Dylan Coburn Gray is a writer, theatre-maker and spoken word artist based in Dublin. He is currently commissioned by Irish National Opera, Fishamble and the National Theatre Connections Festival, London.
His plays (published by Nick Hern Books) include; Citysong winner of the Verity Bargate Award which ran at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin and Soho Theatre, London in 2019, Ask Too Much of Me performed by the Irish National Youth Theatre enjoyed a sold out run at the Peacock Theatre, Boys and Girls winner of the Fishamble Best New Writing Award and nominated for the Stewart Parker Trust Award and Best Theatre Script Award at the Irish Writers’ Guild Awards (Zebbies), and Blackcatfishmuskateer nominated for Best New Play at Dublin Fringe.
Dylans’ latest work Horse Ape Bird commissioned by Irish National Opera, music written by David Coonan, will be performed in June 2022.
Dylan is a founder member of contemporary Irish theatre company Malaprop for whom he has written and devised many pieces including Before You Say Anything and Everything Not Saved.
Commissioned by Irish National Opera
Composed by David Coonan
Libretto by Dylan Coburn Gray
Directed by Zoe Ní Riordáin
Set Design by Zia Bergin- Holly
Lighting design by John Gunning
Costume Design by Clodagh Deegan
Photo Credited to Irish National Opera
A one-act youth opera (in 3 parts).
David Coonan and Dylan Coburn Gray’s new youth opera, with its chorus of teenagers, asks the question: Are animals animals because they lack something we possess, or vice versa? Ambitious, playful, thoughtful…Horse Ape Bird is for anyone who has ever wondered if their dog loves them back.
Abbey Theatre/Soho Theatre
Writer: Dylan Coburn Gray
Director: Caitríona McLaughlin
Set and Costume Design: Sarah Bacon
Lighting Design: Paul Keogan
Composer and Sound Design: Adrienne Quartly
Movement Director: Sue Mythen
Voice Director: Andrea Ainsworth
“Poignant, Lyrical and gorgeously written” The Stage
“A poetic celebration of the cycle of life” The Guardian
“Nothing short of sublime” The Arts Review
Written by Dylan Coburn Gray
Directed by Claire O’Reilly
Design by Molly O’Cathain
Lighting Design by John Gunning
Produced by Breffni Holahan and Carla Rogers
Performed by Aoife Spratt, Catherine Russell, and Ste Murray
BEST NEW PLAY NOMINEE AT DUBLIN FRINGE 2016
THE STAGE: EDITOR’S PICK, EDFRINGE 2017
BlackCatfishMusketeer is a low-tech show about high-tech things that asks “What does the internet feel like?”
Malaprop Theatre Company
Devised by the company with Dylan Coburn Gray
Directed by Claire O’Reilly
Design by Molly O’Cathain
Lighting Design by John Gunning
Sound Design by Brian Fallon
Produced by Carla Rogers
Cast: Peter Corboy, Breffni Holahan, Maeve O’Mahony
WINNER GEORGANNE ALDRICH HELLER AWARD, DUBLIN FRINGE 2017
‘Intricate, layered theatre-essay on the relationship between memory and history‘ **** The Stage
‘Under the intellectual knots of ethics and philosophy, the company’s trademark wit remains, and there is a current of absurdity running through each scene.’
**** The Guardian