CQAF 2025

Shame Show

Presented by the Mac and CQAF

Shame Show

The Mac Upstairs

Thursday 8 May, 7.45pm 

£12.00 

Buy Tickets

Honey, you’ve got a big storm coming. For your safety, please follow this pair of prancing poofs to SHAME SHOW, a sketchy comedy of catastrophic proportions from Skelpie Limmer, the creators of Scaredy Fat and Two Fingers Up.

Adam and Stevie are stuck inside. Storm Seamus is about to strike. The rural fixer-upper they’ve inherited can’t hack it – and neither can their relationship. But through the static of Aunt Mary’s old TV comes an offer of salvation asking:

Have you been mis-sold big gay shame?

Wouldn’t it all be better in a different, sunnier, more progressive place?

Will Northern Ireland ever progress if all the progressives leave?

Is there really no place like home?

Channel-hopping their way through programmes of poofy-past, the couple confront home, happiness and heteronormativity as they battle the storm and each other’s beliefs.

A worthy First Fortnight Award winner at Dublin Fringe 2024, Colm McCready & Fergus Wachala-Kelly’s hugely entertaining and poignant SHAME SHOW disempowers the negativity that shaped us and the fear we’ve been force-fed, shaking off the shackles of shame for the climb ahead.

Developed at MAKE, HATCH at The MAC Belfast, and Incubate at Tinderbox Theatre Company.

Age suitability:16+
Duration:60 mins

Tickets also available from:
Visit Belfast | 028 9024 6609
9 Donegall Square North - Open 7 days a Week

CQAF 2025 Earlybird Shows

John Shuttleworth: Raise the Oof!

John Shuttleworth: Raise the Oof!

The Black Box

Thursday 1 May, 8.00pm. Extra show Friday 2 May, 8.00pm

I’m With Pulp, Are You? Mark Webber in Conversation

In association with Ulster Presents

I’m With Pulp, Are You? Mark Webber in Conversation

Ulster University Block BC (Belfast)

Friday 2 May, 7.00pm

Doc’n Roll Films presents “We Are Fugazi From Washington, DC”

Doc’n Roll Films presents “We Are Fugazi From Washington, DC”

The Avenue Cinema 

Saturday 3 May, 2.00pm

Drunk Women Solving Crime

Drunk Women Solving Crime

The Black Box

Saturday 3 May, 3.00pm. Extra Show Added, 1.00pm

Historic Pubs of the Cathedral Quarter

Historic Pubs of the Cathedral Quarter

Leaves Kellys Cellars

Sunday 4 and Sunday 11 May, 2.00pm

Neil Brogan

Strange Victory + CQAF Presents

Neil Brogan

McHughs Basement

Saturday 3 May, 8.00pm 

John Higgs: Exterminate / Regenerate: The Story Of Doctor Who

John Higgs: Exterminate / Regenerate: The Story Of Doctor Who

The Deer’s Head

Sunday 4 May, 2.00pm

Roisin Lanigan

Presented by Seamus Heaney Centre and CQAF

Roisin Lanigan

Seamus Heaney Centre, Belfast

Sunday 4 May, 6.00pm 

A History of House feat Iain McCready, Dilly, Eamon Beagon + Marty McAllistair

CQAF and Belfast Underground present

A History of House feat Iain McCready, Dilly, Eamon Beagon + Marty McAllistair

The Deer’s Head

Sunday 4 May, 8.00pm - 2.00am

The 4 of Us: Belfast Launch of ‘Crescent Nights’

The 4 of Us: Belfast Launch of ‘Crescent Nights’

The Empire

Sunday 4 May, 8.00pm

Josie Long: A Work in Progress About Giant Extinct Animals

Josie Long: A Work in Progress About Giant Extinct Animals

The Black Box

Monday 5th May, 8.00pm

SBT [Sarabeth Tucek] with special guest Ben de la Cour

SBT [Sarabeth Tucek] with special guest Ben de la Cour

The Deer’s Head

Tuesday 6 May, 8.00pm

Hayden Thorpe & Propellor Ensemble perform NESS

Hayden Thorpe & Propellor Ensemble perform NESS

The Deer's Head

Wednesday 7 May, 8.00pm

Traditional Bread Baking Workshop

Traditional Bread Baking Workshop

The Northern Whig

Thursday 8 May, 6.00pm and Friday 9 May, 1.00pm

Caoilinn Hughes in Conversation

Presented by Seamus Heaney Centre and CQAF

Caoilinn Hughes in Conversation

Seamus Heaney Centre, Belfast

Thursday 8 May, 6.00pm

Screening of Poitín with Bán Poitín Tasting & Talk

In association with Bán Poitín and Echlinville Distillery

Screening of Poitín with Bán Poitín Tasting & Talk

Oh Yeah Centre

Thursday 8 May, 7.30pm

Shame Show

Presented by the Mac and CQAF

Shame Show

The Mac Upstairs

Thursday 8 May, 7.45pm 

Fortuna and Chips

Presented in association with The Linenhall Library

Fortuna and Chips

The Linenhall Library

Friday 9 May, 1.00pm (ends 2.30pm)

The Anthony Toner Songbook

David Hull Promotions & CQAF proudly present

The Anthony Toner Songbook

St. George's Church

Friday 9 May, 7.30pm & Saturday 10 May 2.00pm 

Mohammad Syfkhan

Moving on Music & CQAF present

Mohammad Syfkhan

The Black Box

Friday 9th May, 8.30pm

Theresa Lola – ‘Ceremony for the Nameless’

Presented by Seamus Heaney Centre and CQAF

Theresa Lola – ‘Ceremony for the Nameless’

The Seamus Heaney Centre (Belfast)

Saturday 10 May, 2.00pm

Lisdoon Nirvana

Presented by CQAF and The MAC

Lisdoon Nirvana

The Mac Upstairs

Saturday 10 May, 7.45pm

Sreang Dhofheicthe: Tionscadal Taylor Swift/Invisible String: The Taylor Swift Project

Sreang Dhofheicthe: Tionscadal Taylor Swift/Invisible String: The Taylor Swift Project

Áras Mhic Reachtain

Dé Sathairn 10 Bealtaine | Saturday 10 May, 8:30pm

The Spitfires

CQAF and Right On Promotions present

The Spitfires

The Deer’s Head

Saturday 10 May, 8.00pm 

Lael Neale

Strange Victory + CQAF Presents

Lael Neale

McHughs Basement

Sunday 11 May, 7.30pm

Bernard Butler

Bernard Butler

First Presbyterian Church, Rosemary Street

Sunday 11 May,  8.00pm

AOIBHA: Artist in Residence 2025

AOIBHA: Artist in Residence 2025

Various venues throughout the festival

Supported By

dormant
embrace
FHM
up

Contact

The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and Out To Lunch are annual festivals of music, comedy, theatre, art and literature which take place in January and May in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Join our mailing list to keep up to date with festival news, events and early ticket releases.

View Our Privacy Policy

Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival / Out To Lunch Arts Festival
Unit 8
Northern Whig House
Bridge Street
Belfast
BT1 1LU