Dublin Fringe Festival 2025 Awards: And the winners are....
Dublin Fringe Festival Awards 2025: and the winners are....
We are delighted to celebrate the hundreds of bold and inspiring artists whose work has moved us, made us laugh and taken our breath away at this year's festival.
Our panel of judges have been hard at work deliberating and are pleased to now announce the nominees and winners for this year's awards. Recognising just some of the extraordinary skill and creativity on display, acknowledging some of the standouts in this year’s festival.
Below is the full list of nominees for our 2025 awards:
BEST PRODUCTION: For the show that has it all! Presented to the show, production or event that has it all, displaying excellence in every area of production, design, performance, concept and execution. This award acknowledges the enormous work and talent that is poured into presenting work at the festival and honours the comprehensive production.
NOMINEES:
- ALIENS, Curious Industries
- ATTENTION, Jules Head & Georgia Bruce
- Pea Dinneen: Raising Her Voice, Pea Dinneen & Once Off Productions
- Octopus Children, FELISPEAKS & THISISPOPBABY
- OFFSPRING (A Modern Frankenstein), Emily Terndrup
- That’s Soo Povo, D’Girlos Theatre
WINNER: Pea Dinneen: Raising Her Voice, Pea Dinneen & Once Off Productions
THE GORILLA DESIGN’S BEST DESIGN AWARD: The Best Design Award is presented for outstanding overall design.
NOMINEES:
- + 353 Presents: The Revenger’s Tragedy, +353 with Kevin Keogh
- Composition by Colin Fitzpatrick & Ire Adebari
- Orchestration by Lulu Manning
- Additional Arrangement by Evan Kennedy
- Movement Direction by: Tobi Balogun
- Set Design by Pai Rathaya
- Costumer Design by Sinéad Kelly
- Lighting Design by Kevin Murphy
- ATTENTION, Jules Head & Georgia Bruce
- Lighting Design by Suzie Cummins
- Composer & Sound Designer by Martha Knight Production
- Stage Manager by Jack Leitch
- Holdings, Clara McSweeney and Mel Galley
- OFFSPRING (A Modern Frankenstein), Emily Terndrup
- Sound Design and Composition by Michael John McCarthy
- Lighting Design by Matt Burke
- Chief LX by Arden Tierney
- Design Consulting by Laura Fajardo Castro
- Creative Constructions by Nicole Clifford and Arran Mac Gabhann
- TESTO, Wet Mess
- Costume Design by Jordan Sherman / Lambdog1066
- Sound Design by Baby
- Lighting Design by Josh Hariette
- Set Design by Ruta Irbīte
WINNER: OFFSPRING (A Modern Frankenstein), Emily Terndrup
BEST PERFORMERS: Two of the festival’s best performers will take home this much sought-after accolade from a field of up to ten nominees.
NOMINEES:
- Alison Spittle, Big
- Aoife Cassidy, Brambles
- Bláithín Mac Gabhann, ATTENTION
- Darren Yorke, He Dies in the End
- Ela Cichoka, Variations for Two Disabled Bodies
- Emily Terndrup, OFFSPRING (A Modern Frankenstein)
- FeliSpeaks, Octopus Children
- Julia Grogan, You're So Special
- Norah Lopez Holden, ATTENTION
- Tierra Porter, Octopus Children
WINNERS: Alison Spittle, Big & Emily Terndrup, OFFSPRING (A Modern Frankenstein)
BEST ENSEMBLE: This award recognises the ensemble as the standout – the heartbeat of a show.
NOMINEES:
- Apocalypse How?: Donna Fella, Annie Queeries and Laylah Beattie
- ATTENTION: Bláithín Mac Gabhann, Norah Lopez Holden, Martha Knight and Suzie Cummins
- Octopus Children: FELISPEAKS, Tishé Fatunbi, Tierra Porter, Favour Odusola, Tobi Omoteso, Tommy Salami and Soffiyah Adewoyin
- Pea Dinneen: Raising Her Voice: Pea Dinneen, Paul Prior, Clare Martin, Tara Sagay, Louis Younge
- What Are We Waiting For?: Ger Bailey, Brian Connolly, Mark Larkin, Gavin Moran, Mark Young, with Christy, Feidhlim, Eddie, Colm and Paul supporting from the LBS Men's Shed
WINNER: Octopus Children: FELISPEAKS, Tishé Fatunbi, Tierra Porter, Favour Odusola, Tobi Omoteso, Tommy Salami and Soffiyah Adewoyin
JUDGES’ CHOICE: Three awards chosen by the judging panel to honour things that defy categorisation but must be recognised for their brilliance.
Beyond the Stage: Holdings, Clara McSweeney & Mel Galley
Beyond Borders: ALIENS, Curious Industries
Socially Engaged Arts: What Are We Waiting For? Colm Keegan & the LDS Men’s Shed
BEWLEY’S CAFE THEATRE LITTLE GEM AWARD: Bewley’s Café Theatre is Ireland’s foremost presenter of lunchtime theatre and is delighted and proud to continue to sponsor the Bewley’s Café Theatre Little Gem Award for the most exciting show presented at this year’s festival under 60 minutes. The prize is a handsome one; the winning production earns a two-week run at Bewley’s Café Theatre with €3000 available to the company for remounting the production.
NOMINEES:
- Anonn | The Other Side by Cian Ó Náraigh
- Don’t Tell Dad About Diana by Hannah Power & Conor Murray
- IN A BAD WAY by Isolde Fenton
- LIBYA! by Farah Elle
- Variations for Two Disabled Bodies by Bobbi Byrne & Soso Ní Cheallaigh
WINNER: Don’t Tell Dad About Diana by Hannah Power & Conor Murray
FISHAMBLE NEW WRITING AWARD: Awarded to an Irish (or Irish based) writer for a new play premiered in the Dublin Fringe Festival. The award includes a targeted package of dramaturgical supports for the writer from Fishamble: The New Play Company.
NOMINEES:
- Brambles by Cara Christie
- Don’t Tell Dad About Diana by Hannah Power & Conor Murray
- He Dies in the End by Liam McCarthy
- Pea Dinneen: Raising her Voice by Pea Dinneen
WINNER: Don’t Tell Dad About Diana by Hannah Power & Conor Murray
FIRST FORTNIGHT AWARD: Since its inception in 2009, First Fortnight’s key aim has been to challenge stigma and prejudice about mental health issues through the creative arts. This award recognises excellence in a Fringe show that does just that, inviting it back for an encore run at First Fortnight in January 2026.
NOMINEES:
- Hungry Grass/Stray Sod by Wandering Stories Theatre
- IN A BAD WAY by Isolde Fenton
- He Dies in the End by Liam McCarthy
- LIBYA! by Farah Elle
- You Cry Weird by Tony Cantwell
WINNER: He Dies in the End by Liam McCarthy
SPIRIT OF WIT: MOIRA BRADY AVERILL AWARD: For a unique artist willing to take risks and whose work defies categorisation with bold and unconventional material. In memory of Moira Brady Averill, who had the power to transform space and thought through alchemical wit. The award comes with a monetary prize and a framed illustration by artist Walker Mettling.
NOMINEES:
- Annie Queeries for Apocalypse How?
- John Spillane for 7even
- Síomha Hennessy for Building Character
- The cast of Clash At The Quays! II: LOKOMANIA
- Wet Mess for TESTO
WINNER: John Spillane for 7even
THE NEXT STAGE WILD CARD AWARD: Dublin Fringe awards a bursary to an artist who has been part of the festival, enabling them to participate in the Next Stage – an artist development programme run by Dublin Theatre Festival in partnership with Performing Arts Forum.
WINNER: Trudy Nolan for That’s Soo Povo by D’Girlos Theatre
RADICAL SPIRIT: Co-presented by Dublin Fringe Festival and Project Arts Centre. This presentation award is for an Irish artist dedicated to making bold, contemporary work which embodies the radical spirit of both Dublin Fringe and Project. They will receive a guarantee of €3000 and a week's run in Project Arts Centre 2026.
NOMINEES:
- ALIENS, Curious Industries
- Constriction, Mai Ishikawa
- Roots in Every Room, Anna D & SoFFt Productions
- Thank God We’re Surrounded by Water, Ciúnas
- Shredder, David McGovern
- ATTENTION, Jules Head & Georgia Bruce
- OFFSPRING (A Modern Frankenstein), Emily Terndrup
- +353 Presents: The Revenger’s Tragedy, +353 with Kevin Keogh
WINNER: OFFSPRING (A Modern Frankenstein), Emily Terndrup
THE GEORGE FITZMAURICE AWARD: St. John’s Theatre, Listowel is a venue dedicated to nurturing new talent. This award will connect an experimental artist or collective with an original voice with the St John’s Theatre, Listowel via a two-week residency. The prize includes a €1500 bursary, workspace and travel/accommodation.
NOMINEES:
- AGENTS & JUICE for LAST GIG EVER!!
- Clara McSweeney & Mel Galley for Holdings
- Dafe Orugbo & Lisa Nally for Am I the A**hole?
- David McGovern for Shredder
- Gift Horse Theatre for don’t copy me (copy)
WINNER: Gift Horse Theatre for don’t copy me (copy)
SOLAS NUA NEW VOICES AWARD: The Solas Nua New Voices Award is an international partnership with Solas Nua in Washington D.C. This initiative will give one playwright in the festival the opportunity to have a reading of their play performed at Solas Nua in Washington. It will be awarded to a writer with a singular voice who is making work that speaks to contemporary social, political or cultural issues in Ireland. This award will facilitate a public play reading of the script by Solas Nua in Washington which will be coordinated in conversation with the playwright.
NOMINEES:
- ATTENTION by Georgia Bruce, co-created by Jules Head & Georgia Bruce
- Don’t Tell Dad About Diana by Hannah Power & Conor Murray
- Good with Faces by Oisín Kearney
- Octopus Children by FELISPEAKS
- That’s Soo Povo by Sophie O'Toole & Trudy Nolan
- The Chalice by Brigid Leahy
WINNER: Good With Faces by Oisín Kearney
THE COISCÉIM DANCE THEATRE MOVEMENT AWARD: Awarded to a spectacular production in dance or physical language. The CoisCéim Movement Award supports research and development of new work for the authoring artists through a two-week studio residency and 4 mentorship sessions. The award is in association with Two Pups and will be selected by the Dublin Fringe Festival Judge’s Panel.
NOMINEES:
- Crawler, Jessie Thompson
- Itch, Christopher McAuley
- LAST GIG EVER!!, AGENTS & JUICE
- OFFSPRING (A Modern Frankenstein), Emily Terndrup
- Variations for Two Disabled Bodies, Bobbi Byrne & Soso Ní Cheallaigh
WINNERS: Variations for Two Disabled Bodies, Bobbi Byrne & Soso Ní Cheallaigh
MAKING IT HAPPEN AWARD: This award will be given to a techie who made magic happen, cel ebrating the boundless innovation and tireless hard work of production staff. It is in memory of our recently dearly departed colleague, Marcus Costello, a person who always made the impossible possible. It will be selected by the Dublin Fringe Festival Production Team and awarded to a member of a presenting show’s Production Team. The award comes with a €1000 prize.
NOMINEES:
- Aimee Crilly, Stage Manager for AMSTERDAM
- Anika Kidd, Assistant Stage Manager for Octopus Children and Set Designer for don’t copy me (copy)
- Mar Parés Baraldés, Set Designer for Constriction and Am I the A**hole?
- Muirenn Lyons, Production Liaison and Producer for dublinitgirl_vs_dartlinediva: rap battle royale
- Owen Clarke, Lighting Designer for Glass Places
- Ruby Collin, Stage Manager for Brambles
- Shauna-Anne Lynch, Lighting Technician for Chop and +353 Presents: The Revenger’s Tragedy
WINNER: Anika Kidd, Assistant Stage Manager for Octopus Children and Set Designer for don’t copy me (copy)
THE THEATRE LOVETT ALWAYS READY AWARD: This award recognises the theatre artist who clearly plays in performance FOR their audience. The Recipient gets a spot on Theatre Lovett’s “Playing for your Audience” training course, as well as two bespoke mentorship sessions with Theatre Lovett throughout the year. The award will be selected by the Dublin Fringe Festival Judge’s Panel.
NOMINEES:
- Emily Lagacé for Am I the A**hole?
- David McGovern for Shredder
- Emily Bradley for Cult of Aerobics
- Ally Ryan for Nothing Personal
- Sinéad Quinlan for The Cultured Culchie
WINNERS: David McGovern for Shredder