Theatre Lovett’s production, “The Maestro & The Mosquita,” a soliloquy about a conductor plagued by dashed dreams of past glory, earned the title of top production at the Dublin Fringe Festival this year. Penned by Carmel Winters, the play puts Louis Lovett in the spotlight as the Maestro, an ageing, remorseful conductor reflecting on his rise from raw inexperience to dizzying stardom, only to end up desolate and alone. His recollections are punctuated by the incessant buzzing of a mosquita – a female mosquito – symbolising the tormenting lure of artistic creativity and enduring affection.
In addition to this major accolade, the show also scooped up several other awards during the Dublin ceremony on Sunday. David Francis Moore, the festival’s director, expressed his profound pride in orchestrating the 30th anniversary edition of the Dublin Fringe Festival, featuring more than 500 astonishing artists who brought their innovative new work and memorable performances to various venues across Dublin.
He showed gratitude toward the companies and artists who participated in the festival which boasted 74 events, staging 520 performances across 29 venues, and featuring 53 world premieres alongside nine Irish debuts. He proclaimed: “The unflinching conviction at Dublin Fringe is that artists are indispensable to a dynamic city. Dublin Fringe continues its commitment to magnify innovative voices, shatter barriers, stimulate important discussions, and set off a city-wide celebration of all forms of art. We are full of anticipation for another extraordinary 30 years of Dublin Fringe Festival.”
The Dublin Fringe Festival award list for 2024 included “The Maestro & The Mosquita” by Theatre Lovett crowned as the Best Production – a display of preeminence in every aspect from concept and execution to design and performance. The ensemble also claimed the Best design award. Among the other competitors were “Bitch” by Marty Breen, “Dancehall Blues” from CoisCéim Dance Theatre, “Illness as Metaphor” by Dead Centre, and “Let’s Try Swinging” by anseo | anois theatre.
Sinéad Lawlor was in charge of costumes, and Sue Crawford designed the props. Among the individuals nominated is a work by Anna Newell Theatre Adventures titled An Attempt to Talk to The Beginning of the World, with Sinéad Lawlor taking responsibility for design, Isaac Gibson for composition, and Archer Bradshaw for LX.
CoisCéim Dance Theatre’s Dancehall Blues had been reviewed as well. Ivan Birthistle was in charge of composition and sound, John Gunning handled lighting, Arran Murphy designed the costumes, Neil O’Driscoll was responsible for projection, and Val Sherlock did hair and make-up.
Krishna Istha’s presentation, First Trimester presented Christine Ting-Huan Urquhart as the mind behind set and costumes. Olive Mondgreen oversaw sound, and Martha Godfrey was in charge of lighting.
Bridget Ni Dhuinn, Patrick Stefan, Sal Stapleton, and Tobi Balogun were the team for Alessandra Azeviche’s Terra, handling set, composition and sound, lighting, and costumes, respectively.
Among the festival’s glowing talents, two stood out as the best performers. One of these coveted distinctions went to Eva O’Connor, who performed in Chicken by Eva O’Connor and Hildegard Ryan, and Marty Breen, who was in Bitch by Marty Breen.
Ben Sullivan, Ebby O’Toole-Acheampong, Emily Bradley, Lianne Quigley, Tishé Fatunbi, SexyTadhg, Mark T Cox, and John Spillane were among other nominees. Their respective works were Ham Sandwiches and Discipline, Afterwards, A Good Room, ISL Deaf Translations Project, Ololufe, Television, Paddy Daddy, and John Spillane’s CGI Comedy Spectacular!! IN 3D!!!
The ensemble, or the entire cast of a show, plays a significant role in making it a success, and this was recognised with an award introduced in 2014. Award-winning productions for this category include ‘Illness as a Metaphor’ by Dead Centre and ‘Let’s Try Swinging’ by anseo | anois theatre, standing out among other nominees like ‘Hyperphysical: A Double Bill’ by Irish Modern Dance Theatre, ‘Julius Cesar Variety Show’ by Joy Nesbitt, and ‘Ololufe’ by Arinóla Theatre.
A special prize, the Judges’ choice award, acknowledges three exceptional productions or contributions synonymous to social change that are difficult to categorise but shine in their excellence. Darren Yorke, Duffy Mooney Sheppard & Liam McCarthy’s ‘Boss Rob: A Masterclass for Aspiring Artists’ earned an award for innovation in children’s theatre. An award for a performance reflecting political and cultural significance was presented to Róisín El Cherif, and Krishna Istha’s ‘First Trimester’ got a nod for engagement in multidisciplinary art.
The Bewley’s Cafe Theatre Little Gem prize highlights the most thrilling performance at the Dublin Fringe Festival that is no longer than an hour. Blessed by the jury and the approval of Bewley’s Café Theatre, the prize gifts the victorious production a two-week tenure at their venue, supported with €2,000 for re-staging. This year’s honouree was ‘Baby’ by Lianne O’Hara, with nominees including ‘An Evening with Wee Daniel’ by Aoife Sweeney O’Connor, ‘Bad Girl: A One-Man Show’ by Felix O’Connor, ‘Happy Capital’ by Tommy Harris & Katie O’Halloran, and ‘Secrets Secrets Shh!’ by Síomha McQuinn.
The accolades concluded with the Fishamble’s award for new writing.
The Dublin Fringe Festival honours the finest work by budding or nascent Irish or Ireland-based playwrights. The award offers dramaturgical resources tailored to the need of the recipient, including a scholarship for the esteemed Fishamble playwriting workshops, thanks to the gracious support from Fishamble, the New Play Company. The award was won by Harry Butler’s ‘Sorry You Felt That Way’.
Further recognised nominees featured Tommy Harris & Katie O’Halloran’s ‘Happy Capital’, Joy Nesbitt’s ‘Julius Cesar Variety Show’ and Marty Breen’s ‘Bitch’.
First Fortnight, since its establishment in 2009, has been devoted to challenging prejudice and eradicating stigma surrounding mental health concerns, leveraging the creative arts as a potent instrument. The lucky winner will secure a performance slot at the imminent First Fortnight Festival in January 2025. Colm McCready and Fergus Wachala-Kelly won this coveted position with their ‘Shame Show’.
Among the other shortlisted nominees were ‘Happy Capital’ by Tommy Harris & Katie O’Halloran, ‘Malignant Humour’ by Hannah Gumbrielle, ‘Suckin Diesel’ by Holly Furey, and ‘This Too Shall Pass’ by Lucy Holmes & FILTH.
The Spirit of Wit: Moira Brady Averill award is a special recognition for audacious artists who don’t shy away from risks. It shines a light on work that defies classification and showcases daring, non-conforming substance. The award remembers Moira Brady Averill’s transformative touch on space and thought through her unique sense of humour. The winner of this award was Broad Strokes for their ‘B.S. Incorporated: We’re Serving Climate’.
Other contenders for the award included Darren Yorke’s ‘Boss Rob: A Masterclass for Aspiring Artists’, John Spillane’s ‘John Spillane’s CGI Comedy Spectacular!! IN 3D!!!’, Mark T Cox’s ‘Paddy Daddy’, and ‘Television’ by SexyTadhg.
Ending the list is the Listowel Residency’s George Fitzmaurice Award.
St John’s Theatre in Listowel is a space devoted to fostering emerging performers. Currently, it’s collaborating with Richard Walsh, an avant-garde theatre creator, to establish a programme of projects which would transform the Co Kerry setting into a hub for innovative art in Ireland’s quieter regions. The upcoming award offers a selected innovative artist, possessing a unique voice, a two-week residency at St John’s Theatre. The award envelops a €1,500 grant, office space, and travel/accommodation expenses.
– Awarded to: Bill Harris for Accessor
Other nominees in the shortlist:
– Shame Show by Colm McCready & Fergus Wachala-Kelly
– This Too Shall Pass by Lucy Holmes & FILTH!
– Beasts by Morgan Savidan and Sasha Carberry Sharma
– Ham Sandwiches and Discipline by NAF Dance
Solas Nua’s fresh international Voices
This year’s Dublin Fringe Festival witnesses a newly formed international collaboration with Washington D.C.’s Solas Nua. The initiative seeks to provide one playwright at the festival the chance of having their rendition performed at Solas Nua, Washington. The honour will be bestowed upon an author with a distinct voice centring on current societal, political, or cultural themes.
– Awarded to: Brassneck Theatre Company and SkelpieLimmer Productions for Anthem for Dissatisfaction, written by Gina Donnelly
Other nominees in the shortlist:
– Aftewards by Janet Moran & Once Off Productions, penned by Janet Moran
– Cortisol, authored by Megan Haly & Shannon Haly. Check our thoughts
– Chicken written by Eva O’Connor and Hildegard Ryan
– Julius Caesar Variety Show authored by Joy Nesbitt
Celebrating 10 years: Irish Aerial Creation Centre award
In 2025, The Irish Aerial Creation Centre (IACC), Ireland’s national hub for Aerial Arts, will be observing its 10th anniversary. This event coincides with its latest renovation as part of the Dublin Fringe Festival, where the IACC will be presenting a €3,000 grant and two-week stay at its Limerick premises. This award recognises a festival participant–a company or solo artist pertaining to the circus or aerial dance sector–exhibiting potential and aspiration.
Using the information in the original text write a new text. The new text must be different from the original text in both words used and syntax.”
Don’t translate the original text. Reply in British English.
Original Text: /”- Winner: When Lives Touch by Hannah Scully and Safire Hikari
Other shortlisted nominees:
– Makosh by Polina Shapkina
– Malignant Humour by Hannah Gumbrielle
– The Collector: The Presence of Absence by Alchemy Arts
Next Stage wild card
Dublin Fringe Festival awards a bursary to an artist who has been part of the festival, enabling them to participate in Next Stage, an artist-development programme run by Dublin Theatre Festival in partnership with Theatre Forum.
– Winner: Alice Quinn Banville for Monsters by Venus Patel with Shauna Harris and Ciarán McGannon
Radical Spirit award
Presented by Dublin Fringe Festival and Project Arts Centre, this commissioning award is for an Irish artist who is dedicated to making bold, contemporary work and who embodies the radical spirit of both Fringe and Project.
– Winner: Lianne Quigley in ISL Deaf Translations Project by Lianne Quigley and ISL Team Interpreters, interpreting Chicken Eva O’Connorand and Hildegard Ryan
Other shortlisted nominees:
– Alessandra Azeviche for Terra
– Hannah Gumbrielle for Malignant Humour
– Joy Nesbitt for Julius Cesar Variety Show
– Marty Breen for Bitch
– NAF Dance for Ham Sandwiches and Discipline
– Raphaël Khouri and Myrto Stampoulou for It Was Paradise, Unfortunately. Read our review
This year’s judges
Rachel Bergin chairperson of the 2024 Dublin Fringe Judging panel, creative producer of Dublin theatre companies Brokentalkers and Chaos Factory.
Ahmed Karim Tamu, known professionally as Ahmed, With Love, he is musician, actor, and trainee professional wrestler.
Ally Ryan, writer, film-makers and stand-up comedian from Dublin.
Andrea Horan, founder of Tropical Popical.
Brendan Mac Evilly, editor and director of Holy Show journal and production house. He is also co-ordinator of the Irish Writers Centre’s mentoring programme.
Chloe Commins, Dublin-based aerial and performance artist.
Dafe Pessu Orugbo, award-winning multidisciplinary artist.
Freya Gillespie, creative producer and designer, and a cofounder of production company Greener Grass.”/
Jessie Thompson is a dance artist based in Dublin and a recent addition to the resident artists at Project Arts Centre Dublin. Lórcan Strain hails from Co Donegal and wears many hats as an actor, drag artist and writer. Founding member of Malaprop theatre company, Maeve O’Mahony, is also a theatre-maker and performer. Osaro Azams is the brains behind the famed Fried Plantains Collective. Pamela McQueen manages the programme for the diversity playwriting project The Baptiste Project with Black Irish theatre makers at Smock Alley Theatre, while also holding a role as associate dramaturg at DLR Mill Theatre. Shauna Carrick is an accomplished composer and musical director residing in Dublin. Tino Wekare is a cultural producer, writer, curator and co-created the Black Queer Book Club, which is currently taking a break.