25/04/2003

Hurricane play gets go-ahead despite arson attack

The staff at the Old Museum arts centre in Belfast are today in the middle of a clean up operation after a random arson attack on the building.

Fortunately the fire was contained within a small office at the back of the building after petrol was poured through a window on Wednesday.

Company members from Ransom Productions who are set to restage the smash-hit Hurricane, the story of the life of Alex Higgins from next Thursday (May 1) had been rehearsing in the building earlier in the day. Writer and performer Richard Dormer said: “We are just glad that there was no-one hurt and that the fire didn’t take hold of the rest of the building. Last time we were at the Old Museum arts centre the show had to be postponed as I injured myself in rehearsals and now this.

"But Belfast audiences have been looking forward to the Hurricane revival and as the saying goes, the show must go on."

The Old Museum arts centre is functioning as normal with Jill McKeown’s exhibition currently running, and the Hurricane going ahead as planned opening next Thursday May 1 and running to Saturday May 10.

(MB)

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