The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan T.D. today launched the programme for the fifth International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival at St. Michael & John’s Theatre in Temple Bar. The festival runs from Bank Holiday Monday, May 5^th until Sunday, May 18^th in ten city centre venues. The programme presents 35 Irish and International productions that have a gay element or theme. It includes drama, comedy, musical theatre, late night cabaret, youth theatre and for the first time, opera. In addition, the festival will present a programme of free events that include an academic seminar in the Samuel Beckett Theatre and A Conversation with multiple Tony and Emmy Award winner, Terrence McNally in The Project Arts Centre.

Speaking at the programme launch, the Minister said “I am delighted to launch the programme of the fifth International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival.  Ireland has a long cultural history, and is world-renowned for its arts and theatre.  It is important that we remain committed to the promotion of the arts, and I commend the organisers for presenting such an interesting and diverse programme of events.” The festival was set up in 2004 to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the birth of Oscar Wilde and has grown rapidly over the intervening years.

“We are celebrating our fifth year and it is a significant anniversary for this unique and innovative event that has in a relatively short time embedded itself into Dublin’s cultural calendar” said the festival’s Artistic Director, Brian Merriman. “In this, the Year of Intercultural Dialogue, we are proud to welcome companies to Ireland from the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK. Crucially, we are also a significant event in promoting intercultural dialogue across our communities here in Ireland” he added.

This year, the festival will stage over 200 performances during the fortnight. It will take over 250 actors, crew, organisers and voluntary staff to stage the event. For the first time, online booking is available from mid-day tomorrow (April, 3rd) on the festival’s website, www.gaytheatre.ie. A dedicated box office will also open its doors inside Temple Bar Cultural Information Centre on Sunday, April 27^th. It will be followed by the annual ABSOLUT Drama Queen Launch Party on Thursday, May 1st in The Front Lounge. During the festival, a nightly after festival club will allow the production companies to meet with the audience and each other. The festival closes with a Gala Night and Awards in the Button Factory on Sunday, May 18^th. 

---

17/03/2008 :  
Dublin Gay Theatre Returns for Fifth Year

The International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival returns for its fifth year on Bank Holiday Monday, May 5th and runs in ten city centre venues until Sunday, May 18th. A total of 35 productions of cutting edge drama, comedy, tragedy, musical theatre and opera will be presented over the fortnight by companies from America, Canada, South Africa, Mexico, Italy, Brazil, The Netherlands, Britain and Ireland.

Following the Programme Launch by Minister Eamon Ryan TD at St. Michael & John’s Church, Temple Bar on Wednesday, April 2nd, details of all productions will be available on www.gaytheatre.ie . For the first time in the history of the Festival, online booking will be available through the website from mid-day on Thursday, April 3rd.

Of particular note in this year’s Festival is the guest attendance of the multiple Tony and Emmy Award winning playwright; Terrence McNally whose controversial hit ‘Corpus Christi’ runs from May 12th to 18th at Smock Alley Theatre. On Thursday, May 15th, Mc Nally will take part in an hour long conversation with double IFTA Award Winner; Mark O’Halloran at The Project Arts Centre.

In addition to the return of youth theatre, the women’s programme, the nightly festival club and the Trinity College academic seminar, this year’s programme will see the free play readings section developed into a free mini theatre festival, held in the late afternoon over three weekends in The George.

Preceding the Festival, on Thursday, May 1st will be the ‘ABSOLUT Drama Queen Launch Party’in The Front Lounge. All are welcome to come along to this free event to pick up a goodie bag and receive a delicious Drama Queen cocktail.

Established to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Dublin’s greatest theatrical son, Oscar Wilde, The International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival has in a short time embedded itself into the Irish cultural calendar. It is a unique event in that it is the only festival worldwide devoted soley to gay theatre. The Festival encourages new writing and welcomes productions with a gay relevance. Each year it presents World, European and Irish premieres and finishes with a Gala Nights Awards Ceremony. This year, the Festival had over 120 applications from around the world.