Awards Nominations and Winners 2024
Dublin Fringe Festival Awards!
We are delighted to celebrate the hundreds of bold and inspiring artists whose work has moved us, made us laugh and taken our breath away at this year's festival.
Our panel of judges have been hard at work deliberating and are pleased to now announce the nominees and winners for this year's awards. Recognising just some of the extraordinary skill and creativity on display, acknowledging some of the stand-outs in this year’s festival.
Below is the full list of nominees and winners.
Best Production
For the show that has it all!
Presented to the show, production or event that has it all, displaying excellence in every area of production, design, performance, concept and execution. This award acknowledges the enormous work and talent that is poured into presenting work at the festival and honours the comprehensive production.
NOMINEES:
BITCH by Marty Breen
DANCEHALL BLUES by CoisCéim Dance Theatre
Illness as Metaphor by Dead Centre
Let’s Try Swingin’ by anseo | anois theatre
The Maestro & The Mosquita by Theatre Lovett
WINNER: The Maestro & The Mosquita by Theatre Lovett
The Gorilla Best Design Award
The Best Design Ensemble award is presented for outstanding overall design.
NOMINEES:
An Attempt To Talk with the Beginning of the World by Anna Newell Theatre Productions
- Design by Sinéad Lawlor
- Composition by Isaac Gibson
- LX Design by Archer Bradshaw
DANCEHALL BLUES by CoisCéim Dance Theatre
- Composition & Sound Design by Ivan Birthistle
- Lighting Design by John Gunning
- Costume Design by Arran Murphy
- Projection Design by Neil O’Driscoll
- Hair & Make-Up Design by Val Sherlock
First Trimester by Krishna Istha
- Set & Costume by Christine Ting-Huan Urquhart
- Sound Design by Olive Mondgreen
- Lighting Design by Martha Godfrey
Terra by Alessandra Azeviche
- Set Design by Bridget Ni Dhuinn
- Composition & Sound Design by Patrick Stefan
- Lighting Design by Sal Stapleton
- Costume Design by Tobi Balogun
The Maestro & The Mosquita by Theatre Lovett
- Composition by Stephen Warbeck
- Lighting Design by Sarah Jane Shiels
- Scenic Design by Muireann Ahern and Sarah Jane Shiels
- Sound Design by Carl Kennedy
- Costume Design by Sinéad Lawlor
- Prop Design by Sue Crawford
WINNER: The Maestro & The Mosquita by Theatre Lovett
- Composition by Stephen Warbeck
- Lighting Design by Sarah Jane Shiels
- Sound Design by Carl Kennedy
- Costume Design by Sinéad Lawlor
- Prop Design by Sue Crawford
Best Performers
Two of the festival’s best performers will take home this much sought-after accolade from a field of up to ten nominees.
NOMINEES:
Ben Sullivan in Ham Sandwiches and Discipline by NAF Dance
Ebby O'Toole-Acheampong in Afterwards by Janet Moran & Once Off Productions
Emily Bradley in A Good Room by Cian Jordan & Allie O’Rouke, Club Valentine and Who Robbed Annie Queeries? by Play Not Funny: Sasha Shame & GoblinsGoblinsGoblins
Eva O’Connor in Chicken by Eva O’Connor & Hildegard Ryan
Lianne Quigley in ISL Deaf Translations Project by Lianne Quigley & ISL Team Interpreters, interpreting Chicken by Eva O’Connor & Hildegard Ryan
Tishé Fatunbi in Ololufe by Arinóla Theatre
SexyTadhg in Television by SexyTadhg
Mark T Cox in Paddy Daddy by Mark T Cox
John Spillane in John Spillane’s CGI Comedy Spectacular!! IN 3D!!! by John Spillane
Marty Breen in BITCH by Marty Breen
WINNERS: Eva O’Connor in Chicken by Eva O’Connor & Hildegard Ryan and Marty Breen in BITCH by Marty Breen
Best Ensemble
This award recognises the ensemble as the standout – the heartbeat of a show.
NOMINEES:
HYPERPHYSICAL: A Double Bill by Irish Modern Dance Theatre
Illness as Metaphor by Dead Centre
JULIUS CEASAR VARIETY SHOW by Joy Nesbitt
Let’s Try Swingin’ by anseo | anois theatre
Ololufe by Arinóla Theatre
WINNER: Illness as Metaphor by Dead Centre & Let’s Try Swingin’ by anseo | anois theatre
Judges’ Choice
Three awards chosen by the judging panel to honour things that defy categorisation but must be recognised for their brilliance.
WINNERS:
Award for excellence in innovation in children’s theatre: Boss Rob: A Masterclass for Aspiring Artists by Darren Yorke, Duffy Mooney Sheppard & Liam McCarthy
Award for astounding performance of political and cultural significance: Róisín El Cherif
Award for compassionate engagement in multidisciplinary art: First Trimester by Krishna Istha
Bewley’s Cafe Theatre ‘Little Gem’ Award
Bewley’s Café Theatre is Ireland’s foremost presenter of lunchtime theatre and is delighted and proud to continue to sponsor the Bewley’s Café Theatre ‘Little Gem’ Award for the most exciting show presented at this year’s festival under 60 minutes. The prize is a handsome one; the winning production earns a two-week run at Bewley’s Café Theatre with €2,000 available to the company for remounting the production.
NOMINEES:
An Evening with Wee Daniel by Aoife Sweeney O’Connor
Baby by Lianne O’Hara
Bad Girl: A One Man Show by Felix O’Connor
Happy Capital by Tommy Harris & Katie O’Halloran
Secret Secrets Shh! By Síomha McQuinn
WINNER: Baby by Lianne O’Hara
Fishamble New Writing Award
Awarded to an Irish (or Irish based) writer for a new play premiered in the Dublin Fringe Festival. The award includes a targeted package of dramaturgical supports for the writer.
NOMINEES:
Sorry You Felt That Way by Harry Butler
Happy Capital by Tommy Harris & Katie O’Halloran
JULIUS CAESAR VARIETY SHOW by Joy Nesbitt
BITCH by Marty Breen
WINNER: Sorry You Felt That Way by Harry Butler
First Fortnight award
Since its inception in 2009, First Fortnight’s key aim has been to challenge stigma and prejudice about mental health issues through the creative arts. This award recognises excellence in a Fringe show that does just that, inviting it back for an encore run at First Fortnight in January 2025.
NOMINEES:
Happy Capital by Tommy Harris & Katie O’Halloran
Malignant Humour by Hannah Gumbrielle
Shame Show by Colm McCready & Fergus Wachala-Kelly
SUCKIN DIESEL by Holly Furey
THIS TOO SHALL PASS by Lucy Holmes & FILTH!
WINNER: Shame Show by Colm McCready & Fergus Wachala-Kelly
Spirit of Wit: Moira Brady Averill Award
For a unique artist willing to take risks and whose work defies categorisation with bold and unconventional material. In memory of Moira Brady Averill.
NOMINEES:
Broad Strokes for B.S. Incorporated: We’re Serving Climate by Broad Strokes
Darren Yorke for Boss Rob: A Masterclass for Aspiring Artists by Darren Yorke, Duffy Mooney Sheppard & Liam McCarthy
John Spillane for John Spillane’s CGI Comedy Spectacular!! IN 3D!!! by John Spillane
Mark T Cox for Paddy Daddy by Mark T Cox
SexyTadhg for Television by SexyTadhg
WINNER: Broad Strokes for B.S. Incorporated: We’re Serving Climate by Broad Strokes
The Next Stage Wild Card Award
Dublin Fringe awards a bursary to an artist who has been part of the festival, enabling them to participate in the 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 & Ciarán McGannon
Radical Spirit
Co-presented by Dublin Fringe Festival and Project Arts Centre. An Irish artist dedicated to making bold contemporary work and who embodies the spirit of Fringe and Project.
NOMINEES:
Alessandra Azeviche for Terra
Hannah Gumbrielle for Malignant Humour
Joy Nesbitt for Julius Caesar Variety Show
Marty Breen for BITCH
NAF Dance for Ham Sandwiches & Discipline
Raphaël Khouri and Myrto Stampoulou for It Was Paradise, Unfortunately
WINNER: Marty Breen for BITCH
The Listowel Residency “The George Fitzmaurice Award”
St. John’s Theatre, Listowel is a venue dedicated to nurturing new talent. They are currently collaborating with experimental Theatre Maker, Richard Walsh, on creating a program of works that will make Listowel a hub for experimental art in rural Ireland. This award will connect an experimental artist with an original voice with the St John’s Theatre, Listowel via a two weeks residency. The prize includes a €1500 bursary, workspace and travel/ accommodation.
NOMINEES:
Bill Harris for ACCESSOR
Colm McCready & Fergus Wachala-Kelly for SHAME SHOW
Lucy Holmes & FILTH! for THIS TOO SHALL PASS
Morgan Savidan & Sasha Carberry Sharma for BEASTS
NAF Dance for Ham Sandwiches and Discipline
WINNER: Bill Harris for ACCESSOR
Solas Nua New Voices Award
The Solas Nua New Voices Award is an international partnership with Solas Nua in Washington D.C. This initiative will give one playwright in the festival the opportunity to have a reading of their play performed at Solas Nua in Washington. It will be awarded to a writer with a singular voice who is making work that speaks to contemporary social, political or cultural issues. This award will facilitate a public play reading of the script by Solas Nua in Washington which will be coordinated in conversation with the playwright.
NOMINEES:
Afterwards by Janet Moran & Once Off Productions, written by Janet Moran
Anthem for Dissatisfaction by Brassneck Theatre Company & SkelpieLimmer Productions, written by Gina Donnelly
Cortisol by Megan Haly & Shannon Haly, written by Megan Haly & Shannon Haly
Chicken by Eva O’Connor & Hildegard Ryan, written by Eva O’Connor & Hildegard Ryan
Julius Caesar Variety Show by Joy Nesbitt, written by Joy Nesbitt
WINNER: Anthem for Dissatisfaction by Brassneck Theatre Company & SkelpieLimmer Productions, written by Gina Donnelly
Irish Aerial Creation Centre 10 Year Anniversary Award
The Irish Aerial Creation Centre (IACC) is the National Centre for Aerial Arts in Ireland and will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, coinciding with its recent renovation. As part of the Dublin Fringe Festival, IACC is offering a two-week residency at its facility in Limerick, along with a €3000 bursary. This award will be presented to a circus or aerial dance artist or company participating in this year's festival, recognising those whose work demonstrates ambition and promise.
NOMINEES:
MAKOSH by Polina Shapkina
Malignant Humour by Hannah Gumbrielle
The Collector: The Presence of Absence by Alchemy Arts
When Lives Touch by Hannah Scully & Safire Hikari
WINNER: When Lives Touch by Hannah Scully & Safire Hikari