The Canada Ireland Foundation (CIF) bring the second annual Bealtaine Theatre Festival to Toronto, featuring Canadian premieres of some of Ireland’s most captivating contemporary theatre productions.
Bealtaine (pronounced byal-tin-uh) takes inspiration from the ancient Celtic festival celebrated on May 1st, marking the arrival of summer. One of the four major Gaelic seasonal festivals that CIF honours, Bealtaine has become a time to celebrate creativity, connection and community.
Festival Shows
CHICKEN
by Sunday’s Child Theatre
May 21-24, 2026
Bealtaine kicks off with this one-of-a-kind, one-person show. Don Murphy is a proud Irishman, a hopeless addict and one of his generation’s greatest actors. He also happens to be a chicken.
This award-winning production from Sunday’s Child Theatre had a sold-out run at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and exemplifies the originality of Ireland’s independent theatre scene.
CHICKEN photos by Hildegard Ryan
BELLOW
by Brokentalkers
May 27-30, 2026
Danny O’Mahony has dedicated his life to the mastery of his instrument as well as to the preservation and performance of Irish traditional music.
From Dublin’s boundary-breaking Brokentalkers comes this new theatre performance exploring the beauty and weight of keeping traditional Irish music alive.
YOU’LL SEE
by Branar
June 6-7, 2026
Ulysses for children… James Joyce’s epic story of one day in one city is brought to life in this inventive new show, bringing Ireland’s most notorious book to audiences aged 8 and upwards, and to all those who haven’t got around to reading it yet.
Special Performance
MASTERCLASS
by Brokentalkers
June 3-6, 2026
Presented by Luminato Festival, Masterclass is an award-winning satire that turns the art world on its head, skewing masculinity, sexism, and entrenched power.
Winner of the Fringe First Award at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Additional Festival Details
The Bealtaine Theatre Festival runs from May 21 to June 7 at the Corleck; CIF’s brand new venue for arts, cultural and heritage programming on Toronto’s waterfront. Festival attendees will be among the first to experience this state-of-the-art performance space, officially opening in November 2026.
For festival details and tickets, please visit canadairelandfoundation.com.
