Oh, so many memories. Was it the best Fringe in recent memory? What do you think of the award winners? Start the debate below.

And without further ado, where are the winners of…

TIGER DUBLIN FRINGE 2015, AWARD WINNERS

Best Production

Presented by TIGER DUBIN FRINGE to the show or event that displays excellence in every area of production, design, performance, concept and execution. This award acknowledges the enormous work and talent that is poured into presenting work at the festival and honours the comprehensive production

WINNER:  

Agrippina by Handel presented by Irish Youth Opera in a co-production with Northern Ireland Opera in association with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and the Lime Tree Theatre

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:

·      Object Piggy by Dying Breeds

·      Behind the Dark by Loosysmokes

·      Beckett in the City by Company SJ

·      Our Island by MIRARI Productions

Best Design

The award presented for outstanding lighting, sound, scenic, projection, costume or overall design.

WINNER:

The company for Flemish Proverbs by Moira Brady Averill and Isadora Epstein

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:

·      Maria Nilsson Waller and Sarah Jane Shields for Folds of the Crane by Justine Cooper

·      The ensemble for Object Piggy by Dying Breeds

·      The company for Flemish Proverbs by Moira Brady Averill and Isadora Epstein

·      Annemarie Wood and Kevin Treacy for Agrippina by Handel presented by Irish Youth Opera in a co-production with Northern Ireland Opera in association with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and the Lime Tree Theatre

·      Áine Stapleton, José Miguel Jiménez and Neil O’Connor for Medicated Milk by Áine Stapleton

Best Performers

Two of the best performers of the festival take home this much sought-after prize from a field of up to 8 nominees. Formerly given to best male and female, we’re broadening the category to suit all gender indentification.

WINNERS:

Ben Sullivan in It Folds & Liadain Herriott in Liminal

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:

·      Alan Ewing in Agrippina by Handel

·      Clare Dunne in Grounded

·      Camille Lucy Ross in Big Bobby. Little Bobby.

·      David Hoyle in Middle of the Road

·      Maire Flavin in Agrippina by Handel

·      Peter Corboy in Our Island

Best Ensemble

Sometimes it’s the entire cast that makes a show. Introduced in 2014, this award recognises the stand out efforts from a group of performers on stage.

WINNER:

Behind the Dark by Loosysmokes

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:

·      It Folds by Brokentalkers and junk ensemble

·      Elk and Saintly by ponydance and Croí Glan Integrated Dance Company

·      Agrippina by Handel presented by Irish Youth Opera in a co-production with Northern Ireland Opera in association with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and the Lime Tree Theatre

·      Our Island by MIRARI Productions

Judges Choice Award

Also instituted in 2014, this award recognises a project, contributor, experience of Fringe event that defies the categorisation and is just too good to pass by unheralded.

WINNER:

Object Piggy by Dying Breeds

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:

·      Marky MacSherry Tells It Like It Is by Martin McSharry

·      Gaeilge Tamagotchi by Manchán Magan

·      Beckett in the City: The Women Speak by Company SJ

·      Portraits in Motion by Volker Gerling

·      Sweet Pang! by Lady Grew

Bewley’s Cafe Theatre ‘Little Gem’ Award

Bewley’s Café Theatre is Ireland’s foremost presenter of lunchtime theatre and is delighted and proud to continue to sponsor the Bewley’s Café Theatre ‘Little Gem’ Award for the most exciting show presented at this year’s TIGER DUBLIN FRINGE under 60 minutes. The selection is made up by the jury for final approval by Bewley’s Café Theatre. The prize is a handsome one; the winning production is earns a two week run at Bewley’s Café Theatre with €2000 available to the company for remounting the production.

WINNER:

Your Own Man/ Mad Notions by Luke Murphy

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:

·      Oh! What A Lovely Rose! by Tragic Spud

·      Alison Spittle Discovers Hawaii

·      Big Bobby. Little Bobby.by Brazen Tales Productions

·      Rebel Rebel by Robbie O’ Connor and Aisling O’ Mara

·      The Matador by Shane O’Reilly

First Fortnight Award

Since its inception in 2009, First Fortnight’s key aim has been to challenge stigma and prejudice about mental health issues through the creative arts.

WINNER:

Camille Ross for Big Bobby Little Bobby

Fishamble New Writing Award

Presented to the best play by a new or emerging Irish (or Irish-based) playwright premiered during TIGER DUBLIN FRINGE, this award includes the prize of a scholarship place on one of Fishamble’s acclaimed playwriting courses, dramaturgical support and a stipend towards the playwright’s next play, generously sponsored by Fishamble: The New Play Company. The idea of new writing is interpreted broadly to include new works in the area of dance, performance art, music, multi-author, post-dramatic works and so on. Recent recipients of this coveted award were Dylan Coburn Gray for Boys and Girls (2013), Elaine Murphy for Little Gem (2008); Amy Conroy for I Heart Alice Heart I (2010) and Fiona McGeown & Thomas Conway for Between the Trees and Water (2014)

WINNER:

Overshadowed by Eva O’Connor

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:

·      Our Island by Barry McStay

·      Remember to Breathe by Orla Murphy

·      HARDER FASTER MORE by Tracy Martin

The Next Stage Wild Card Award

TIGER DUBLIN FRINGE awards a bursary to an artist who has been part of the festival, enabling them to participate in the Next Stage – an artist development programme run by Dublin Theatre Festival in partnership with Theatre Forum  – Producer Robbie Blake won the title in 2014

WINNER:

Alice Malseed

Moscow Irish Fringe Festival Award

This new award offers a tour-ready Fringe highlight which is selected to participate in the IRISH FRINGE FESTIVAL in Moscow during Irish Week next March. The award winners will be part of the biggest Irish arts festivals in Eastern Europe with over 100 events showcasing Irish music, comedy, theatre and film.

SHORTLIST:

·      Oh! What A Lovely Rose! by Tragic Spud

·      Contain-A-Rave by Lords of Strut

·      Susannah With Strings by Susannah De Wrixon

·      Beckett in the City: The Women Speak by Company SJ

·      Love+ by Claire O’Reilly

·      Folds of the Crane by Justine Cooper

·      The Walls Have Ears by Bottlenote

·      Liminal by Liadain Herriott
*Winner to be announced next month following consideration by Moscow Irish Fringe Director

Spirit of the Fringe/Spirit of Project Commissioning Award

A highly prestigious TIGER DUBLIN FRINGE award in association with Project Arts Centre that combines a commission to present work in Project Arts Centre in next year’s TIGER DUBLIN FRINGE, along with €5,000 to get the show up and running for a new show to be produced for the Dublin Fringe Festival 2016 in Project Cube. Usually presented to an Irish company. Previous winners include WillFredd Theatre, The Company, THEATREclub and Gavin Kostick

WINNER:

LOVE+ by Claire O’Reilly

OTHER SHORTLIST NOMINEES:

·      Flemish Proverbs by Moira Brady Averill and Isadora Epstein

·      Marky MacSherry Tells It Like It Is by Martin McSharry

·      Your Own Man/ Mad Notions by Luke Murphy

·      Folds of the Crane by Justine Cooper

·      We Lived In Cities by BK Pepper / Madra Mór

JUDGES CHOICES – THE REASONS:

Marky MacSherry Tells It Like It Is by Martin McSharry

For the intelligence and detail of its form, for Martin Sharry’s disarming performance in the role of Marky

Object Piggy by Dying Breeds

For its energy, exuberance and detail – a downright dynamism that embraces and underpins everything Fringe

Gaeilge Tamagotchi by Manchán Magan

For Manchán Magan as the playful saviour of our national tongue

Beckett in the City: The Women Speak by Company SJ

For Company SJ’s commitment, consistency, rigour and skill in bringing Beckett to Fringe audiences, taking us deep into the recesses of hidden Dublin. For the careful curation of the production, the brave choice to bring together the women’s voices.

Portraits in Motion by Volker Gerling

For its heart, the singularity of its vision, the simplicity of its craft, the artist’s commitment to the pursuit of a small life. For a production that was more than the some of its flick book pages

Sweet Pang! by Lady Grew

For its unflinching, unique and celebratory portrayal of sex work and its brave exploration of the body as a contested site.

TIGER DUBLIN FRINGE 2015 Panel of Judges

Kate Heffernan [Chairperson of the Tiger Dublin Fringe judging panel 2015 – Writer and theatre artist]; Dearbháil Clarke [Published poet, 2015 Irish Independent Leaving Cert diarist and lover of the avant-garde]; Steve Cummins [Arts journalist]; Anne Marie Downey (Glamo) [DJ / lifecoach / pharmacist / maker]; Shaun Dunne [Playwright and theatre-artist]; Jessica Finken [Theatre producer]; Kevin Gaffney [visual artist]; Aideen Howard [Director of The Ark]; Gina Moxley [Actor, writer and director]; Liv O’Donaghue [Choreographer and performer, and is one third of the team behind DRAFF magazine]; Timi Ogugunyemi [Photographer]; Ros ie O’Reilly [Visual artist and maker]; Benjamin Perchet [Newly appointed Director of the Dublin Dance Festival (DDF)]; Dave Rudden [Author]; Maeve Stone [Associate Director with Pan Pan Theatre]

TIGER DUBLIN FRINGE ran from September 7 – 20, 2015. For more details on this year’s festival visit www.fringefest.com