Spotlight on Theatre and Dance from Northern Ireland at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025
Three major works, created by some of Northern Ireland’s leading theatre, dance and arts organisations, will be spotlighted at Dancebase during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Tuesday 19th August 2025. The Spotlight on Theatre and Dance from Northern Ireland initiative is delivered by Theatre and Dance NI (TDNI), in collaboration with Belfast International Arts Festival, and supported by British Council Northern Ireland and The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Now in its seventh year, the Spotlight event shines a light on exceptional quality theatre and dance work created by artists and arts organisations from Northern Ireland. Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the biggest arts marketplace in the world and taking part in the Spotlight event is an unparalleled opportunity for Northern Irish artists to connect and network with international arts industry figures with a view to having their work toured nationally and internationally. The Spotlight event also offers opportunities for media engagement, artistic development, and the possibility of future collaboration with overseas partners.
The three productions from Northern Ireland being profiled in 2025 include:
Anthem for Dissatisfaction by Gina Donnelly with SkelpieLimmer Productions (originally produced in association with Brassneck Theatre Company).
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.
In addition to these productions, four Northern Irish 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, the programme offers valuable access to the festival, networking, and industry insights. This year’s Fellows are:
Carley Magee – Writer, Theatre maker, and TDNI INVEST Fellowship Artist
Ronan McManus – Executive Producer, Kabosh
Gemma Mae Halligan – Co-founder and Creative Director, Amadan Ensemble
Lisa May, pictured on behalf of Lara Albergo – Bruiser Theatre Company
Niamh Flanagan, Executive Director, Theatre and Dance NI said, “Since 2019, Theatre and Dance NI (TDNI) have proudly developed and delivered the Spotlight at the Edinburgh Fringe programme, made possible through the vital support of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, British Council Northern Ireland/UK, and Belfast International Arts Festival. Our ongoing collaboration and partnerships with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Industry team, UK, Irish and international colleagues including Culture Ireland has been instrumental in shaping and expanding this initiative.
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. 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.”
Niamh continued, “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. TDNI is equally proud to continue our Fellowship Programme as part of the Spotlight at the Edinburgh Fringe. This year, four artists, directors, and producers considering future presentations at the Fringe will receive support to attend. It is an absolute honour to champion Northern Irish talent in this way, and we look forward to celebrating the success of all our participants in the future.”
Richard Wakely, Artistic Director and Chief Executive, Belfast International Arts Festival, commented, “Congratulations from all of us at Belfast International Arts Festival to both this year’s selected shows for the Spotlight at the Edinburgh Fringe programme and the new Fellows. The Spotlight at the Edinburgh Fringe programme continues to celebrate NI artists who are working across performance disciplines and wish to create deep and sustainable international partnerships and collaborations”
Jonathan Stewart, Director, British Council Northern Ireland, added: “We’re looking forward to another exciting year for Northern Ireland’s Theatre and Dance sectors at the Spotlight on Edinburgh Festivals and the Edinburgh Fringe Marketplace. We are proud to continue supporting this important initiative alongside the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. 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. This exposure helps fuel a vibrant, thriving creative economy in Northern Ireland, benefiting artists, companies and audiences alike. Congratulations to Theatre & Dance NI and to the companies taking part as well as the new Fellowship artists in attendance at Edinburgh this August.”
Siobhán Molloy, Festivals, Venues & International Arts Development Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added, “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. Congratulations and good luck to all those taking part in the 2025 Spotlight on Theatre and Dance from NI.”
