POOR by Katriona O'Sullivan, adapted by Sonya Kelly
| ‘Delightful’ ★★★★ – The Irish Times | ‘Triumphant’ – Irish Independent |
| ★★★★ – The Irish Mail on Sunday | ★★★★ – The Guardian |
| ★★★★ – The Arts Review | ★★★★ – Feeling Good |
This October, the Gate Theatre and Belgrade Theatre Coventry will present the world premiere of POOR by Katriona O’Sullivan, adapted by Sonya Kelly from O’Sullivan’s bestselling memoir, and directed by Róisín McBrinn. POOR, a Gate Theatre commission, will run as part of Dublin Theatre Festival 2025.
Poor charts Katriona O’Sullivan’s extraordinary journey as she emerges from her childhood in Coventry and Birmingham marked by poverty, addiction and homelessness. Moving to Dublin as a teenager, Poor follows O’Sullivan as she overcomes seemingly insurmountable obstacles to earn a PhD from Trinity College Dublin and inspire a generation through her writing, teaching and speaking. This unforgettable story is vividly and movingly portrayed through her close relationships with family and friends, and thrums with the music that has resonated through her life.
This Gate Theatre and Belgrade Theatre Coventry World Premiere will be a beacon of hope, resilience and community, and will be a catalyst for discussion and change around the most critical social issues of our time.
ADVISORY: Contains strong language, and references to addiction, sexual assault, drug use, and domestic violence. Please note that this production contains the use of smoke, strobing lights and flashing lights.
More information on Audience Care and Support for POOR.
Age recommendation: 14+
DURATION: Current running time is approx. 2hr 30 min including interval. Subject to change.
‘There is an authenticity in what Katriona O’Sullivan says which deeply impresses all of us.’
– PRESIDENT MICHAEL D. HIGGINS
‘Katriona is a legend.’ – BARRY KEOGHAN
GATEWAYS:
Our hugely popular GATEWAYS PREVIEWS initiative will triple in size, with 600 free tickets available to community, educational, and support organisations whose work aligns with some of the themes of POOR. Tickets will be distributed across various performances throughout the run which will enable local community groups and those working with addiction, homeless women’s groups and abuse survivors to attend for free. Gateways Previews are generously supported by Deutsche Bank.
In addition to this initiative, it is our intention to purposefully provide a performance for female audience members of all backgrounds.
The aim of this performance, inspired by events in other theatres, is to provide a space for female audience members to reflect and celebrate on the female-led experience and story of POOR. This performance will take place on Saturday 18th October at 2pm.
If you are not a female audience member and are able to attend another scheduled performance, we would kindly encourage you to consider an alternative performance or date.
Please note that we will not prevent anyone from attending this performance, but the intention of this performance is to create a space for as many female audience members as possible.
BOOKING INFORMATION:
POOR runs at the Gate Theatre from 2nd October to 2nd November.
| Previews | From 26th September |
| Opening Night | Thursday 2nd October |
| Closing Night | Sunday 2nd November |
| Times | Evening Shows: Café and Bar: 6:30pm | Doors: 7:00pm | Show: 7:30pm
Matinee Shows: Café and Bar: 1:00pm | Doors: 1:30pm | Show: 2:00pm |
| ISL-Interpreted Performance | There will be an ISL-Interpreted performance of POOR on Saturday, 25th October at 2pm. |
| Accessibility | In advance of booking, we kindly ask that patrons with accessibility requirements to contact boxoffice@gate-theatre.ie |
| Due Diligence Statement for Child Involvement | The Gate Theatre is committed to the emotional, physical and mental safety and well-being of all participants, particularly minors. The following steps have been taken to ensure child actors are supported and protected throughout this production. Learn more about our policy. |
| Ticket Returns | If you’re no longer able to attend the performance you’ve booked, we kindly ask that you get in touch with our Box Office. This allows us to make returned tickets available to others who may not have had the chance to book.
On the day of each performance, an in-person returns list will be available at the Box Office starting one hour before showtime. For more information, please email us at boxoffice@gate-theatre.ie or call us on 01-874 4045. For those still hoping to see the show, please keep an eye on our website as any returned tickets will be released for resale immediately. For more information please visit gatetheatre.ie/returns-policy/ |
| Offers | Group Offer (6+): 10% discount for group bookings of 6+. T&Cs apply. You can redeem this offer by contacting the Gate Theatre Box Office only. This offer is not available online. Subject to availability. Not redeemable in conjunction with any other offer. Rate applicable for groups of 6 or more. OAP Offer: |
CAST:
| Ensemble, May O’Sullivan, Child Onlooker, Tilly’s Pal, Dinner Lady, Grace (Kersely Grange), Sandra, Kay, Mother and Baby Worker, Louise, Mary, Karen, Nurse, Trinity Student, Dave | Ghaliah Conroy |
| Tilly | Hilda Fay |
| Ensemble, Jim O’Sullivan, Paramedic 2, Doctor, Child ensemble, PC Phil Parker, MC, Invigilator, Pat, Tutor, Football Coach, Dave, John | Keiren Hamilton-Amos |
| Ensemble, Punter, John Bean, Tim (Kersely Grange), Keith, Mr Pickering, Jay, Rutland Centre Ensemble, Five Lamps Joe, Trinity Student, Dave | Thommas Kane Byrne |
| Tony | Aidan Kelly |
| Younger Katriona | Hollie Lawlor |
| Ensemble, Paramedic 1, Child ensemble, Mrs Arkinson, Ensemble Reader, Drinker, Michelle, Audrey, Sadhbh, Dave | Mary Murray |
| Katriona | Aisling O’Mara |
| Younger Katriona | Pippa Owens |
CREATIVES:
| Author | Katriona O’Sullivan |
| Adapted by | Sonya Kelly |
| Director | Róisín McBrinn |
| Set Designer | Aedín Cosgrove |
| Costume Designer | Lara Campbell |
| Lighting Designer | Paul Keogan |
| Sound Designer and Composition | Sinéad Diskin |
| Musical Director | Padraig Dooney |
| Movement Director | Jess Williams |
| Voice Director | Cathal Quinn |
| Resident Assistant Director | Emma Finegan |
| Associate Set Designer | LaurA Fajardo Castro |
| AV Designer and Programmer | Micheal Dunne |
FULL COMPANY LISTING
Building Upkeep Levy
As a registered charity, your support of the Gate Theatre is vitally important. All tickets purchased for Gate Theatre productions now include a €1.50 Building Upkeep Levy to help us maintain, enhance and invest in our historic landmark building. It helps us provide a world-class theatrical experience for our audiences, artists and local communities, while also safeguarding it for future generations. We are deeply grateful for your ongoing and invaluable support of the Gate and its work.
