THEATRE | 8 – 19 Apr
The Last Man in Ireland
Modest Odyssey
Main Space
For reasons currently unknown, rising sea levels have inexplicably affected Ireland and Ireland only, reducing the island to one small indistinct piece of land owned by one remaining Irish civilian. A chaotic tale of family and identity described as John B. Keane meets Bladerunner.
THEATRE | 23 – 26 Apr
A Safe Passage
Blood in the Alley Productions
Boys’ School
New Year’s Eve 1979. Two souls weather the storm together at Inish Dúbh Lighthouse: Christy the Keeper, shining a ceaseless vigil for all at sea; and a young woman. Christy doesn’t know why she’s here or what she wants from him. Always the joker, always the clown, he puts on a good show. But as the storm rages and truths start to unfold, Christy must decide- to weather the storm or take a leap of faith?
MUSICAL | 25 + 26 Apr
Castle Gillian, Based on the Novel by Maurice Walsh
Entr’acte
Main Space
Castle Gillian An Irish Tale – The Musical, tells the story of Gill Morris , a young Irishman profoundly damaged by his experiences in the Second World War who must regain his faith in love, and the world, in order to save his ancestral home – and once famous Irish racing stable, Castle Gillian.
Castle Gillian was originally devised and built as a stage musical within a 360˚ game- world. Visit www.castlegillian.com for more information.
THEATRE | 29 Apr – 10 May
The Devil and Durex
Fair Dinkum Theatre!
Boys’ School
What’s happened to the women folk? Who is filling their head with all this nonsense? Is it the new television in Maloney’s pub or the books coming over from England – The Joy of Sex! – surely that’s a sin?
THE DEVIL AND DUREX is a hilarious look at the 1970’s sexual revolution in a small rural Irish parish written by Fair Dinkum! Theatre’s award winning playwright Nick Makin.
THEATRE | 12 – 17 May
Amid The Clouds
Pop Up Theatre in Association with Directions Out Theatre Company
Boys’ School
A poetic and touching drama about people escaping hardship in their own country and living under pressure as they attempt to get to Calais to start a new life. Contemporary writing from Iran by the internationally acclaimed Amir Reza Koohestani.
THEATRE | 20 – 22 May
Prisoners of the Occupation
Comhlámh Justice for Palestine
Main Space
This powerful and thought-provoking piece of political theatre was written by Einat Weizman, an Israeli Jewish citizen, in conjunction with two Palestinian political prisoners. It shines light on the plight of Palestinian prisoners, the most hidden victims of the Israeli occupation, focusing on the personal and collective experiences of the prisoners and their families.
THEATRE | 20 – 24 May
The Good Crank
Sight Nor Sound Theatre
Boys’ School
Kitty Clog is an aging woman who is determined not to go quietly into that good night. With lots of attitude and a motley crew of supporting characters (all played by star of Father Ted and Fair City Rose Henderson), Kitty takes us with her on a rollercoaster journey to find her lost man.
LIVE DRAWING | 23 May
Drag & Draw
Drag & Draw
Banquet Hall
Drag & Draw is coming to Smock Alley Theatre for a very special art class.
This informal life-drawing session is a little bit art class, little bit drag show… and a whole lot of fun.
Whether you’re brand new to life-drawing or a seasoned pro, drawing a drag queen is an artistic experience you won’t forget! Expect lip-syncing, audience participation, and lots of low-pressure sketching. (Ignore RuPaul’s advice and feel free to mess it up!).
THEATRE | 26 – 31 May
Strong Wind
Scena Theatre
Boys’ School
A man has been away for a long time. He returns and peers out the window of a flat that he shares with his wife. But is it still his home…and is this even his life? Or does he belong to the past — a spectator of his own abyss? Find out in this surreal story by Jon Fosse, Europe’s most performed living writer — and 2010 winner of the Ibsen Award and the 2023 Nobel Prize for Literature. Don’t miss the Irish premiere of this tragi-comic tale.
MUSICAL THEATRE | 31 May – 7 Jun
The Last Five Years
Lumina Productions
Main Space
In The Last Five Years, we see the story of a relationship between two characters, Cathy and Jamie, from the early days of their romance through to the breakdown of their marriage. We see each character’s unique perspective on the relationship, with Cathy starting her side of the story at the end and working backwards, where Jamie tells his version chronologically.
MUSIC | 10 Jun
Edel Murphy Performs Motherland Songs – Live
Edel Murphy
Main Space
MOTHERLAND SONGS is the debut album from Dublin born actor and musician Edel Murphy. Described as having “a voice that would silence angels” (theartsreview.com), the Irish singer/songwriter brings a heartfelt intensity and serenity in equal measure to new songs and to memorable female characters in songs by The Beatles, Dolly Parton, Kate Bush and Judy Collins.
MUSICAL THEATRE | 26 – 28 Jun
Friends From The West End
PW&Co
Main Space
FRIENDS FROM THE WEST END is an original musical revue featuring three acclaimed West End performers who have starred in some of London’s most iconic productions. Take a journey through the rich tapestry of musical theatre — from Sondheim to Schwartz — with reimagined arrangements, unexpected twists, and an intimate, exclusive feel rarely experienced in a traditional theatre setting.
COMEDY | 3 Jul
Tom Lawrinson: Buried Alive (And Loving It)
A Lovely Time
Main Space
Everything is awful but that’s okay, argues Tom in his ridiculously entertaining show about family and growing up in a Spanish subterranean cave. A show for siblings who shared a rubbish childhood, shirtless ex-pats, and comedy fans alike.
THEATRE | 7 – 12 Jul
Mosaic
Louis Deslis
Boys’ School
Following on from a Dublin Fringe run and a Fishamble New Writing Award nomination, Louis Deslis brings his show Mosaic, back to Smock Alley where it all started. A Franco-Irish tale of craic, joie de vivre, and everything in between.
THEATRE | 14 – 19 Jul
Bunny Bunny
Nora Kelly Lester
Boys’ School
Bunny is mad. She’s mad as hell and she’s not going to take it anymore…is she?
On the edge of eviction, her love life in pieces and no money in her pockets, Bunny tries again. An absurdist romantic nightmare comedy filled with empty piggy banks, landlord ex-lovers, their new lovers, and a song about hotel soap, Bunny Bunny is a solo clown show created by Nora Kelly Lester, directed by Nessa Matthews about trying to hold it all together while everything is falling apart.
THEATRE | 21 Nov
Trawled
Eoin Ryan
Boys’ School
A story you will never forget…
A jaw-dropping story set on the Coral Sea, Australia. An Irish backpacker blags his way onto a prawn trawler. There he discovers a rarely seen world of hard labour and harder fishermen, where drinking, fighting, storms and hungry sharks are part of everyday life.