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27/04/2011
Lyric Theatre Stages Opening Festival
The newly built Lyric Theatre - which officially opens on Sunday 1 May - is pulling out all the stops with a festival of events to welcome the iconic name back into production.
Opening with a gala performance of its first production The Crucible by Arthur Miller, rehearsals will also be under way for Brendan at the Chelsea, the opening production of the theatre's second main space in the Naughton Studio. Adrian Dunbar returns to the Lyric to direct and play the leading role in the play, which runs in the Naughton Studio, from 21 May to 19 June.
As The Crucible plays out in the main auditorium, with the hellish Salem witchcraft trials as an allegory to McCarthyism in the USA, the rest of the theatre will open up with a series of unique and taster events.
The McGrath Suite, the Spare Room and the theatre's new Café Bar will spring to life with a special opening fortnight festival of events including rehearsed readings, story-telling, music sessions, dance and drama workshops suitable for all ages.
Workshops include Shadow Play, Story Trekkers, prop making, drama workshops, set and lighting design.
Scottish super group Session A9 bring their unique fusion of traditional tunes and sophisticated Celtic class to the Lyric's stage to close the celebratory opening fortnight on 15 May on the Northern Bank-sponsored Stage.
World-class traditional musicians John McSherry, Donogh Hennessy and Mike McGoldrick will open the concert and bring a festival flavour to the stage. And there will be free traditional music sessions in association with An Droichead on 6, 13 and 14 May in the Café Bar.
The Lyric is also to celebrate Northern Ireland's fifth Polish Cultural Festival with a performance from renowned Polish pianist Pawel Kaczmarczyk and his Audiofeeling Band on 5 May and on Sunday 8 May a one-off performance of Poland 3 - Iran 2, a theatre football drama event which affectionately looks back at the memorable game in the 1976 Olympics.
The Lyric's Artistic Director Richard Croxford commented: "We are delighted to open up the doors of this wonderful building to the public.
"We have been planning for this moment for nearly three years and it has finally arrived.
"There has always been a great sense of family when you work at, or visit, the Lyric, and I am determined that we will continue that great tradition in our beautiful new home.
"Our doors will always be open to old friends and new - artists and audiences. We will achieve this through a diverse repertoire of classical, popular and contemporary drama. The opening fortnight of events is befitting the opening of this epic building."
See: www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
(BMcC/GK)
Opening with a gala performance of its first production The Crucible by Arthur Miller, rehearsals will also be under way for Brendan at the Chelsea, the opening production of the theatre's second main space in the Naughton Studio. Adrian Dunbar returns to the Lyric to direct and play the leading role in the play, which runs in the Naughton Studio, from 21 May to 19 June.
As The Crucible plays out in the main auditorium, with the hellish Salem witchcraft trials as an allegory to McCarthyism in the USA, the rest of the theatre will open up with a series of unique and taster events.
The McGrath Suite, the Spare Room and the theatre's new Café Bar will spring to life with a special opening fortnight festival of events including rehearsed readings, story-telling, music sessions, dance and drama workshops suitable for all ages.
Workshops include Shadow Play, Story Trekkers, prop making, drama workshops, set and lighting design.
Scottish super group Session A9 bring their unique fusion of traditional tunes and sophisticated Celtic class to the Lyric's stage to close the celebratory opening fortnight on 15 May on the Northern Bank-sponsored Stage.
World-class traditional musicians John McSherry, Donogh Hennessy and Mike McGoldrick will open the concert and bring a festival flavour to the stage. And there will be free traditional music sessions in association with An Droichead on 6, 13 and 14 May in the Café Bar.
The Lyric is also to celebrate Northern Ireland's fifth Polish Cultural Festival with a performance from renowned Polish pianist Pawel Kaczmarczyk and his Audiofeeling Band on 5 May and on Sunday 8 May a one-off performance of Poland 3 - Iran 2, a theatre football drama event which affectionately looks back at the memorable game in the 1976 Olympics.
The Lyric's Artistic Director Richard Croxford commented: "We are delighted to open up the doors of this wonderful building to the public.
"We have been planning for this moment for nearly three years and it has finally arrived.
"There has always been a great sense of family when you work at, or visit, the Lyric, and I am determined that we will continue that great tradition in our beautiful new home.
"Our doors will always be open to old friends and new - artists and audiences. We will achieve this through a diverse repertoire of classical, popular and contemporary drama. The opening fortnight of events is befitting the opening of this epic building."
See: www.lyrictheatre.co.uk
(BMcC/GK)
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29 April 2011
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An international architectural competition held almost eight years ago will today come to fruition as Belfast's newly rebuilt Lyric Theatre opens for the doors in time for its first performance. In 2003, the winners were declared as O'Donnell and Tuomey - taking the lead from 56 entries as the architects to design the new theatre facility.
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An international architectural competition held almost eight years ago will today come to fruition as Belfast's newly rebuilt Lyric Theatre opens for the doors in time for its first performance. In 2003, the winners were declared as O'Donnell and Tuomey - taking the lead from 56 entries as the architects to design the new theatre facility.
23 July 2012
Lyric Theatre Shortlisted For Architecture Prize
A new £18m theatre in Belfast has been short-listed for the 2012 Stirling Prize in architecture. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) put the new Lyric Theatre in the running for the £20,000 prize, alongside London's Olympic Stadium and Maggie's cancer centre in Glasgow.
Lyric Theatre Shortlisted For Architecture Prize
A new £18m theatre in Belfast has been short-listed for the 2012 Stirling Prize in architecture. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) put the new Lyric Theatre in the running for the £20,000 prize, alongside London's Olympic Stadium and Maggie's cancer centre in Glasgow.
20 May 2010
New Lyric Lays Solid Foundation
As Belfast's iconic Lyric Theatre continues its run of plays in its temporary home at the Elmwood Hall, a major milestone has (literally - given the literary inscription) been passed. The laying of the old Lyric Theatre's foundation stone in the new theatre, (also being built on the original Ridgeway Street location) has taken place.
New Lyric Lays Solid Foundation
As Belfast's iconic Lyric Theatre continues its run of plays in its temporary home at the Elmwood Hall, a major milestone has (literally - given the literary inscription) been passed. The laying of the old Lyric Theatre's foundation stone in the new theatre, (also being built on the original Ridgeway Street location) has taken place.
14 March 2011
Lyric Theatre To Open With Miller
Belfast's much missed Lyric Theatre is to re-open on 1 May, and early announcements are already causing quite a lot of excitement. The theatre will open with a gala performance of Arthur Miller's influential play, The Crucible. The play examining the hellish Salem witchcraft trials is viewed as one of the greatest plays ever written.
Lyric Theatre To Open With Miller
Belfast's much missed Lyric Theatre is to re-open on 1 May, and early announcements are already causing quite a lot of excitement. The theatre will open with a gala performance of Arthur Miller's influential play, The Crucible. The play examining the hellish Salem witchcraft trials is viewed as one of the greatest plays ever written.
17 December 2010
Northern Bank 'Sets Scene' For Lyric
The Lyric Theatre has announced a major funding boost as details of a five-year partnership with Northern Bank were revealed at an exclusive behind-the-scenes visit to the new theatre. Building work is nearing completion and the Lyric will reopen its doors on Sunday 1 May 2011 with a gala performance on the newly named Northern Bank Stage.
Northern Bank 'Sets Scene' For Lyric
The Lyric Theatre has announced a major funding boost as details of a five-year partnership with Northern Bank were revealed at an exclusive behind-the-scenes visit to the new theatre. Building work is nearing completion and the Lyric will reopen its doors on Sunday 1 May 2011 with a gala performance on the newly named Northern Bank Stage.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
