block 1
THEATRE
The (Not So) Quick Murder of Man
Death over a bag of crisps
Wed 9 Feb | 6:30pm | Boys’ School
A brutal black comedy. Buckle up for 25 minutes of argument, black humour, surprising tenderness and a unique insight into the nature of violence.
Written by Darragh Feehely
Directed by Stewart Shields
Running Time : 25 mins
block 1
ALTERNATIVE COMEDY
Sorry, Denny’s Dead.
Denny Redmond has been murdered. F*ck.
Wed 9 Feb | 6:30pm | Boys’ School
Homosexual juvenile, Drew Fletcher investigates the high profile murder of socialite Denny Redmond with the help of money hungry celebrities via Cameo. This tantalising and irreverent whodunnit gives the audience the HOLE story in hopes of catching the calculating murderer before they strike again.
Written + Performed by Denny Redmond
Photography by Karl O’Reilly
Running Time : 20 mins
block 2
THEATRE
DANNY RYAN
A story of stunted romantic understanding.
Wed 9 + Thu 10 Feb | 7pm | Main Space
Growing up gay can rob you of your formative romances but who cares when you’ve known “the one” this whole time… and he’s just walked through the door of your free gaff.
Written + Performed by Benjamin Reilly
Produced by Shane O’Regan
Directed by TKB
Running Time : 15 mins
block 2
MUSIC
RegularSuburbanWoman
Transitioning Ain’t For Cissies
Wed 9 + Thu 10 Feb | 7pm | Main Space
Through music, monologues and synthetic wigs, Annie Sherry sonically shares her experience of transitioning in Ireland
Written + Performed by Annie Sherry
CAST: Esther Brady, Jacqueline Carroll + Jodie Sweeney
Running Time : 30 mins
block 4
STAND-UP COMEDY
Suicide Bees
A laugh-a-minute dive in to mental illness and recovery
Wed 9 Feb | 9pm | Main Space
MJ Stokes talks family, addiction and getting better in a manic attempt to coax a bunch of suicidal bees out of a blender.
Written + Performed by MJ Stokes
Produced by Cabrina Conaty
Running Time : 30 mins
block 4
THEATRE /spoken word
SPOKE
heading out to get out of her head
Wed 9 Feb | 9pm | Main Space
One woman’s journey through a night out. But something’s been put in her drink.
Think. Speak. Spike. Spoke.
A spoken word one woman show about a spiking. An exciting fast paced and darkly humorous show.
Written + Performed by Ali Dempsey McMahon
Running Time : 15 mins
block 5
THEATRE
Dearest
“Dearest, I’m writing to you to say-“
Thu 10 Feb | 6:30pm | Boys’ School
“My body is not a harbour for your loneliness, and I have never felt more beautiful.”
Dearest explores the intimacy of unravelling and falling in love with yourself.
Written by Shannon O’Reilly
Performed by Gráinne Kavanagh
Music by Jamie Bishop.
Running Time : 45 mins
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IMPROV / COMEDY
GHOST STORIES
A Comedy of Improvised Horror!
Thu 10 Feb | 9pm | Main Space
To ride out the raging storm, Captain Laragub and his fishermen will take suggestions from the audience and perform a spontaneous one act comedy of the supernatural.
Produced by Lydia McCormack
Directed by Dan McCormack
Light + Sound by Sean Flaherty
Artwork + poster design by Debbie Cheevers
Performed by: Colman Hayes, Liam Kelly, Dan McCormack, Quinton O’Reilly
Running Time : 45 mins
block 7
THEATRE
RETCH
Demon’s, Da’s and Disco Biscuits
Fri 11 Feb | 6:30pm | Boys’ School
“Barks like a dog I do, like a FUCKIN DOG”.
RETCH, a fast paced, monologue-style, one woman show. Rage, grief, anger and swans, all go hand in hand with the experience of being Irish.
Written + Performed by Leanne Bickerdike
Directed by Robert Downes
Produced by Eleanor Walsh
Sound Design by Tamar Keane
Running Time : 45 mins
block 8
THEATRE
SKINNED
Animals. The pair of them.
Fri 11 Feb | 7pm | Main Space
A story of one woman’s mistrust of herself, and another creature’s attempts at luring her into wary territory. A piece of theatre about memory, death and attempts at dating.
Written + Produced by Kat Ennis
Directed by Rachel Walshe
Running Time : 15 mins
block 8
MUSICAL COMEDY
Drop Dead
A shit show, through song.
Fri 11 Feb | 7pm | Main Space
A comedic, musical journey through the catastrophic Dublin dating scene and a woman navigating her way through it. Poorly.
Written + Performed by Eimear Barr
Produced by Louise Lawless
Photography by Maria J. Milla
Running Time : 25 mins
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INTERACTIVE COMEDY
The Bootsy Boys
The Museum Of Yesterday, Tomorrow
Fri 11 Feb 8:30pm + Sat 12 Feb 9:45pm | Boys’ School
Dynamic indoor walking tour comedy theatre: A museum curator from the year 3022 needs your help to avoid the ultimate destruction of their life’s work: a flawless recreation of the world of 2022.
Written + Performed by Steve Bennett, Victor Bible, Fionn Cleary, Jordan Daniel, Brian Garvan, Niall Johnson, Kori Schagunn, Michael Sullivan, Richard Zimmerman
Running Time : 45 mins
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RADIO PLAY
Declan on the Trail Episode One: Dead Cow at Night, Declan’s Delight
The Documentary No One Asked For
Fri 11 Feb | 9pm | Main Space
This absurdly hilarious radio play follows the investigations of a disgraced RTE journalist who has travelled to a strange island off the Irish coast to salvage his career.
Written by Robbie Doyle, Jimmy Kavanagh, Sam Killian + Eoin Potts
Directed by Hugh Hick
Produced by Heather Macleod
Performed by Club Valentine
Running Time : 50 mins
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THEATRE
Breaking Deep
Navigating the kaleidoscope of the unknown
Sat 12 Feb | 2pm | Main Space
One woman’s voyage through the treacherous waters of caring, advocating and fighting for her most precious treasures: Her family and her life. Warning: themes of self-harm, suicide.
Written by Nicola Whelan + Ion Whelan
Performed by Nicola Whelan
Director + Lighting Design by Ciara Meehan
Produced by Elisa Redmond
Music Composed + Sound Design by Ken Whelan
Musician: Nicola White
Vocalist Catherine Griffin
Choreography by Kate O’Connor
Stage Manager + Show Operator Susannah Conroy
Voiceover Amy Coleman, Aoife Dempsey, Elaine Purdue
Running Time : 45 mins
block 12
CLOWN / MENTAL HEALTH
The Funny Mentalist
Laughter on the front lines!
Sat 12 Feb | 3pm | Boys’ School
Live performance and video footage from the first professional clown to use laughter as a mental health programme in countries at war…Bosnia, Chechnya, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Si Lanka…It’s explosive!
Written + Performed by Johnie K
Audio visuals by Michael Higgins
Photo credit: Martin Klejnowski
Produced by Andrea Murphy
Running Time : 45 mins
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THEATRE / Physical theatre
Un Crocodile
One second. One Mississippi. Un crocodile.
Sat 12 Feb | 4pm | Main Space
When five friends meet maybe for the last time, Ethan pops the question to his long-time girlfriend, Kat. One second is all they have to make up their minds
Written by Darragh Gilhooly + Gwenaelle Gillet
Directed by Charlene Gleeson
Produced by Sidonie Martha Welton
Cast: Darragh Gilhooly, Grace Keelin, Gwenaelle Gillet, James Agnew, Sadhbh Jackman.
Crew: Christopher O’Sullivan
Running Time : 25 mins
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THEATRE /spoken word
SPOKE
heading out to get out of her head
Sat 12 Feb | 4pm | Main Space
One woman’s journey through a night out. But something’s been put in her drink.
Think. Speak. Spike. Spoke.
A spoken word one woman show about a spiking. An exciting fast paced and darkly humorous show.
Written + Performed by Ali Dempsey McMahon
Running Time : 15 mins
block 14
THEATRE
The Relatability Engine
Sincerity beyond imagining.
Sat 12 Feb | 6:15pm | Boys’ School
Relatability. Sincerity. True authentic self. Is this what audiences want? Hear the confessions of a talking dog, a paranoid billionaire, and a hillbilly to discover that the answer is no.
Written + Directed by Aaron O’Neill
Sound Design by Adam Donovan
Stage Management + Assistant Direction by Dee Finn
Running Time : 45 mins
block 15
rehearsed reading
Bonbons
Confectionery, it’s a bitter business
Sat 12 Feb | 6:30pm | Main Space
All families fight, but the O’Boyle clan are taking the mickey. In this hilariously dark story, sibling rivalry goes too far and Dublin risks losing one of its institutions. For those who love a laugh and a sugary treat.
Written by Susan Lynch
Produced by Eoin Lynch
Running Time : 45 mins
block 16
theatre
CHOICES
Putting the ‘Unpracticed’ back in Audience Participation
Sat 12 Feb | 8pm | Boys’ School
Take part in a thrilling interactive narrative experiment as your decisions drag unsuspecting couple Frankie and Jet through struggles, between genres and across the threshold of sanity.
Written, Developed + Performed by Ellen Corby, Gavan O’Connor Duffy, Jae O’Connor, Jessy Danner + Rory Knox
Running Time : 45 mins
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STAND-UP COMEDY
Julie Jay: Oops, This is Toxic
Clintons, Trouser Snakes and Britney Spears
Sat 12 + Sun 13 Feb | 8:15pm | Main Space
A dark-comedy examination of 90s/00s misogyny which celebrates not just Britney, but everyone who survived an era wherein Timberlakes flew high while Janet Jacksons got grounded. “Hilarious” IRISH EXAMINER
Written + Performed by Julie Jay
Directed by Gearóid Farrelly
Running Time : 45 mins
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STAND-UP COMEDY / drag
PLATFORMS
Dragging Ireland into the 21st Century
Sat 12 Feb | 10pm | Main Space
Platforms is taking the fight against the far right to the next level – the stage. Join us as we make those who punch down the punchline.
Written + Performed byAllie O’Rourke, Avoca Reaction, Enda Danite, Felix O’Connor, Goblin Goblins Goblins, MJ Stokes
Running Time : 45 mins
block 19
rehearsed reading
Vótáil Mindy
Being an tUachtarán is great for your profile
Sun 13 Feb | 2pm | Main Space
Frustrated by the poor standard of this year’s Presidential candidates, Síle and Sinéad cook up a contender who’s even worse: the social media diva Mindy McPhearson III. But what can they do when she gathers mainstream support? Aoir dhátheangach a bhreathnaíonn ar choincheap na muiníne i saol na polataíochta.
Performed predominantly through Irish with English subtitles.
Arna scríobh ag Kevin Johnston
Arna stiúradh ag Marie Kelly
Póstaer le Nathan Patterson
Running Time : 60 mins
block 20
theatre
The Next Room
Would you like to live again?
Sun 13 Feb | 3pm | Boys’ School
Marian is dead. But she has a choice: move on or give life another go. Frank, her guide, is a socially awkward paper pusher who’s afraid to tell his truth.
Written + Produced by Ger Collis
Directed by Rebecca Hickey
Running Time : 40 mins
block 21
Music / Dance
Monuments
Music and movement between worlds
Sun 13 Feb | 4pm | Main Space
Heartfelt and visceral, Monuments is a hybrid performance of voice and movement. It is a portal. It is an excavation. It is a duet and ensemble work by John Scott and Robbie Blake with the vocalists of Tonnta searching for connection, presence, and the intangible.
Created by Robbie Blake + John Scott
Choreography by John Scott
Composition by Robbie Blake
Performed by Tonnta Vocal Ensemble, John Scott, Robbie Blake
Produced by Sophie Coote
Running Time : 45 mins
block 22
Theatre
A Silent Rain
Experimental noir for the internet age
Sun 13 Feb | 6:15pm | Boys’ School
A paranoiac leap into the creative output of Ian Bailey, Daniel and Sophie Tuscan du Plantier and Bruno Cabornnet. What begins as artistic critique, devolves into a delirium of conflicting realities, references and representations.
Devised by Christian Cruceru + Ciarán MacArtain
Performance led by Timmy Creed
Running Time : 45 mins
block 23
Music
Rodney Owl
“Elegant folksy guitar picking, a sweet wisp of melody – reminiscent of acoustic legend Nick Drake”
– Across the Line, BBC Radio Ulster
Sun 13 Feb | 6:30pm | Main Space
For SCENE + HEARD 2022, the Black Gate brings you a preview of songs from Rodney Owl’s stunning forthcoming album. Rodney Owl AKA Mark McConville is a self-described music-mad war baby.Hailing from Lurgan, in Co. Armagh – his music often has echoes of the turbulent Northern Ireland of his youth.
With lush arrangements, and poignant lyricism, this album is a tonic for times we live in.
Produced by Alex Borwick
Recorded at the Black Gate Studio in Galway
Rodney Owl will be released on The Black Gate Label in April 2022
Running Time : 45 mins
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MUSIC PERFORMANCE / IMPROV / VISUALS / PERFORMANCE ART
Redemption
How does one obtain salvation?
Sun 13 Feb | 8pm | Boys’ School
REDEMPTION is an avant-garde amalgamation of provocative religious imagery, improvised music, cacophonous soundscapes, and performance art that considers the erroneous nature of mankind and existential distress.
Created + Performed by:
Greg Clifford (Visuals, Electric Guitar and Voice)
Dylan Curran (Electric Violin)
Running Time : 20 mins
block 24
Stand-up comedy
Failed By Design
A stand-up show about design
Sun 13 Feb | 8pm | Boys’ School
Design is all around us, and it’s mostly shit. In this hilarious improvised stand-up show we will careen through the detritus of modern life before designing a perfect solution.
Written + Performed by Allie O’Rourke + Cian Jordan
Produced by Matthew Tallon
Running Time : 35 mins