GCN is delighted to offer two complimentary tickets to see The Making of Pinocchio at this year’s Dublin Theatre Festival on Friday, September 26, to one lucky reader. This critically acclaimed production has already captivated audiences across Europe and beyond. It was awarded the Grand Prix at the 2024 Kontrapunkt International Theatre Festival and was nominated for Best IDEA Production at the OffWestEnd (Offies) Awards, celebrating innovative and devised performance.
Created by life partners and collaborators Rosana Cade and Ivor MacAskill, The Making of Pinocchio is a deeply moving and inventive piece of theatre that blurs the boundaries between the personal and the mythical. Since 2018, Cade and MacAskill have been developing the work in tandem with Ivor’s own gender transition, weaving their lived experiences into the tale of the wooden puppet who longs to become a “real boy”.
The result is a show that is at once playful, poignant and profoundly human. The Guardian described it as a “funny, clever and thoughtful two-hander, rich in playful imagery”. The performance combines tenderness with complexity, balancing humour and intimacy while shifting seamlessly between live theatre and on-screen storytelling.
The production’s visual and sensory landscape is equally striking. Designer Tim Spooner has created a scenography full of surprise and wonder, complemented by sound design from Yas Clarke, evocative lighting by Jo Palmer and captivating cinematography from Kirstin McMahon and Jo Hellier. Together, these elements immerse audiences in a world where fantasy collides with authenticity, creating a space in which personal truth and artistic imagination are in constant dialogue.
For MacAskill, who came out as trans in 2018, the parallels with Pinocchio’s journey of becoming are especially resonant: “I just feel so much more like myself.”
Yet, the piece is not only about one person’s transformation. Cade, as both partner and co-creator, brings their own perspective, raising questions about love, companionship and what it means to walk alongside someone during a time of profound change.
To enter the competition to see The Making of Pinocchio at the Dublin Theatre Festival, simply answer this question:
Which classic children’s fairytale is the play by Cade and MacAskill named after?
The competition closes at midnight on Friday, September 5, 2025. Winners will be contacted directly and shared on social media.
By submitting this form, you give GCN consent to process your personal information for the purposes of conducting this competition. More information on how we protect your privacy can be found here.
© 2025 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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