The Lyric Theatre, or simply The Lyric, is the principal, full-time producing theatre in

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom ...

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label=Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is #Descriptions, variously described as ...

. The theatre's current Executive Producer is Jimmy Fay, previously the founder and Artistic Director of Bedrock Productions.

History

The theatre was first established as The Lyric Players in 1951 at the home of its founders Mary O'Malley and her husband Pearse in Derryvolgie Avenue, off the

Malone Road The Malone Road () is a radial road in Belfast, Northern Ireland, leading from the university quarter southwards to the affluent suburbs of Malone and Upper Malone, each a separate electoral ward. The road runs parallel to the Lisburn Road and i ...

, and moved to its new site on Ridgeway Street in 1968, between the Stranmillis Road and Stranmillis Embankment. Austin Clarke laid the foundation stone in 1965 a deliberate choice by O'Malley to build a link back to her artistic hero

W. B. Yeats William Butler Yeats (13 June 186528 January 1939) was an Irish poet, dramatist, writer and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival and became a pillar of the Irish liter ...

. In 1974 the theatre staged Andrew Lloyd Webber's ''

Jesus Christ Superstar ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' is a sung-through rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Loosely based on the Gospels' accounts of the Passion, the work interprets the psychology of Jesus and other characters, with ...

'', leading to protests. In 1976

Liam Neeson William John Neeson (born 7 June 1952) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He has received several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Tony Awards. In 2020, he was placed 7th on '' Th ...

appeared in Brian Friel's '' Philadelphia Here I Come!''. Neeson's association with the Lyric has continued since, and he is currently the theatre's patron. Several of Friel's plays have been staged at the theatre, including ''

Dancing at Lughnasa ''Dancing at Lughnasa'' is a 1990 play by dramatist Brian Friel set in County Donegal in Ulster in the north of Ireland in August 1936 in the fictional town of Ballybeg. It is a memory play told from the point of view of the adult Michael Eva ...

'' in 1996 and 2015. A number of Marie Jones plays have been staged there including ''A Very Weird Manor''. In 2004 the theatre announced a fundraising campaign to redevelop the theatre on its existing site. In June 2007 a £1m donation by Northern Irish businessman Dr Martin Naughton kickstarted the development. Naughton's donation was the largest in Northern Ireland arts history. He had previously made donations to Queen's University, where the Naughton Gallery is named in his honour.

New Lyric Theatre

The new theatre, designed by

O'Donnell & Tuomey O'Donnell + Tuomey is an architectural practice based in Dublin, Ireland, described by ''Architecture Today'' as one of "the godfathers of contemporary Irish architecture". O'Donnell and Tuomey are the recipients of the 2015 Royal Gold Medal, awarde ...

, opened on 1 May 2011, with a Gala Performance of ''

The Crucible ''The Crucible'' is a 1953 play by American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692–93. Miller wrote the play as ...

''. The new facility features a new main theatre with a seating capacity of almost 400 and a multi-function performance space 'The Naughton Studio' which can seat between 120 and 170. This new theatre was an almost threefold increase in the size of the previous building and the theatre remains the largest employer of actors and other theatre professionals in the region. The Lyric's current Chair is Sir Bruce Robinson who took over in January 2015 from

BBC Northern Ireland BBC Northern Ireland ( ga, BBC Thuaisceart Éireann; Ulster-Scots: ''BBC Norlin Airlan'') is a division of the BBC and the main public broadcaster in Northern Ireland. It is widely available across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of I ...

journalist

Mark Carruthers Mark Carruthers OBE (born 1965) is a Northern Irish journalist. He currently presents a number of television and radio programmes for BBC Northern Ireland. Broadcasting work Carruthers first joined BBC Northern Ireland in 1989 contributing to ...

, who received an OBE at Buckingham Palace on 25 March 2011, in recognition of his leadership of the theatre at a highly critical time in its development. Since the theatre re-opened a permanent exhibition of the work of Belfast-born visual artist

Colin Davidson (artist) Colin Davidson (born 1968) is a Northern Irish visual artist, living and working near Belfast, Northern Ireland. An artist who works in themes, his recent large-scale head paintings have been exhibited worldwide. Education Davidson was born ...

has been on display at the theatre where he personally presented his work to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the President of Ireland during the Royal visit to Northern Ireland on 27 June 2012. This was the occasion, and the Lyric was the chosen site, for a public meeting between

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

and Martin McGuinness, Deputy First Minister for the Northern Ireland Assembly and a former commander of the IRA. The event is viewed by many as a positive sign for the ongoing peace process in Northern Ireland. In October 2018, as part of the theatre's 50th anniversary on the Stranmillis site, that theme of being "a shared place, a crossroads between communities" was marked at a symposium and over a weekend of celebratory events with the

Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...

noting the Lyric was a cultural bridge in a divided city.

Controversy

A Stormont investigation found that there were serious failing in the selection of a preferred bidder for the new Lyric Theatre building. The report stated that the way in which the contract was awarded was significantly flawed and failed to adhere to principles of good practice. Chairwoman of the Public Accounts Committee Michaela Boyle said: "The quality of the rebuilt Lyric Theatre is undisputed; we recognise that it is a highly impressive theatre and that it has deservedly won a number of prestigious awards. However, the end does not justify the means. My committee has found that there were significant departures from good practice." A year after Stormont's PAC reported, then finance minister

Simon Hamilton Simon Hamilton (born 17 March 1977) is a former Unionist politician from Northern Ireland representing the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Hamilton was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Strangford from 2007 to 2019; Ham ...

suggested that if the committee had actually found evidence of fraud the people they should be speaking to are the PSNI, not the BBC and that the committee had "slurred organisations and individuals."

Productions

* ''Propoganda'', 2022, by

Conor Mitchell Conor Mitchell is a Northern Irish composer, librettist and theatre-maker. His play, ''The Dummy Tree'', was commissioned by the Royal National Theatre for their 2009 New Connections series. Conor has been a great supporter of Youth Music Theatr ...

* ''Rough Girls'', 2021, by

Tara Lynne O'Neill Tara-Lynne O'Neill (born 16 November 1975) is a film, theatre and television actress from Northern Ireland. Early life Growing up she was an aspiring dentist, but abandoned this, after failing her General Certificate of Secondary Education in ...

it was later filmed for

BBC Four BBC Four is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It was launched on 2 March 2002

* ''The Border Game'', 2021 (with 2022 remount), by Michael Patrick and Oisín Kearney (with Prime Cut Productions) * ''Crocodile Fever'', 2019, by Meghan Tyler (with

Traverse Theatre The Traverse Theatre is a theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1963 by John Calder, John Malcolm, Jim Haynes and Richard Demarco. The Traverse Theatre company commissions and develops new plays or adaptations from contemporary p ...

) * ''The Alternative'', 2019, by Michael Patrick and Oisín Kearney * ''Here Comes The Night'', 2016, by

Rosemary Jenkinson Rosemary Jenkinson (born 7 September 1967) is an Irish poet, playwright, and short story writer. Biography Rosemary Jenkinson was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1967 and is a self-proclaimed "ex-civil servant". Her parents, James and Den ...

* ''Smiley'', 2016, by

Gary Mitchell Gary Mitchell (born 3 May 1965) is a Northern Irish playwright. By the 2000s, he had become "one of the most talked about voices in European theatre ... whose political thrillers have arguably made him Northern Ireland's greatest playwright". ...

* ''Death of a Comedian'', 2015, by

Owen McCafferty Owen McCafferty (born 1961) is a playwright from Northern Ireland. Early life Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, McCafferty in 1961 he was brought up in London from the age of 1 until aged 10 when his parents returned to Belfast. He was educat ...

(with

Abbey Theatre The Abbey Theatre ( ga, Amharclann na Mainistreach), also known as the National Theatre of Ireland ( ga, Amharclann Náisiúnta na hÉireann), in Dublin, Ireland, is one of the country's leading cultural institutions. First opening to the p ...

and Soho Theatre) * ''Demented'', 2014, by

* ''Mistletoe & Crime'', 2014, by Marie Jones * ''Can't Forget About You'', 2013, by David Ireland * ''Love, Billy'', 2013, by Graham Reid * ''The Man Jesus'', 2013, by

Matthew Hurt Matthew Christopher Hurt (born April 20, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. High school career Hurt attended John Marshall High S ...

* ''Molly Wobbly's T*t Factory'', 2012, by Paul Boyd * ''The Civilisation Game'', 2012, by

Tim Loane Tim Loane is a writer, director, lecturer and actor. Loane created the TV series ''Teachers'' for Channel 4 and was the lead writer for the first season. He was nominated at the 70th Academy Awards for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Fil ...

* ''White Star of the North'' 2012, by

* ''The Absence of Women'', 2010, by

*''Santa Claus .. What the Reindeer Saw'', 2008 * ''To Be Sure'', 2007, by

* ''1974'', 2006, by Damian Gorman * ''Merry Christmas Betty Ford'', 2005, by Conor Mitchell * ''The Snow Queen'', 2005, by

Hans Christian Andersen Hans Christian Andersen ( , ; 2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) was a Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, he is best remembered for his literary fairy tales. Andersen's fairy tales, consist ...

, adapted by Richard Croxford * ''A Very Weird Manor'', 2005, by Marie Jones * ''Merry Christmas Betty Ford'', 2005, by

* ''The Snow Queen'', 2005, by Richard Croxford * ''Paradise'', 2004, by Alan McKee * ''McCool XXL'', 2002, by Paul Boyd * ''Marching On'', 2000, by

* ''The Butterfly of Killybegs'', 2000, by Brian Foster * ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'', 1998, by Paul Boyd * ''Getting the Picture'', 1998, by

David Pownall David Pownall FRSL (19 May 1938 – 21 November 2022) was a British playwright and prolific radio dramatist performed internationally, and novelist translated into several languages. Life and career David Pownall was born in Liverpool on 19 May ...

* ''Tearing the Loom'', 1998, by

* ''To Hell with Faust", 1998, by Zoë Seaton * ''Drive On!'', 1996, by Bill Morrison * ''The Desert Lullaby: A Play in Two Acts'', 1996, by Jennifer Johnston * ''Lengthening Shadows'', 1995, by Graham Reid * ''Hidden Curriculum'' (revival), 1994, by Graham reid * ''Galloping Buck Jones'', 1994, by Ken Bourke (playwright) * ''Pictures of Tomorrow'', 1994, by Martin Lynch * ''The Private Picture Show'', 1994, by

* '' How Many Miles to Babylon?'', 1993, 2014, by Jennifer Johnston * ''Round the Big Clock'', 1992, by John Boyd * ''Pygmies in the Ruins'', 1991, by Ron Hutchinson * ''Rough Beginnings'', 1991, by Robert Ellison * ''Charlie Gorilla'', 1989, by John McClelland * ''The Belle of the Belfast City'', 1989, by Christina Reid * ''Culture Vultures'', 1988, by Robin Glendinning * ''Summer Class'', 1986, by John Boyd * ''Minstrel Boys'', 1985, by Martin Lynch * ''Northern Star'', 1984, by

Stewart Parker James Stewart Parker (20 October 1941 – 2 November 1988) was a Northern Irish poet and playwright. Biography He was born in Sydenham, Belfast, of a Protestant working-class family. His birthplace is marked by an Ulster History Circle blue ...

* ''Remembrance'', 1984, by Graham Reid * ''Castles in the Air'', 1983, by Martin Lynch * ''Indian Summer'', 1983, by Jennifer Johnston * ''Tea in a China Cup'', 1983, by Christina Reid * ''Kingdom Come'', 1982, by

* ''Speranza's Boy'', 1982, by John Boyd * ''The Interrogation of Ambrose Fogarty'', 1982, by Martin Lynch * ''Dockers'', 1981, by Martin Lynch * ''My Silver Bird'', 1981, by Patrick Galvin * ''Old Days'', 1981, by

Frank Dunne Lawrence Francis Dunne (1898 – 23 December 1937), generally known as "Frank" but also as "Beau" was an Australian cartoonist, born in Boorowa, near Harden, New South Wales. While apprenticed as a process-engraver in 1914, at the outbreak ...

* ''Victims'', 1981, by

Eugene McCabe Eugene McCabe (7 July 1930 – 27 August 2020) was a Scots-born Irish novelist, short story writer, playwright, and television screenwriter. John Banville said McCabe was "in the first rank of contemporary Irish novelists'. Biography Born t ...

it was later filmed for

RTÉ (RTÉ) (; Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the national broadcaster of Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on television, radio and online. The radio service began on 1 January 1926, whil ...

* ''Dark Rosaleen'', 1980, by Vincent Mahon * ''Facing North'', 1979, by John Boyd * ''Európé'', 1978, by Dominic Behan * ''The Rise and Fall of Barney Kerrigan'', 1977, by

* ''The Street'', 1977, by John Boyd * ''The Rise and Fall of Barney Kerrigan'', 1977 by Frank Dunne * ''It Would Be Funny...'', 1975, by Tom Coffey (playwright) * ''Guests'', 1974, by John Boyd * ''We Do It For Love'', 1974, by Patrick Galvin * ''The Last Burning'', 1974 by Patrick Galvin * ''Nightfall to Belfast'', 1973, by Patrick Galvin * ''The Farm'', 1972, by John Boyd * ''The Lads'', 1972, by Joe O'Donnell * ''The Flats (Belfast 1971)'', 1971, (1984) by John Boyd * ''Lá Fhéile Míchíl'', 1963, by

Eoghan Ó Tuairisc Eoghan Ó Tuairisc (''Eugene Rutherford Watters'') (3 April 1919 – 24 August 1982) was an Irish poet and writer. Life Eugene Rutherford Watters was born at Dunlo Hill, Ballinasloe, County Galway, to Thomas Watters, a soldier, and his wife, Mau ...

* ''Happy as Larry'', 1947, by

Donagh MacDonagh Donagh MacDonagh (22 November 1912 – 1 January 1968) was an Irish writer, judge, presenter, broadcaster, and playwright. Personal life MacDonagh was born in Dublin on St Cecilia's Day in 1912. He was still a young child when his father Thoma ...

, staged at

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 ...

References

External links

* {{Authority control Theatres in Belfast