C3 55thth - - 1818thth MAY MAY 20082008 PROGRAMMEPROGRAMME CONTENTS Letter from President MacAleese ..................................................................................................................................................................................................01 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................................................05 Contact Details & Disclaimer ..................................................................................................................................................................................................06 3 I NTRODUCTION Photo to come It is difficult to believe that this is the 'Fifth' - we applaud and appreciate them all.The International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. event itself takes a year of preparation and From a modest 11 play programme in 2004, we are fortunate in the calibre and we now present 41 productions and events, generosity of our Executive Committee, including 34 Irish Premieres, 216 Company Members and our brilliant performances, hundreds of actors from four Volunteer's Corps listed later in the continents over 16 nights - here in Dublin. programme. May we single out in particular The Festival is presented in the context of our Head of Fundraising and Sponsorship, the European Year of Intercultural dialogue Gary Tiernan and our Web, Contacts and IT and is essential in contributing to the supremo Gareth Hurley - without their year dialogue on gay life and culture that will long dedication and team work, nothing of enable society to fast track equality of rights real value would have been achieved.Thank for gay people. you all for your incredibly generous contribution. We are honoured and encouraged with messages of support from President Mary To you, our esteemed audience, may this Mc Aleese, the Minister for diverse programme be informative, Communications, Eamon Ryan TD who educational, entertaining and thought launched the programme, and our esteemed provoking over the next fortnight. May it new Patron, renowned playwright Terrence encourage your continued association with Mc Nally.We present a vibrant and relevant our efforts as we plan for the next five programme of standards driven theatre years.Thank you and all who have the which helps us look back, explore our courage and generosity to support the Fifth current situation and to look to the future International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. as gay citizens.This would not be possible See as much as you can and enjoy without the support of our Sponsors who yourselves! in turn now deserve your support. This Festival could not happen unless others embrace its purpose and potential.The Brian Merriman participating companies, playwrights, and Artistic/Managing Director technicians make an enormous and generous contribution to the arts innovation John H Pickering Administrative Director 5 SQ CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF GAY THEATRE WITH CONTACT DETAILS ‘FREE’ THEATRE & EVENTS BY MAIL ONLINE Registered Office, Full programme details are available on THURSDAY,1st MAY @ 8.30pm - LAUNCH PARTY 179 South Circular Road, our website www.gaytheatre.ie Be There! You are invited to join us in celebrating the launch of the Fifth International Dublin Gay QR Dublin 8, Ireland Tickets for all shows are available from Theatre Festival at the Absolut Drama Queen Festival Launch Party in the Front Lounge, our website www.gaytheatre.ie Parliament Street at 8.30pm. Join us for a free cocktail, entertainment and goodie bags to thank Administrative Office, you for five years of great support - it's all free! 23 O’Curry Road, Check our daily festival reviews on Dublin 8, Ireland www.gcn.ie & www.queerid.ie THURS. 1st MAY to SAT.31st MAY - GAY POSTER ARTWORK Visit the 'walk through billboard' of posters and artwork of almost forty plays that can be seen in BY PHONE CALL IN this year's Festival. Curated by Will St Leger, this special mounted exhibition takes place in The Brian Merriman (Artistic Director) Tickets available for all events Front Lounge, Parliament Street. 00353 (0) 87 657 3732 from Festival Box Office, Temple Bar Cultural Information Office, QR MONDAY,5th MAY @ 3pm -’DANCING WITH THE MINOTAUR’ John H Pickering (Administrative Director) 12 East Essex Street, Dublin 2. The start of a free festival of New Irish Writing on every weekend during the Festival in The 00353 (0) 86 162 0503 Telephone: 00353 (0) 1 677 8511. George at 3pm. 'Dancing With The Minotaur' by Max Hafler (Galway) is a gripping tale of a man and a woman trapped in a confused marriage where the husband leads a secret gay life via the BY E-MAIL Checkout our Multiple Ticket deals internet. [email protected] only available from Festival Box Office SUNDAY,11th MAY @ 12noon - CULTURAL SEMINAR This year's free seminar will be held in the Samuel Beckett Theatre in Trinity College. (12 noon to SQ SQ 3pm including light lunch) Chaired by Dr Eibhear Walshe, proceedings include the Dr Aiden Rogers Memorial Lecture, papers on Eva Gore Booth by Dr Sonja Tiernan and by Professor Roy Sargeant, Artscape New Writing Programme, Cape Town. SUNDAY,11th MAY @ 3pm - ‘CROWN JEWELS’ DISCLAIMER The second of the free festival of New Irish Writing in The George. 2007 Oscar Wilde winning Welcome to the Fifth International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival.We wish you safe and playwright Shawn Sturnick and Christiaan Feehan premiere their first collaboration. It's an enjoyable attendance at the events in this programme. Please take a moment to read outrageously funny gay play, it's true - it is gayer than the crown jewels! QR this notice to enhance your enjoyment of the festival. SUNDAY,11th MAY @ 4.30pm - THE STORY OF ZRAZY Please do Performing in The George, Ireland's leading lesbian duo Carol and Maria give an insight into their • arrive on time as most venues have free seating successful careers as jazz musicians. How did this duo achieve fame and respect in music in Ireland • ensure you exchange your ‘e-tickets’ for hard copy tickets prior to entry - the story unfolds over two weekends with live performances of some of their greatest hit songs. • take notice of all fire exits • avoid all hazards and any potential hazards within venues SUNDAY,18th MAY @ 3pm - ‘A STINT IN YOUR SPOTLIGHT’ • turn off all mobile phones and other equipment with alarms Produced in association with the Gaiety School of Acting students.This final afternoon of the free • attend more than one event in this year’s excellent programme New Irish Writing festival in The George features Jack Harrison, ex boybander who is washed up Please do not at twenty eight. His marriage to Cristal went downhill rapidly as he descended into drug addiction trying to forget who he really wanted - Danny; a premiership footballer and love of his life.Years • smoke inside any of the venues later, he has become a semi-recluse until three drama students approach him wanting to make a • record or photograph any aspects of a performance without permission play about his life. 'A Stint in Your Spotlight' is a funny and touching play about fame, love and • obstruct or interfere with the smooth and safe running of each event QR playmaking by new Irish playwright, Mark Ward. • forget to fill in our Audience Appraisal Forms Please note: You have entered these premises at your own risk and the festival regrets SUNDAY,18th MAY @4.30pm - THE STORY OF ZRAZY that it is not responsible for any loss, damage or injury to you or your property, while The final part of the Zrazy Story will be aired in The George. Ireland's leading lesbian duo Carol attending any event associated with the festival. Please take care of yourself and your and Maria give an insight into their successful careers as jazz musicians. How did this duo achieve belongings to ensure your safe and enjoyable attendance. fame and respect in music in Ireland - the story unfolds with live performances of some of their greatest hit songs.º Thank you for supporting the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival 2007. 6 SQ 7 GB DRAMA MON. 5th - SAT.10th MAY @ 8pm PETE SHAW & CITY LIGHTS THEATRE COMPANY, READING, UK LIGHTNING STRIKES WORLD PREMIERE PROJECT ARTS CENTRE @ THE SPACE UPSTAIRS THE SPACE CENTRE @ ARTS PROJECT ABOUT THE PLAY Celebrated Director Patrick Wilde brings the world premiere of Matt Ian Kelly's play to Dublin. Good looking Tom wears the right clothes, goes to the right clubs, has friends who support him yet he doesn't feel like he "fits".Tom's intensely real dreams reveal a beautiful young man, decades out of his time, when being gay was criminalised, to finally making sense of our present day liberation.The play deals with the variations and similarities faced by gay men in very different time frames. Does the passage of time change the meaning of love? Is love ever enough? ABOUT THE COMPANY Pete Shaw has previously produced shows in London and Edinburgh, his most recent production collaborating with Tim Rice to revive 'Blondel' in London after a 23 year absence. 'Lightning Strikes' will be his fourth show working with Patrick Wilde. City Lights Theatre Company was formed by Anthony Green and Matt Ian Kelly in 2004 to stage Matt's first play 'However Do You Want Me' which had a sell-out run at the Cast Hen and Chickens in London. City Lights artistic policy is to Jamie- David Ames produce work about what it's like to be young and gay today. Tom - Tony Higgins ABOUT THE CAST Andy - Nigel Pilkington Tony Higgins (Tom):