Yeats and the Golden Dawn

Yeats Society Sligo hosts an evening of improvised comedy theatre inspired by W. B. Yeats and his involvement with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the occult society that shaped much of his early poetry and symbolism. The performance, on Friday 18 September 2026, takes the poet’s real interest in ritual magic and mysticism as raw material for live improvisation rather than a straight biographical account. It runs at the Yeats Memorial Building on Hyde Bridge, the Society’s home in Sligo town.

What to expect

Expect an improvised, comic take on Yeats’s lesser-known life as a member of the Golden Dawn, the secretive magical order that counted the poet among its initiates in the 1890s. Rather than a scripted history play, the format is live improvised theatre, so the specific scenes and characters will differ each time the show runs, built around the strange, real detail of Yeats’s occult interests. It is a late-evening show, starting at 10pm, aimed at an adult audience familiar with or curious about Yeats’s stranger side rather than younger visitors expecting a straightforward literary event. Expect a small, intimate audience given the venue and the show’s niche subject.

Getting there

The Yeats Memorial Building is on Hyde Bridge in Sligo town centre, on the banks of the Garavogue and within walking distance of the bus and rail station.

While you’re in Sligo

The venue sits at the heart of Sligo town’s literary history, close to the river and the town’s restaurants for a late dinner before the show. There is more Yeats heritage to explore across Co. Sligo, including Drumcliff churchyard.

Good to know

• Date and time: Friday 18 September 2026, 10pm to 11:30pm
• Venue: Yeats Society Sligo, Hyde Bridge
• Format: improvised comedy theatre, adult audience
• Booking: through Eventbrite
• Organiser: Terry Markey