Gate Theatre to Livestream Acclaimed Production of ‘Poor’ to Irish Secondary Schools

The Gate Theatre in Dublin will livestream its critically acclaimed production of ‘Poor’ to secondary school students across Ireland on Wednesday, March 25th, at 11:00 AM. The screening is offered free of charge to participating schools, with support from basis.point.

A Story of Resilience and Hope

‘Poor’ is based on the best-selling memoir by Katriona O’Sullivan and adapted for the stage by Sonya Kelly. The play dramatizes O’Sullivan’s remarkable journey from a childhood marked by poverty, addiction, and homelessness in Coventry and Birmingham, to earning a PhD from Trinity College Dublin [RTE]. It has been praised for its raw honesty, humour, and humanity.

Sold-Out Run and Previous Success

The current revival of ‘Poor’ at the Gate Theatre is sold out, following a successful run at the 2025 Dublin Theatre Festival where it played to sold-out houses [RTE]. The production is a co-production with Belgrade Theatre Coventry, with support from Culture Ireland [Gate Theatre].

A Transformative Experience for Young Audiences

Róisín McBrinn, Artistic Director and Co-CEO of the Gate Theatre, and also the director of the production, emphasized the importance of making the play accessible to young people. She stated the theatre hopes to provide a “transformative experience” and encourage students to reflect on their own circumstances and the challenges faced by their peers [RTE].

How to Participate

Schools interested in participating in the livestream are asked to register by emailing boxoffice@gate-theatre.ie no later than Friday, March 20th [RTE].

Advisory

Please be advised that ‘Poor’ contains strong language and references to addiction, sexual assault, drug use, and domestic violence [Gate Theatre]. The production also includes the use of smoke, strobing lights, and flashing lights [Gate Theatre].