Celebrate voices as The Pride Monologues returns to Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin for Foyle Pride this Wednesday, August 26 , a night of sharp, tender and laugh-out-loud storytelling that gives LGBTQIA+ people a stage and the audience a mirror. Doors open 7.30pm, curtain 8pm; tickets from £8–£10.

Essential Takeaways

  • When and where: The Pride Monologues is on Wednesday 26 August at Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin, doors 7.30pm, start 8pm , tickets via Ticketsource or on the door.
  • Who’s involved: Local writers and performers, including Sam Ó Fearraigh, Gemma Walker Farren, Alex Cregan and Isaac Quinn, plus a mix of emerging and experienced voices.
  • Tone and content: Expect a blend of humour, radical honesty and moving reflections that spotlight current LGBTQIA+ issues and everyday life.
  • Accessibility and community: Tickets are low-cost, proceeds support Foyle Pride, and the event is framed as a safe, celebratory queer space.
  • Atmosphere: Previous audiences report a powerful, electric vibe , emotional, validating and often life-changing.

Why the fourth year feels like a milestone

This is the fourth staging of The Pride Monologues at Foyle Pride, and that longevity matters. After a few years running, events like this stop being one-off projects and start shaping a local cultural rhythm. The room at Cultúrlann has the kind of warm, intimate feel where you can hear a pin drop and then laugh out loud five minutes later. For anyone who’s been a bit nervous about live queer storytelling, this year’s return signals stability and confidence from the community.

Who’s on stage and what they’re saying

The line-up mixes recognised local theatre makers and fresh voices. Names to watch include Sam Ó Fearraigh and Gemma Walker Farren, Alex Cregan , who runs the Queer Writers Circle in Derry , and theatre-maker Isaac Quinn. That blend matters because experienced writers bring craft and newcomers bring urgency; together they reflect a living, changing queer scene. Expect stories about identity, belonging, humour about awkward moments and sharp observations on contemporary issues.

Why small, live nights still matter for representation

Mel Bradley, who’s hosting the night, sums up the bigger point: seeing yourself on stage changes how you see the world. In a media landscape that still underrepresents many queer lives, grassroots events provide the uncomplicated gift of visibility. These nights aren’t just art for art’s sake , they’re places where validation happens in real time, when an audience shouldering a shared history nods together, laughs together and sometimes cries together.

How The Pride Monologues supports the wider festival and community

The event is part of the Foyle Pride Festival and is run by Sole Purpose Productions with support from Foyle Pride. Low ticket prices and the fact that proceeds go back to Foyle Pride keep the evening accessible and community-focused. For festival-goers it’s an essential stop: intimate theatre that complements parades, panels and parties by reminding everyone that storysharing is civic, political and personal all at once.

Practical tips if you’re going

Arrive early for the best seats and to soak up the pre-show atmosphere; doors open at 7.30pm. If you prefer to secure a place, book via Ticketsource, otherwise you can pay on the door. Expect a mixed programme of readings and performances, so dress for comfort , you might find yourself wiping a tear one minute and clapping the next. Bring friends who haven’t yet experienced a Pride Monologues night; these shows are often the easiest way for people to understand why local queer culture matters.

It's a small change that can make every story louder and every audience quieter in the best possible way.

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