A Gate Theatre Dublin and Belgrade Theatre Coventry Co-Production
THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
BY KATRIONA O’SULLIVAN
ADAPTED BY SONYA KELLY
DIRECTED BY RÓISÍN MCBRINN
OPENS 2nd OCTOBER AT GATE THEATRE DUBLIN
AS PART OF DUBLIN THEATRE FESTIVAL
TRANSFERRING TO BELGRADE THEATRE IN MAY
2026
TICKETS ON SALE IN SEPTEMBER 2025
This October, the Gate Theatre, Dublin and Belgrade Theatre, Coventry will present the world premiere ofPoor by Katriona O’Sullivan, adapted by Sonya Kelly from O’Sullivan’s bestselling memoir, and directed by Gate Theatre Artistic Director Róisín McBrinn.
Poor, a Gate Theatre commission, will open on 2 October with previews from 26 September as part of this year’s Dublin Theatre Festival. The production will then transfer to the Belgrade Theatre in May 2026.
Poorcharts 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.
Full cast and creative team to be announced.
This Gate Theatre and Belgrade Theatre 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.
The Gate Theatre’s Artistic Director Róisín McBrinn said “At the Gate, we are committed to creating meaningful international partnerships and we are delighted that the Belgrade in Coventry have come on board to co-produce POOR. The Belgrade is an important cultural beacon in the English midlands and an organisation that shares our values and dedication to the transformative power of theatre. Coventry was, of course, Katriona O’Sullivan’s first home so it is a perfect fit for this story. Amazingly, The Belgrade is where Katriona had her first theatrical experience when she was brought to see a panto there as a young girl. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration.”
Belgrade Theatre’s Artistic Director Corey Campbell and Chief Executive Laura Elliot said“We’re incredibly proud to be co-producing Poor – Katriona O’Sullivan’s powerful and unflinching story, adapted for the stage by the brilliant Sonya Kelly – with our partners at the Gate Theatre, Dublin. Katriona grew up in Hillfields, just around the corner from where we work, and her journey is one of resilience, brilliance, and hope. This project speaks directly to our mission to tell the stories of local legends – voices that inspire, challenge, and reflect the lived experience of our communities. This also marks our first co-production with the Gate, and it’s a vital part of our commitment to making work that highlights the unique and enduring history between Coventry and Ireland.”