gays against the free state! (2016)

Nominated for Judges Choice Award at Dublin Fringe Festival 2016

We’re all equal now. We can all get married. We all have rainbow colours on our Facebook pictures. Our grannies voted Yes and the Taoiseach is having a pint down at Pantibar. All children of the nation to be cherished equally, just in time for the 1916 centenary.

Influenced by queer performance, Primetime Investigates and the Reeling In The Years 1980s boxset, this is a show about queer activism today and republican activism in the past. It’s about how change gets made and who gets to make it. Who benefits and who’s left out. And actually, are we really equal now?

Gays Against the Free State! was premiered in Smock Alley Theatre, as part of Tiger Dublin Fringe 2016.

Written by Oisín McKenna

Directed by Colm Summers

Performed by Leonard Buckley, Eavan Gaffney, Oisín McKenna, Sian Ni Mhuiri and Stephen Quinn

Composer Seamus Ryan

Costume Designer Sorcha Ni Fhloinn

Lighting Designer Tilly Taylor

Scenic Designer Eugenia Genuchi

Costume Assistant Catriona Moloney

AV Designer Hugo Lau

Production Manager David Doyle

Stage Manager Jennifer Aust

Musicians Seamus Ryan and Mark O'Donnell

Producer Oisin McKenna