As part of the Theatre Lab programme, Sole Purpose offers two Theatre Labs a year for members of the LGBT community. These labs offer a safe space where people writing on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender themes can experiment with their work and have their script acted out. This is a workshop for writers and also actors of all levels. We encourage people to submit whatever it is they are working on, even if it is only a couple of pages.
Two highly successful plays on LGBT themes have been developed through these workshops - Pits and Perverts by Micheál Kerrigan with script development by Patricia Byrne, and Life and Love: Lesbian Style by Hilary McCollum. Both Micheál and Hilary were first time playwrights who benefitted greatly from the support, direction and guidance offered to them through the Theatre Lab process.
Details of upcoming LGBT Theatre Labs will be announced on the Home Page.
As a first time playwright, I have found the Sole Purpose LGBT Theatre Labs invaluable. Patricia Byrne is full of encouragement and I've appreciated the sense of solidarity from the other writers and actors. Seeing my work acted out in the Theatre Lab has helped develop my sense of drama and what will and won't work on stage.
Hilary McCollum
As director of the Outburst Queer Arts Festival, I know that spaces like the Sole Purpose Theatre Labs are essential in developing confident new voices in local LGBT storytelling.
Ruth McCarthy, Outburst Festival Director
I look forward to the LGBT Theatre Labs as they always leave me feeling elated about the progress of my writing and acting. They allow me to express myself in a safe environment and the criticism is always positive and encouraging. Having a disability, it has given me a lot more confidence about other things in life that I thought there were barriers to. The labs are definitely a highlight of my year and my only complaint is that they don't last long enough. I always leave feeling inspired and look forward to the next one.
Participant
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