sunday, May 5th at 3pm in Clink I Lár (Middle Abbey Street). Journey across Nathaniel’s odyssey through the dreamscapes of the ancestral realm, where he is forced to grapple with the majestic unfolding of his fears and embrace his innermost truths.

In the Teachers Main Hall with the UK’s “Lewd and Lascivious Acts” by Danny Partington, a compelling drama set in 1930s Germany, offering a poignant reminder of love’s resilience against the backdrop of rising Nazism, with nightly performances at 7.30pm.

Theatre @ 36 presents a double bill featuring “In Vitro” by Ireland’s Aoife O’Connor and “Babies and Bathwater” by Australia’s Amy Garner Buchanan, exploring modern family dynamics and societal norms, showing nightly at 9.00pm.

The Outhouse venue welcomes the European premiere of “The Knightly Quest,” adapted from Tennessee Williams (USA), a fantastical journey featuring a gay vampire, with shows starting at 7.30pm.

At DV8, audiences can enjoy “DADDY” by Australia’s Brent Thorpe, an exploration of life and identity, and “Sauna Boy” by the UK’s Dan Ireland-Reeves, a candid look behind the scenes of a gay sauna, both at 7.30pm and 9.00pm respectively.

The Ireland Institute rounds out the week with “Oh Good Grief!” by Ireland’s Laura Lavelle and “Pre-Ops” by Ezra Maloney, highlighting personal loss and gender identity, with performances at 7.30pm and 9.00pm.

Week Two

Opening week two, a free reading of ‘MNA’ (Women) by Brian Merriman will take place Sunday, May 12th at 3pm in Clink I Lár. Stories of the lives of ordinary and famous Irish women. A series of independent monologues charting the changes in the status of women through the 20th century.

The second week continues at the Teachers Club Main Hall with “The Pride” by Alexi Kaye Campbell (UK), juxtaposing LGBTQ+ life across decades, at 7.30pm nightly.

Theatre @ 36 features “DARLING BOY” by Australia’s Rupert Bevan and “Baklâ” by Max Percy + Friends (New Zealand/Philippines), offering personal monologues and explorations of identity, at 7.30pm and 9.00pm.

The Outhouse hosts “Sketches Invented and Drawn” by Sweden’s Matthew Short and “Remember That Time – A Musical” by Annmarie Cullen (Ireland/Spain), a musical journey of rediscovery, with performances at 7.30pm and 9.00pm.

DV8 presents a double bill of “Pebbles on the Beach” by Douye Fumudoh (Nigeria/Ireland) and “To The Bone – A Radio Play” by David Donovan (Ireland), exploring cultural identity and generational conflict, alongside “And They were Roomates” by Yannis Didaskalou (Greece), with shows at 7.30pm and 9.00pm.

The Ireland Institute features “Copla Cabaret” by Spain’s Copla Alejandro Postigo and a double bill of “The Caoining” by Roman Vai and Catie Grainger with “Was I Not A Girl” by Montgomery Quinlan (Ireland), delving into gender and myth, with nightly shows at 7.30pm and 9.00pm.

This year’s International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival not only celebrates the artistry and stories of the LGBTQ+ community but also highlights its spirit of international collaboration and cultural exchange. Audiences are invited to join us in Dublin for this extraordinary celebration, where stories transcend borders and remind us of our shared human experience.

Special events on Sunday, May 19th include IDGTF 21 Years On – Planning for the Future which is an open forum for all to share how we can move the festival forward. Finally, the festival’s grand finale, the Gala Awards Night, takes place on May 19th at DV8, celebrating the artistic achievements of this year’s participants.

Tickets are available from April 4th 2024 online, offering a range of options for festival-goers. Detailed scheduling, venue information, and booking options can be found at gaytheatre.ie.