OCTOPUS CHILDREN WORLD PREMIERE: SMASH HIT SENSATION WITH 6 DUBLIN FRINGE FESTIVAL AWARD NOMINATIONS
We are always, we are forever
Octopus Children has just wrapped its premiere run at the Dublin Fringe Festival, and what a run it was! From nine sellout performances, rave reviews from audiences and critics alike, to six nominations and two take-home victories at the Dublin Fringe Awards, we are overjoyed with its success and filled with pride for our Octopus Children.
What started as the brainchild of FELISPEAKS almost five years ago became a vibrant Choreopoem on stage at Project Arts Centre as one of the most highly anticipated shows of Dublin Fringe. Each night, laughter erupted, tears were shed, and audiences rose to their feet, cheering.
On Sunday night, Dublin Fringe Festival hosted their annual Awards Ceremony, recognising the calibre and breadth of talent that has lit up the city over the past three weeks. Octopus Children received six nominations across five categories: Best Ensemble, Best Production, Best Performer: FELISPEAKS, Best Performer: Tierra Porter, Solas Nua New Voices Award, and The Making it Happen Award for production crew, for Anika Kidd. and the love and support in the room was electric.
The cast of Octopus Children took home Best Ensemble at the Dublin Fringe Awards 2025, and well deserved! The energy that was brought to every rehearsal and every performance was as heartwarming as it was joyous, and it was wonderful to see them recognised alongside so many other brilliant teams.
We were thrilled that our wonderful ASM and Associate Designer Anika Kidd was awarded the Making It Happen Award. This a new award celebrating the work, skill and dedication of production staff, in memory of Marcus Costello, a person who always made the impossible possible. A beautiful tribute to a muc-loved colleague, and great recognition of the importance of the work that goes on behind the scenes.
With that we want to voice a huge thank you to our production crew, Olivia, Sophie, Hannah, Anika, Aidan, Chris and Peter who spent many a late night and early morning making this show possible – we couldn’t have done it without you!
Thank you to our dynamic director duo, Oonagh and Esosa, for bringing the Octopus Children to stage with such craft and care. Thank you to our team of designers Therese, Sarah Jane, Jack, Anna and Robbie for bringing the Octopus world to life!
Heartfelt thank you to the Dublin Fringe and Project Arts Centre teams for all their hard work and support during this years Fringe.
And of course, a special thank you to those who believed in, supported and funded this project and made it possible: the Arts Council, Dublin City Council and Droichead Arts Centre. All three organisations have been great partners to us over the years.
Our biggest thank you is for the audiences who filled every seat in both the Project Arts Centre and Droichead Arts Centre. The love and reception you gave this show was truly breathtaking and means the world to all of us here at THISISPOPBABY. Here’s to the world tour!
📍 Octopus Children | 5th-14th September | Project Arts Centre | 19th September | Droichead Arts Centre
