Pride at Garter Lane Arts Centre in partnership with Pride of The Déise presents a rehearsed reading of Confined Spaces, a new play by Michael Lavery, Directed by Em Ó Ceallaigh.
Belfast, September 2023. The Sugababes are touring again. Things are looking good for young gay Irish men who are looking to start over. Confined Spaces is a dark comedy exploring toxic relationships within the queer community and the rocky, horny and uncomfortable road to self-acceptance.
The hour-long reading is followed by a social. We invite you to party in the gallery with the one and only Déise Doll spinning the decks and a pop-up bar by Tully’s.
About Michael Lavery
Michael Lavery is a 23 year old writer and performer based in Belfast. He is a recent graduate of Queen’s University Belfast’s Drama undergrad and has been involved in various writing and devising schemes such as NSDF Lab, Abbey Theatre’s Windows 21 project and Lyric Theatre Belfast’s young writers programme.
Michael’s short plays Late Night and Whipped Cream and Chives have been performed at No Touching Theatre Festival and ShowFace Digital Theatre Festival. Michael enjoys showcasing difficult, problematic and unlikable queer characters by using the form of comedy as a corrective, to highlight to audiences that everyone can be messy.
About Em Ó Ceallaigh
Em is a director, dramaturg, writer, devisor and facilitator. Em explores shame and queer stories in their work. They create work for young people, adults and in collaboration with various communities, with play and integrity. Em is a Branar Meitheal artist 2025-26, and has a mentorship residency with Draíocht, Blanchardstown (2026-28). Recent work includes: Síomha and the Otherworld (director/ story), written by Sian Ní Mhuirí, supported by the Arts Council’s Project Award 2024 (Riverbank Arts Centre, dlr Mill Theatre, and axis: Ballymun, May-June 2025); associate director/script editor for Future Stories project, an 18 month theatre/film development programme for care-experienced young people led by Oonagh Murphy, with writing by Emmet Kirwan, that culminated in a collaborative short film, produced by Cracking Light Productions (Smock Alley, First Fortnight Festival 2026); stiúrthóir ar dhráma úr aiteach, An Chos Eile le Sean Mac Dhonnagáin (axis: Ballymun 2023, léiriú idir lámha ag Oireachtas na Samhna, 2024).
About Deise Doll (DJ)
Roibí O Rua AKA Déise Doll, is a multidisciplinary artist and trans-woman working between visual art and music. Sonically she has been making her way through Ireland’s underground club scene as a DJ and Self Proclaimed Pop-Star, with an LP, EP, features on compilations, as well as having performed for community led club nights such as Alien Nations ‘NOTIONS’, the Haus of Goofy’s ‘Lash Out’, ‘Cult Collective’ in Kilkenny and ‘A Garden Collective’ in Lisbon. She has performed at the National Concert Hall (‘Metronome’ Series), the launch of EVA International 2023 and Smock Alley Theatre (Dublin Modular). Her sonic aesthetic is informed by queer club culture, her working class roots and a need to get people dancing. Her sets include a mix of high-energy dance music, jungle, bass, dancehall, baile funk, jersey club, ballroom and 90s house sensibilities.
For more information about Pride of the Déise, please check out their website here.
