International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival 2023: Johnnie Walker’s Heterosexuals is comic genius

The Heterosexuals

Outhouse Theatre, Dublin

★★★★★

The Heterosexuals, written and performed by Johnnie Walker, is a piece of comic genius that turns the table of social norms on to the heterosexuals who “walk among us”.

Based on the premise that heterosexuals are trying to appropriate all the coolest elements of queer culture, this solo show combines clever storytelling and satire to spill the beans on what queers really think about straight people.

Rarely have I enjoyed such a well written piece of theatre. This word-perfect performance is confidently presented with precision timing, measured pacing, wonderfully subtle nuance, and excellent use of gay musical anthems. An experience not to be missed.

Runs at Outhouse Theatre, 105 Capel Street, Dublin 1, until Saturday, May 13th, as part of International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival

How Ireland drinks now: Teetotallers, wine-o’clockers and ex-drinkers

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Mark Moriarty: two 15-minute meals made easy, with a few simple tricks

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Every time I travel abroad I am gripped by the fear that Ireland is making a fool of me

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A personal housing plan: Move to Newry, buy for €150,000 less, commute to Dublin

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Standing in the Shadows of Giants

Outhouse Theatre, Dublin

★★☆☆☆

Standing in the Shadows of Giants, written and performed by Lucie Barât, is the powerful semi-autobiographical story of a woman looking back on her days as a struggling actor in 2000s London.

The story has tinges of Postcards from the Edge, whose struggling performer lives in the shadow of her once more beautiful mother. In this case it is Barât’s younger brother Carl, Pete Doherty’s bandmate in The Libertines, who is the giant creating the shadow. The programme promises original music by the pair, but technical issues that dog this performance shift the focus away from the material and on to Lucie Barât, who does incredibly well to get to the end of the piece with her nerves intact.

The final 10 minutes of this one-hour performance, when the protagonist talks about her hidden lesbianism, give the audience a chance to see Barât’s talent as an actor. Perhaps the adage should change to “never work with children, animals or apparently under-rehearsed technicians”.

Runs at Outhouse Theatre, 105 Capel Street, Dublin 1, until Saturday, May 13th, as part of International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival