Archive - 2011
Posted on 16 December 2011In the six months since opening upwards of 40,000 theatre-goers have attended a show at the newly named Northern Bank Stage of Belfast's Lyric Theatre, it was revealed today. A string of hard-hitting plays and star performances have contributed to the success of the Northern Bank Stage, the main auditorium and focal point of the new £18.1million Lyric Theatre.
Posted on 01 December 2011The much-anticipated musical debut by Nicholas Lloyd Webber, son of Andrew, and his co-writer James D. Reid looks set to enchant theatre-goers across the region as The Little Prince enjoys its world premiere this weekend on the Northern Bank Stage of Belfast's Lyric Theatre.
Posted on 07 November 2011The Lyric Theatre in Belfast invites visual artists working in all genres to submit proposals for a permanent outdoor art work which is being commissioned to mark the recent opening of its new world-class venue.
Posted on 31 October 2011The Lyric Theatre in Belfast is today celebrating after winning an award in London last night for its promotion of cultural diversity. The annual Theatre Awards UK are given by the Theatrical Management Association (TMA) to honour creative excellence and the outstanding work seen on stages throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the Lyric Theatre won the Cultural Diversity award for its Pat and Plain project in partnership with the Ulster-Scots Agency.
Posted on 30 October 2011The Lyric Theatre's roots may be in theatre, but two folk music gigs in quick succession will dramatically enhance the repertoire.
Posted on 24 October 2011Rehearsals began today in the Lyric Theatre of a new musical adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's Le Petit Prince. Written by the younger generation of the Lloyd Webber dynasty, Nicholas, and James D. Reid, The Little Prince will be the Christmas treat on the Northern Bank Stage of the newly opened Lyric Theatre, Belfast from 1 December.
Posted on 21 October 2011Over 200 schoolchildren enjoyed a sneak preview of the Lyric Theatre's Christmas treat, The Little Prince, in advance of rehearsals starting on Monday. Nicholas Lloyd Webber and James D. Reid's first full scale musical collaboration has attracted a first rate musical theatre cast.
Posted on 17 October 2011The Lyric Theatre is delighted to welcome international performers from around the world for the next two weeks as part of this year's Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen's.
Posted on 14 October 2011The Lyric Theatre are pleased to announce that David Ireland has received the award for his outstanding play Everything Between Us.
Posted on 27 September 2011Experience cosmetic surgery as you've never heard it before in the Lyric Theatre concert version of Paul Boyd's new comedy musical Molly Wobbly's Tit Factory.
Posted on 14 September 2011Laughter at the Lyric beckons with The Painkiller, a new comedy co-produced by the theatre alongside one of Belfast's most famous sons Kenneth Branagh and writer/director Sean Foley. The Painkiller stars Branagh along with comedian of the moment Rob Brydon in the English language première of Francis Veber's French comedy.
Posted on 24 August 2011The Lyric Theatre's new season begins this week with two iconic theatre companies performing under the one roof: the Lyric Theatre's production of Owen McCafferty's The Absence of Women and the Abbey Theatre' s production of B FOR BABY.
Posted on 22 August 2011Local and national talent will share centre stage in the Lyric Theatre's Autumn/Spring season launched today, including Kenneth Branagh, Rob Brydon, double Olivier award-winning and Tony award nominee Conleth Hill and Niamh Perry from TV talent show I'd Do Anything.
Posted on 16 August 2011The Lyric Theatre is launching a new year-round training programme called Theatre School in September and will offer a suite of drama programmes designed to suit all ages and abilities for children and adults.
Posted on 11 August 2011The Lyric Theatre and Northern Bank are giving the public a chance to see the magic of the stage come to life with the launch of an innovative interactive wall.
Posted on 05 August 2011The Lyric Theatre's commitment to showcasing the work of local writers on a wider platform sees its new production of Owen McCafferty's The Absence of Women as the first play staged in the new theatre to go on tour.
Posted on 29 July 2011The Lyric Theatre invited eleven children and their host families from the Newtownabbey branch of the Chernobyl Children Appeal NI to watch a performance of The Jungle Book and meet the cast afterwards. The theatre's critically acclaimed production of The Jungle Book runs at the Lyric Theatre until 14 August.
Posted on 18 July 2011A spectacular jungle complete with vines, a river and trees has covered the Northern Bank Stage of the Lyric Theatre as the venue prepares for its first family show, a new musical adaptation of The Jungle Book opening on Saturday 23 July. For the first time since its opening, the theatre's brand new forestage will be put to use, making the performance space even bigger and showing off the theatre's facilities.
Posted on 05 July 2011The Lyric Theatre hosted a motivational Skills Exchanges Event in partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company on 2 and 3 July at the new theatre. The Lyric is a regional partner in the RSC's Open Stages project, which engages with amateur theatre companies.
Posted on 04 July 2011Due to demand and prior to a tour to Perth and London's Tricycle Theatre, the Lyric Theatre will revive Owen McCafferty's play The Absence of Women in August 2011.
Posted on 27 June 2011First Minister Rt. Hon Peter D. Robinson recently visited the new Lyric Theatre to find out more about the role that Northern Ireland's only full-time producing theatre plays in promoting local culture, employment, economic and community development.
Posted on 06 June 2011Martin Lynch's critically acclaimed and popular play Dockers was first produced by the Lyric in 1981 and makes a timely return to the theatre when it previews from Sunday 12 June. Dockers was pivotal in establishing a very Belfast brand, breaking new ground and opening a floodgate of creativity for local talent.
Posted on 16 May 2011Renowned Ulster actor Adrian Dunbar makes a return to the Lyric Theatre directing and playing Irish National Treasure Brendan Behan in Brendan at the Chelsea.
Posted on 11 May 2011The Lyric today expressed sadness at the death of Patrick Galvin. The Irish playwright and poet, who was best known for the 2003 film Song For A Raggy Boy, became playwright-in-residence at the Lyric in 1974.
Posted on 02 May 2011The new £18.1m Lyric Theatre on Belfast's River Lagan opened its doors at the weekend with a series of special events. On Saturday, in the Naughton Studio, the opening ceremony included performances from actors Adrian Dunbar and Simon Callow, and concert pianist Barry Douglas. Braniel Primary School also performed an excerpt from one of the Creative Learning projects that the Lyric has delivered in partnership with local schools.
Posted on 22 April 2011The new Lyric Theatre opens on Sunday 1 May with a gala performance of its first production The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Miller's compelling dramatisation of the hellish Salem witchcraft trials, an allegory to McCarthyism, quickly became a central and revolutionary work in the canon of American drama. With its cast of 19 actors, The Crucible will be one of the largest shows the Lyric has ever produced and is an ideal opportunity to showcase the new auditorium - the Northern Bank Stage - and break in the theatre's rehearsal room.
Posted on 28 March 2011With just over a month to go until the opening of the new £18m Lyric Theatre, today saw an historic occasion with the first rehearsal for the first production, Arthur Miller's The Crucible. The cast of 19 actors - a mix of Lyric stalwarts and new faces - got a glimpse of the theatre's auditorium and took their first tentative steps onto the Northern Bank Stage where, on 1st May, the drama will begin.
Posted on 24 March 2011The Lyric Theatre expressed delight that its Chairman, Mark Carruthers received an OBE from HRH Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace for his services to drama in Northern Ireland on Thursday 24 March.
Posted on 18 March 2011The Lyric Theatre is working with twelve local schools in the final year of an Education and Outreach programme designed especially for the theatre to work with schools during its time off-site. The Pat and Plain project, which began in 2009, has already successfully played in 18 primary schools across Northern Ireland.
Posted on 14 March 2011The stunning new £18.1million Lyric Theatre opens with The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Hailed as one of the greatest plays ever written, the play marks the return to the Lyric of what it does best: producing professional drama and working with and nurturing the best of local indigenous talent.
Posted on 01 March 2011The Lyric Theatre has revealed that a Playwright-in-Residence will take up a year's post at the theatre when it opens in May 2011. The newly appointed writer, David Ireland, will be a key associate artist for the Lyric as new writing talent is central to the theatre's artistic policy. David's residency is an integral part of a wider plan to nurture and support the development of plays and playwrights and he will have a unique opportunity to work in a busy theatre environment at a formative stage in his career development, as well as working on a commission for the theatre.
Posted on 23 February 2011The Lyric Theatre today expressed sadness at the death of one of its earliest stalwarts, the distinguished painter TP Flanagan. Terry was a supporter of the early Lyric Theatre and was amongst the first Trustees when the Lyric was established as a charitable trust from 1960. Terry designed and painted many sets for the early Lyric in its base in Derryvolgie Avenue.
Posted on 10 February 2011Why not support the Lyric and help raise funds to purchase equipment for the new theatre by naming a seat in the main auditorium. This is a unique opportunity to mark a special date, like Valentine's Day, pay a lasting tribute to a friend or loved one whilst demonstrating your commitment to the arts.
Posted on 20 January 2011With only 100 days remaining until the grand re-opening, the Lyric Theatre today announced highlights from its dramatic first season in a spectacular new £18.1million building on the banks of the River Lagan.
Tickets go on sale at 10am on Monday 24 January for a season that sees familiar names such as Kenneth Branagh, Rob Brydon and Adrian Dunbar sharing the spotlight with the next generation of theatre talent, including Nicholas Lloyd Webber.