As the countdown to demolition begins at Ridgeway Street, The Lyric Theatre launches an ambitious oral history archive. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund the Lyric Lives Heritage Project aims to capture for future generations the memories and landmarks of the building's past. Kate Roddy launched the archive by recalling her role as a volunteer with the Lyric Association in the fifties.

"I had a great love of theatre and must have met the O'Malleys through this. And Mary had a wonderful way of getting everyone involved, so it wasn't long before I was looking after the post show suppers at Derryvolgie and fundraising for the new building."

Kate hopes that the project will help to highlight the significance that the Lyric has held for so many people; "Being involved in the association enriched my life in so many ways". Her passion for the theatre has obviously had an impact closer to home, with her son actor Lalor Roddy, regularly delighting audiences at the Lyric. Kate says she goes to see most shows but has a special fondness for ones in which her son was involved. "Sam Thompson's Over the Bridge was very special. Lalor was in that with Mark Mulholland - it was a great show"

The Lyric Lives Heritage Project will chart memories of the theatre from it's beginnings as an amateur organisation on the Lisburn Road, through to the opening of the original Ridgeway Street site and the forty years of productions and community activity that have taken place since then. Transcripts of all contributions will be lodged with The Linenhall Library, complementing their extensive Theatre Archive to form a major new public resource. And selected extracts from recorded material will also form part of a multi media exhibition, which will be launched in August 2008.

Michael Diskin Executive Director of the Lyric said today:

"We're all very focussed on looking to the future but an essential part of this is to ensure that The Lyric continues to be informed by it's past. The Lyric's story is unique and it's a history that bears testament to the central role that the arts plays in the life of the community and in particular this city's passion and talent for theatre. We want to build on this energy and the people best placed to ensure that happens are our audiences."

Heritage Lottery Fund Northern Ireland Manager Paul Mullan said, "This is a wonderful opportunity to create a permanent record of memories of workers and audiences of the Lyric at a key point in the theatre's development. Through the support of this HLF grant, the Lyric Theatre will be able to capture and celebrate the impact it has had on the communities and cultural heritage of Belfast."

You can get involved in the Lyric Lives Oral History Archive in a number of ways:

From March 24th there will be a dedicated page on the Lyric Theatre web site where you can find out details of activities and forward your memories for inclusion. During the run of The Parker Project at The Old Northern Bank on Waring Street there will be an automated "bank your memories" recording facility situated in the historic vault. The Parker Project which is a co-production with Rough Magic Theatre Company runs from 22nd April – 17th May. 2008