Toronto audiences will be able to enjoy a smorgasbord of contemporary Irish theatre at the second annual Bealtaine Theatre Festival, which runs from May 21 to June 7. Performances take place at the new Corleck performing arts on the waterfront, a facility for arts and culture that will have its official opening in November 2026.
Bealtaine (pronounced byal-tin-uh) was inspired by the ancient Celtic festival celebrating the arrival of summer on May 1. One of four Gaelic season festivals, Bealtaine is about creativity and community.
“We are thrilled to present the second year of the Bealtaine Theatre Festival in our new home, the Corleck,” says CIF Executive Director William Peat. “Not only will Bealtaine audiences get a preview of this vibrant cultural space, but they’ll also experience singular productions presented with great theatrical care, humour and spirit.”
Bealtaine Theatre Festival: At A Glance
From a whimsical take on the actor’s life to the joys and costs of preserving Irish musical heritage and a comedic take on gender and power to a version of James Joyce’s iconic Ulysses for kids (yes), the Bealtaine Theatre Festival offers a glimpse at the creative spark that drives Irish contemporary theatre.
CHICKEN by Sunday’s Child Theatre
Co-written by Eva O’Connor and Hildegard Ryan
Directed by Hildegard Ryan
Featuring Eva O’Connor
Five performances between May 21 and 24
Recommended for Ages 13+
This one-of-a-kind, one-person show is an award-winning production. It had a sold-out run at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and begins with an original idea: Don Murphy is a proud Irishman, a hopeless addict, and one of his generation’s greatest actors — he’s also a chicken.
Don shares his story over the course of one night, from that first big break, to experiencing bird-on-bird sex for the first time, and life in the celebrity bubble. Along the way, Don confronts some harsh truths about himself, being a chicken, and humankind itself.
Additional Credits: Costume Design: Bryony Rumble; Lighting Design: Marianne Nightingal; Movement Director: Sarah Blanc.
BELLOW by Brokentalkers
Written by Feidlim Cannon, Gary Keegan & Danny O’Mahony
Featuring Danny O’Mahony, Gary Keegan & Emily Kilkenny Roddy
Four performances between May 27 and 30
Recommended for Ages 16+
This new theatre performance looks at what it takes to keep traditional Irish music alive while balancing an artist’s need for authentic self expression.
Musician Danny O’Mahony is one of the leading proponents of Irish traditional music. He’s dedicated his life’s work to the accordion and to preserving music that is often centuries old. In Bellow, he talks about key moments from his past, including his finding his first connections with the music as a child, and the mentors who helped him on his journey towards mastering the genre. It’s left very little room for anything else.
Along with Danny’s live performance, Bellow features original electronic music, new writing, and contemporary dance, creating a juxtaposition of the past and present of Irish music.
Additional Credits: Movement Director: Eddie Kay; Sound Design & Composition: Valgeir Sigurðsson; Set Designer: Sabine Dargent; Lighting Designer: Sarah Jane Shiels; Costume Designer: Sarah Foley; Dramaturg: Bjarni Jonsson; Mask Designer & Construction: Ger Clancy; Creative Producer: Rachel Bergin.
MASTERCLASS by Brokentalkers
Presented by Luminato Festival
Featuring Adrienne Truscott and Feidlim Cannon
Four performance June 3 to 6
Recommended for Ages 13+
This award-winning satire takes on the art world, masculinity, sexism, and the power structures behind the myth of the great male artist. The work is staged as an artist interview, and examines why such figures continue to dominate the arts landscape, even long after their deaths.
It opens with a masterclass between Adrienne Truscott as a classic swaggering self-made playwright, with Feidlim Cannon in the role of a fawning host. But, is all as it seems? Egos and devastating humour emerge in a sharp witted and savagely funny look at gender and power.
Who gets to be called a genius — and who pays the price?
YOU’LL SEE by Branar
Adapted by Marc Mac Lochlainn and Helen Gregg
Directed by Marc Mac Lochlainn
Featuring Helen Gregg
Four performances June 6 & 7
Recommended for Ages 8+
Did you say Ulysses for children? Why yes, Ulysses for children.
This imaginative show brings James Joyce’s epic story of one day in one city to vivid life for audiences age 8 and up — including anyone who never got around to reading the famous/notorious Irish classic.
The show brings together live performance, intricate paper design, an original score and Joyce’s odyssey, this is theatre that will charm both young and older audience members.
Additional Credits: Producer: Joanne Beirne; Composer: Michael Chang; Book Design & Creation: Maeve Clancy; Lighting Design: Michael Foley; Sound Design: Adrian Ferry; Costume Designer: Elaine Mears; Cinematography: James Ryan and StationHouse Media; Set Build: Ciaran Kelly; Paper Creation: Sorcha Ní Chróinín; Stage Manager & Technician: Michael Foley; Line Producer: Niamh Ní Fhlatharta; Marketing: Noel Minogue; Production Assistant: Nóra Burke; Design Assistant: Oisín Parslow.
Details
The Beatltaine Theatre Festival — Bringing the Best of Contemporary Irish Theatre to Toronto — features performances from May 21 to June 7, 2026. Shows take place at Corleck, 3 Eireann Quay, Toronto, the historical site of the Canada Malting Company administrative offices at the foot of Bathurst Street.
Individual tickets are on sale, and ticket packages are available for two-show packages, as well as a Family 4-pack.
- Find details and tickets [HERE].
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