The International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival was founded on January 31, 2004 – prompted by a few events. In 1993, just after we had been decriminalised, I staged the Irish premiere of La Cage Aux Folles in the Rupert Guinness Theatre and at the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera. Seven gay actors turned down the leading role of Albin/Zaza. We were six weeks into rehearsals when I reluctantly (as I was the director) stepped into the role noone would play. I won the Best Male Performer at WIFLO and as adjudicator Cathal MacCabe said, “This festival will never be the same again!”
We then transferred to the Olympia Theatre, sold out with a standing ovation every night. I was never cast in a role again. Once you played gay – that was it! I later went on to (cast myself in) the role of Oscar Wilde in the centenary of his death in 2000, with Adele King (Twink) as Lady Wilde and Neil Watkins as Bosie in A Chelsea Affair. I studied his story.