THE autumn season at the Lyric Theatre kicks off this week with a mad maelstrom of music, drink and mayhem in the celebrated Irish classic,xa0The Playboy of the Western Worldxa0by J.M Synge.
As the darker nights draw in, the Lyric invites you to savour a rich harvest of drama in its forthcoming season that will thrill theatre-lovers and newcomers alike. The next five months, from September to January, can be summed up with five figures:
- 5 people affected by knife crime
- 4 characters splitting their sides in A&E
- 3 women who look suspiciously witch-like
- 2 children with a very sweet tooth
- And 1 rather fetching Playboy
Fans of Synge will delight in this very energetic, primal production ofxa0The Playboy of the Western Worldxa0under the direction of Conall Morrison, who won Best Director forxa0The Cruciblexa0– the first play in the newly built theatre.
Starring Patrick Moy (The Importance of Being Earnest) and Orla Fitzgerald (The Wind that Shakes the Barley),xa0Playboyxa0pulls no punches in its portrayal of life in the west ofxa0Ireland.xa0It tells the story of a stranger Christy Mahon who takes refuge in a shebeen and is idolised by the locals after claiming he has killed his father.That is until his ‘dead’ father walks in…
Belfastxa0Festival at Queen’s
The dark theme continues as the witching hour approaches in October with the return of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies,xa0Macbeth. The bloody tale of murders, witchcraft and the corrupting effects of ambition is directed by Lynne Parker who creates a darkly comic version of the Scottish play by harnessing the wit and muscularity of thexa0Ulsterxa0idiom.
The strong cast includes Andrea Irvine as Lady Macbeth, Stuart Graham as Macbeth and Michael Condron as Banqo. This five-week run on the Northern Bank Stage is part of the Belfast Festival at Queen’s and includes Wednesday matinees, ideal for school groups which enjoy a discounted rate.
Northern Irelandxa0premiere
The Lyric’s Naughton Studio also offers a season of powerful drama beginning withxa0The Long Roadxa0by Shelagh Stephenson. This poignant play tackles one family’s journey to cope with a senseless knife attack which claims their young son’s life.
Directed by the Lyric’s Artistic Director,xa0Richard Croxford, thisxa0Northern Irelandxa0premiere deals with the tragic scourge of knife crime and is recommended for adults over 16.
Musical interlude
Taking advantage of the fantastic acoustics in the Northern Bank Stage, Wonderland Promotions presents singer-songwriter Brian Kennedy for one night only on 10 October.
Having toured the world supporting Van Morrison, this consummate performer will sing a wide range of his hits and a selection from his current album,xa0Voice.
Comedian-actress-columnist Nuala McKeever takes to the Naughton Studio in November with a dark comedyxa0In The Windowxa0about a depressed woman who confronts a burglar in her own home. Expect to laugh and be moved to tears in this hilarious andxa0often poignant look at what happens when two very different people are thrown together unexpectedly for one life-changing night.
Christmas Treats
A Christmas treat for young and old, the enchanting musical fairy-talexa0Hansel + Grettelxa0returns to the Lyric’s Northern Bank Stage from 2 December to 13 January.
The well-known traditional tale aboutxa0two clever children, two desperate parents, and an ill-advised trip into the woods, where the children meet a witch with a most unusual taste in home décor, is set to a toe-tapping score that is sure to light up the festive season.
Local writer and composer Paul Boyd first staged this popular children’s musical at the Lyric in 1999 and it remains the most commercially successful musical production ever staged in the theatre’s long history.
For the grown-ups who want to get into the Christmas spirit and those who don’t, the Lyric finishes the year with a brand new comedy revue,xa0Forgetxa0Turkey! (We’re going to Phuket this Christmas).
Set in an A&E department with an elderly man on a trolley and aided by not-so-innocent members of the public, this hysterical Christmas comedy looks back on a busy year of historic events, Olympic achievements and dubious Shades of Grey…
Penned by talented trio, Dan Gordon, Colin Murphy and Gary Mitchell, this is the perfect escape from hectic Christmas shopping and awkward New Year parties with the neighbours.xa0Forgetxa0Turkey!runs from 13 December to 13 January at various times, with prices to suit even Scrooge from £10 to £18. Enjoy tasty festive bowl food, mince pie and a glass of wine or bottle of beer before the performance.
Creative Learning
There are plenty of opportunities for young and not-so-young to get involved with the Lyric, whether it be a one-off workshop or drama programme.
Enrolment is now open for the autumn term of thexa0Lyricxa0Theatrexa0School, which runs from September to December and offers a fantastic range of drama programmes for children and adults. See the Lyric website for more informationxa0www.lyrictheatre.co.uk/theatre-training.
The Lyric is delighted to welcome back London-based directorxa0Scott Williamsxa0to deliver another one-week intensive course in September on the world famousxa0Meisner Technique. This acting course is appropriate for practitioners new to the technique, but will also extend to those who have previous experience. In addition, there will be a three hour evening course for beginners.
Advance notice spring highlight
The star ofxa0The Thick of It,xa0andxa0TV showxa0Mock The Week,xa0Chris Addisonxa0brings his critically acclaimed tourxa0The Time Is Now, Againxa0to the Lyric Theatre for one night only on 10 March. Book now for this top-class comic on the Northern Bank Stage, whose solo show was described byxa0Time Outxa0magazine as “gloriously funny”
“This has been a wonderfully rewarding year both on and off stage at the Lyric,” said Lyric Artistic Directorxa0Richard Croxford. “We are delighted to welcome back Conall Morrison,xa0the award-winning director of our opening productionxa0The Crucible,xa0to work his genius onxa0Thexa0Playboy of the Western Worldxa0which opens our autumn season.
“We have plenty of first class drama to keep you entertained and enthralled over the next few months and perhaps pick up some more theatre awards along the way. We are thrilled to be a part of the Belfast Festival at Queen’s which includes our stunning production of one of the greatest plays of all time,xa0Macbeth.
“I’m also looking forward to directing thexa0Northern Irelandxa0premiere ofxa0The Long Road.xa0And you know it won’t be long until we serve up a truly tasty Christmas withxa0Hansel + Grettelxa0for schools and families and, for very big children, our adult comedy revue ofxa0Northern Irelandxa0in 2012,xa0ForgetTurkey!”
Arts Council ofxa0Northern Irelandxa0Chief Executive, Roisín McDonough, said: “The Lyric Theatre has helped putxa0Northern Irelandxa0on the artistic map over the past year. It has won a string of theatre and architectural awards and has even been shortlisted for the prestigious Stirling Prize.xa0 However, asNorthern Ireland’s only full-time producing theatre, the key aim is to stage quality drama and the Lyric’s autumn season doesn’t fail to deliver. Audiences can anticipate programme highlights, including both an Irish and a Shakespearean classic –xa0The Playboy of the Western Worldxa0andMacbeth. We look forward to another successful season at this wonderful arts venue.”
Gerry Mallon, Northern Bank Chief Executive congratulated the Lyric on a fantastic year. He said: “We approach our second autumn season with great anticipation for the new productions on the Northern Bank Stage. I must congratulate the Lyric Theatre after having won 16 awards ranging from performances to branding to tourism.
“As our local economy continues to reap the benefits of increased tourism figures we are proud to have an award-winning cultural offering and a building that is not only loved by the judges and architects, but also by visitors and patrons including our Bank staff and customers.”xa0
For more information on the Lyric’s season, go toxa0www.lyrictheatre.co.ukxa0or contact the Box Office on (028) 9038 1081.
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