On Sunday, celebrated playwright Brian Friel officially opened the Northern Bank Stage. He told the invited audience, “I pray that Belfast, which must be rightly proud of what has been accomplished here, may reap the rewards of sustaining this theatre and that its excellence and excitement find echoes in the daily lives of Belfast people.” The 390 guests including Lyric alumni Ciaran Hinds, Conleth Hill and Brid Brennan took their seats for a gala performance of The Crucible, directed by Conall Morrison. The Lyric is a landmark building signaling the continued regeneration of the city and is viewed by many as a catalyst for real progress in arts provision for artists and audiences alike.
- The new Lyric theatre, seen by many as a symbol of the regeneration of Belfast, has officially opened its doors with a special event. The event was addressed by Simon Callow and Adrian Dunbar who assisted Lyric Chairman Mark Carruthers OBE in cutting the ribbon to declare the newly built theatre open. (Photo by Darren Kidd/Presseye.com)
