An eerie and entertaining new musical version of The Addams Family hits Dublin’s Liberty Hall next week and in a piece of news for the record books – Nathan Patterson, in the role of family patriarch, told us he is the first trans person to play Gomez in any branch of The Addams Family canon. 

Nathan said playing Gomez is “the proudest I’ve been in my career so far. It dawned on me quite soon after being cast the first time I did the show (which was in Donegal) that I was almost certainly the first, but didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes by owning it then. I also wasn’t 100% out to everyone I knew back then, unlike now. So, for this second time getting to play him, I thought I should do my due diligence and check to ensure I wasn’t stealing anyone’s thunder.

“I emailed the rights distribution company as well as Andrew Lippa, the man behind the musical (he wrote all the music and lyrics) – neither party knew of any other time it had ever happened in the past. Even if someone pops up who’s trans and played him in the past, I’m still 100% the first trans person in Ireland at the absolute least!”

Nathan continued: “Gomez means the world to me as a character. He is my favourite role I’ve ever played. I didn’t know much about the Addams Family before I did it as a musical, and in the past few months I’ve just gone all in. I think he’s a wonderful character to get to inhabit.

“In terms of being trans and in musical theatre, I think more trans people are on the cusp of getting lead roles in this capacity. I have seen many trans friends become afraid after taking testosterone that their singing voice will be ruined and they won’t be able to sing any more, but I promise, with the right care, it can come out sounding better than it did before. Trans people can play these big lead roles and I’m here to make sure people know it.”

Speaking about the team, Nathan told us: “The cast we have is absolutely stellar. We have members of our cast going off in September to study in London, to train for careers on the West End. It’s happened during rehearsals that I’ve heard someone just absolutely nail one of their notes, and had to take a step back and just think to myself “whoa, I really just heard that”. The buzz is great. Our director, Lauryn, as well as our producers Therese and Pat and our choreographer Mark, all know their stuff – they’ve got years of experience and know how to foster a great working environment.

“It’s going to be an unbelievably fun show and it’s going to be a very long time, I think, before a show as special as Addams comes around for me.”

Nathan follows in the footsteps of actress Rebecca Root, who was the very first trans actor playing a trans character in professional Irish theatre with her role in Rathmines Road last year.

Running from Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 at Dublin’s Liberty Hall, you can grab tickets for the most ghoulish show in town here.