Three works created by theatre, dance and arts organisations based in the north will be spotlighted as part of a special event at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe next month.
Now in its seventh year, the Spotlight On Theatre And Dance From Northern Ireland initiative on August 19 aims to shine a light on work created by artists and arts organisations from Northern Ireland.
The exposure of being part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe gives an opportunity for the artists to connect and network with international arts industry figures with a view to having their work tour internationally.
The three productions from Northern Ireland being profiled in 2025 are:
- Anthem For Dissatisfaction by Gina Donnelly with SkelpieLimmer Productions
- Consumed by Karis Kelly, a Paines Plough, Belgrade Theatre, Sheffield Theatres and Women’s Prize for Playwriting production in association with the Lyric Belfast
- Shame Show by Colm McCready and Fergus Wachala-Kelly with SkelpieLimmer Productions.
The event will be delivered by Theatre and Dance NI (TDNI) in collaboration with Belfast International Arts Festival, supported by British Council Northern Ireland and The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
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“We’re delighted to be supporting this initiative,” comments Gilly Campbell, director of arts development with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our local companies to be going over there presenting work where there’s going to be lots of international and national programmers coming to see the work.
“We’ve been doing this now seven years. So, we know from previous experience that this is an invaluable opportunity for Northern Irish artists because their work gets seen.
“They will hopefully will get booked to go to other international festivals, and the quality of the work that’s going over really is very specific type of niche festival work which we know will go down well with audiences both at home and abroad.”
We know from previous experience that this is an invaluable opportunity for artists because their work gets seen – they will hopefully will get booked to go to other international festivals
— Gilly Campbell, Arts Council NI
Pictured (l-r): Seon Simpson, Simon Sweeney, Molly Rose Street, Colm McCready, Gilly Campbell, Arts Council NI, Fergus Wachala-Kelly, Karis Kelly, Niamh Flanagan, Theatre & Dance NI, Jonathan Stewart, British Council NI, Colette Norwood, British Council NI and Siobhan Molloy, Arts Council NI (Arts Council NI/PA Wire)
In addition, four Northern Ireland artists will travel to Edinburgh as part of the Fellowship Programme, designed to support artists, directors and producers who are exploring future opportunities at the Fringe.
This year’s fellows are Carley Magee, Ronan McManus, Gemma Mae Halligan and Lisa May.
“Over the past seven years, Spotlight at the Edinburgh Fringe has demonstrated the strong national and international appetite for theatre and dance from Northern Ireland,” explains Niamh Flanagan, executive director of Theatre and Dance NI.
“The festival has created invaluable opportunities—drawing attention from national and international programmers leading to touring, collaboration, and other opportunities both at home and abroad.
“This recognition continues to elevate Northern Ireland’s reputation on the global cultural stage.
“The Spotlight programme now extends beyond Edinburgh, providing support to artists and companies as part of both the Belfast International Arts Festival and Belfast Children’s Festival.”
She adds: “We are delighted to present three exceptional artists as part of this year’s Spotlight at the Edinburgh Fringe programme.
“Their work exemplifies the innovation, ambition, and artistic excellence that define Northern Ireland’s creative sector.
“We’re thrilled to support them in showcasing their talent at the world’s largest arts festival and marketplace.”
Richard Wakely, Belfast International Arts Festival artistic director and chief executive
Richard Wakely, artistic director and chief executive of the Belfast International Arts Festival says: “The Spotlight at the Edinburgh Fringe programme continues to celebrate Northern Ireland artists who are working across performance disciplines and wish to create deep and sustainable international partnerships and collaborations.”
“Providing Northern Ireland artists and companies with opportunities to showcase their work on international stages not only broadens their reach but also strengthens our local creative community,” offers Jonathan Stewart, director of the British Council Northern Ireland.
“This exposure helps fuel a vibrant, thriving creative economy in Northern Ireland, benefiting artists, companies and audiences alike.”
Siobhan Molloy, festivals, venues and international arts development officer at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, adds:
“The Arts Council is proud to help spotlight the incredible theatre and dance work being made in Northern Ireland at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and funding from The National Lottery has been a game changer in helping us achieve that.
“It is vital that these works are seen, and so it is really exciting that a huge potential market is opened up to these theatre makers by attending the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.”