30 years of Irish LGBTQ experience in one night
A new play exploring the love, life, and struggles of the Irish LGBTQ+ community comes to the Ramor Theatre next month.
Inspired by true stories ‘The Bród, The Bold, and The Beautiful’ is an original, raucous new comedy drama spanning 30 years of Irish LGBTQ experience, and exploring the challenges and joys of living as a young LGBTQ+ person today.
Using their innovative physical ensemble storytelling techniques Quintessence Theatre examine and celebrate the lives of three LGBTQ+ people: each born into a different generation, and each navigating new and ongoing issues of prejudice, pride, identity, love, and legacy.
Quintessence was founded in 2015 by Anna Simpson as the theatre company in residence of the An Táin Arts Centre.
The Dundalk group has flourished in the decade that's followed and established itself as must-see group, most recently through their hugely successful national tour of The Curious Case of Albert Cashier National Tour and the Irish première of Jaki McCarrick’s Belfast Girls.
Devised by the company, The Bród, The Bold, and The Beautiful stars a cast of Anthony Kinahan, Lorna Fox and Andrew Bennetts-Byrne and is directed by Anna Simpson.
The democratisation of art, that it should reach people beyond the cultural hubs of large urban populations, is one of the principle aims behind Quintessence.
“We believe that great work can be made from modest means if you have those quintessential elements: a story, a performer, and audience,” says Anna Simpson.
“We harness the full potential of the actor’s body through heightened physical approaches, mime and a playful ensemble,” says Anna of their modus operandi.
“We seek to surprise, move and provoke our audiences, entertaining them and creating dynamic, innovative, visceral, compassionate storytelling that finds the new in the familiar, and touches on urgent issues at the heart of Irish society here and now.”
The drama is created in association with Outcomers LGBT Support Service, An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk, kindly supported by Louth County Council.
The Bród, The Bold, and The Beautiful will be performed at the Ramor Arts Centre, Main St, Virginia on Friday, September 5 at 8pm.