Irish show inspired by real-life experiences with gay porn industry to premiere in Dublin

This Solution by Shaun Dunne is a documentary-theatre hybrid based on a true story about the gay porn industry.

Photograph of three actors in dark lighting who are starring in This Solution, a show inspired by the gay porn industry.
Image: This Solution

This Solution, a documentary-theatre hybrid production inspired by an Irish man’s experience with the gay porn industry, is premiering in the Project Arts Centre during the Dublin Theatre Festival on October 11-15.

Based on a true story, the show fuses together real-life testimony and artistic expression. The multidisciplinary production includes captivating new music, dance, live visuals and choreography while considering themes of consent, contracts, regret and rebirth.

Created by Dublin-based writer and director Shaun Dunne and co-directed with Claire O’Reilly, the Irish Examiner called the gay porn-inspired show “One of the smartest most ingeniously crafted Irish films in years”.

Marking Dunne’s first return to the Dublin Theatre Festival following the cinematic release of How to tell a Secret, which examined the social stigma around what it is like to live with HIV in Ireland, the director described the upcoming project as “a very ambitious new work”.

“I’m delighted to be collaborating with such a talented team on this piece – everyone has brought amazing skill and insight to the project. It’s very exciting to be setting ourselves this challenge, and I think we’re pushing ourselves way outside of the conventional theatre experience,” he added.

 

This genre-bending production brings together a compelling team of contemporary artists, including dancer and choreographer Jessie Thompson, actor Adam John Richardson (The Dry, The Vanishing Triangle), and music producer Robbie Kitt. 

The project is part of the Dublin Theatre Festival, which runs from September 28 through October 15. The 18-day festival includes 38 productions performed across Dublin, with the programme spanning from theatre, music and dance to family events, artist talks and public discussions.

 

This Solution will preview at Mermaid Arts Centre on Saturday, October 7, and officially open at Project Arts Centre as part of Dublin Theatre Festival 2023 on October 11-15, with shows every day at 7:30pm. The Irish Sign Language interpreted performance will take place on October 13, and the audio-described and captioned performance will be on October 15. Tickets for all shows are available from €20 – €30.

© 2023 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.

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