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NOTE FROM THE WRITER
TARA LYNNE O’NEILL
Two brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm had an unfortunate surname, its Grimm, that’s their surname, Grimm. Born in 1785/86 in Germany to a wealthy family of nine tragedy hit when their father passed away when the boys were only ten and eleven, casting their family into poverty. Riches to rags was their story. They carried on their education paid for by their aunt but had to abandon their studies when their mother also passed away. The brothers had to support their family whose poverty was so extreme that food was often scarce. Jacob and Wilhelm found jobs as librarians and the world of books became a light, and light is precious in a world so dark. You see, Libraries belong to everyone. Its contents do not judge the rich or the poor. Jacob and Wilhelm’s hungry minds could feast on fantasies.
Introducing this year’s Lyric production of Hansel & Gretel, where the skilled adaptation comes from the talented Tara Lynne O’Neill, recognized by many as Ma Mary from the award-winning hit comedy Derry Girls. Join us as we catch up with Tara Lynne to uncover her inspiration behind reimagining this beloved tale. Q: What was your inspiration for the piece? A: “My inspiration for this version of Hansel & Gretel was The Grimm brothers themselves. The original writers of the classic tale. Their life was one of twists and turns. One of riches to rags and ultimately back to riches. A tale of survival. It’s a message I believe we all need to remember. That nothing is forever. That our story is still unwritten. That circumstances can change and that dreams can come true.”
A Library is a building full of treasures, shadows, wonder and magic. Where the brothers could remove a book to reveal a ladder to another world. On every shelf there was a step to somewhere else, which was especially important for Jacob and Wilhelm who were stuck where they were.
Q: What should audiences expect from the show? A: “Audiences should expect a new sweet TWIST on a classic tale. Christmas laughs, funny characters, popping music. A hoot!”
They soon set about rewriting their own story.
Q: What is it like writing a Christmas show? A: “Writing a Christmas show is a huge responsibility. For most people a Christmas show is their first introduction to theatre. Be they 5 or 75.
They collected all the tales they had heard growing up. All the folklore from their town, from the city, then from the whole country. They published their first book, Children’s and Household Tales in 1812. These stories became so popular that the brothers received honorary doctorates from universities. The brothers are now among the best-known storytellers. You may have heard of a few of their tales. Cinderella? Sleeping Beauty? And of course our very own Hansel & Gretel? Often these folk tales were quite “Grimm” so the brothers would end them with a funny rhyme. In the tale of Hansel and Gretel : “Our story’s done. See a mouse run. And whoever catches it can make a great big furry hood from it.” It got me thinking. Who is this mouse? What was his part in the tale of Hansel and Gretel? Why did he stay silent until the end?
“
And then I remembered Jacob and Willhem. The hardships they had to overcome. The way in which they rewrote their own story. From riches to rags to then becoming the most famous storytellers of their time.
It can switch them on to the joy of theatre or switch them off. It was my first experience of theatre and it lit a flame in me that burns to this day. The buzz of the audience, the lights going out and then boom! You are welcomed into another world. Letting your imagination run riot. As an actress for 33 years, that’s what I have been allowed to do. I now hope to continue letting my imagination soar, only this time with a pen and paper.” Q: What’s your favourite thing about Christmas? A: “My favourite thing about Christmas is simply Togetherness. Being around people. Family, friends. Sharing traditions and of course who doesn’t love pressies.”
And so I arrived at the tale of MONTY the quiet mouse. Whose hardships are re-written by falling into the world of fairy tales. A call to every child and adult that their story is still unwritten. That circumstances can change and that dreams can come true.
HANSEL & GRETEL / 24 NOV 2023 - 06 JAN 2024 / LYRIC THEATRE PRODUCTION
NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
PATRICK J O’REILLY
I have one particular memory from my childhood that warms the heart and stretches my smile from ear to ear. 1988. (Revealing my age here!) It was a couple of days after Christmas, that space where the Santa Claus buzz shifts to the ‘count the days before school not so buzzing time’. I was about eight or nine years old and one of my presents was the treasured Roald Dahl book set. I vividly remember one afternoon hiding under the bed, the book as my treasure, rapidly turning the pages, my mind racing from chapter to chapter, my eyes widening with every plot twist and turn, my imagination being carried by Matilda, Miss Honey and the terrifying Missus Trunchbull! I couldn’t close the book, devouring the story in massive imaginative mouthfuls (try saying that out loud) and over the next few years, my secret hiding place became my compass and my books became the vital map for my creativity to grow and expand in the years that followed. Books became my creative force during the the turbulent teenage years, finding moments of pure escapism, seeking inspiration from characters in their own stories and finding golden nuggets of strength in my own Imagination. To this day, I have so many characters to thank for their ongoing advice! (In particular James and the Giant Peach) I am pure buzzing to share the fantastical world of books with the wonderful magical experience of live theatre. A huge thank you to everyone at the Lyric for continuing to create a magical playhouse for us all. Thanks to all of the creative team for their incredible imaginations and hard word and to the magical cast who are about to brighten your world with their creative magic! A special thank you to writer TaraLynne O’Neil for creating a powerful story for us all to play inside and share with you today. Finally, we really need one more ingredient to complete this story and that my friends, is you! Merry Christmas!
HANSEL & GRETEL / 24 NOV 2023 - 06 JAN 2024 / LYRIC THEATRE PRODUCTION
SONGS ACT 1 NEVER GONNA GET AWAY FAIRYTALE TOWN TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN INTO THE FOREST USE YOUR HEAD EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE SWEET! ACT 2 SUGAR RUSH SWEET DREAMS LOOK UP TO THE STARS SAVE THE DAY WHAT’S YOUR STORY? MUSIC & LYRICS BY KATIE RICHARDSON
HANSEL & GRETEL / 24 NOV 2023 - 06 JAN 2024 / LYRIC THEATRE PRODUCTION
NOTE FROM THE COSTUME DESIGNER
GILLIAN LENNOX
When designing the costumes for Hansel & Gretel, there were discussions around two worlds, the real world, and the story book world. We decided that the characters in the story book world would look as if they were illustrated and crafted. The trompe l’oeil effect on the costumes, Gretel’s and Evil Aunt’s frills are all illustrated onto the fabric, as are Hansel and Uncle Dan’s shirts along with Minx and Myrtles bows. As part of the story has been set in the library, we have printed the script onto fabric and used for Monty and Koos headpieces along with Willum the bookworm coat and waistcoat – it has also been used for patches on Hansel & Gretel’s Costume. The costumes have a certain innocence and home spun feel and the team have been patchworking and cross stitching in the workroom. We have used a lot of retro styling and vintage fabrics. For Bertie Bat we looked to the 1960s Batman mask and Minx the Cat is a glorious full-on patchwork costume to complement Myrtle the Witch’s candy coloured costume. Good enough to eat!
HANSEL & GRETEL / 24 NOV 2023 - 06 JAN 2024 / LYRIC THEATRE PRODUCTION
THE COMPANY
Snatterpea, Willum, Bertie Jones, Teddy, Tree 2 & Minx Woodcutter, Uncle Dan, Tree 3 & Myrtle Gretel & Split Hansel & Slugger Bugs, Evil Aunt, Chip Barnaby, Tree 1, Ned & Koo Monty
Mark Dugale
Writer Director Music & Lyrics: Composer & Sound Designer Set Designer Lighting Designer Costume Designer Choreographer
Tara Lynne O’Neill Patrick J O’Reilly Katie Richardson
Cello Violin Viola Saxophone Drums Bass Piano Electronics
Laura McFadden Clare Hadwen Richard Hadwen Ben Castle George Sloan Si Francis Matt Evans Katie Richardson
Orla Gormley Catriona McFeely Odhrán McNulty Christina Nelson Conor Quinn
Stuart Marshall Mary Tumelty Gillian Lennox Paula O’Reilly
Songs produced by Katie Richardson Additional mixing and engineering by George Sloan at Half Bap Studios
HANSEL & GRETEL / 24 NOV 2023 - 06 JAN 2024 / LYRIC THEATRE PRODUCTION
Executive Producer Senior Producer Casting Director Production Co-ordinator
Jimmy Fay Morag Keating Clare Gault Kerry Fitzsimmons
Head of Production
Adrian Mullan
Production Manager
Siobhán Barbour
Assistant Production Manager Fergal Lonergan Company Stage Manager Stage Manager On Book Assistant Stage Managers Stage Management Placement Student
Aimee Yates Louise Graham Kerri Stokes Jude Barriscale Shauna Boyle
Technical Manager
Arthur Oliver-Brown
Senior Production Technician
Ian Vennard
Chief LX and Programmer
Jonathan Daley
Technicians
Liam Hinchcliffe Declan Paxton Corentin West
Set Construction
Lyric Scene Shop
Lead Scenic Carpenter Scenic Artist Scenic Carpenters
Aidan Payne Chris Hunter Finn Steadman Matt Laverty Jack McGarrigle
Scenic Construction Apprentice Workshop Assistants Costume Supervisor Costume Assistants Dresser / Maintenance Pattern Cutter Makers Knitter Hair & Make-up With thanks
Phelan Hardy Conor Barbour Gillian Lennox Ciara Leneghan White Mairead McCormack Arlene Reilly Erica Poole Sarah Carey Arlene Riley Marian Hegarty Audhild Zimmerman Caroline Reynolds Becky Chapman (QUB) Niamh McGrath (Lir)
Photography / Videography
Carrie Davenport Leighton Milne Johnny Frazer Melissa Gordon
Graphic Designer
Adam Steele
Public Relations / Press
Rachael Harriott Communications
HANSEL & GRETEL / 24 NOV 2023 - 06 JAN 2024 / LYRIC THEATRE PRODUCTION
MARK DUGALE
ORLA GORMLEY
CATRIONA MCFEELY
SNATTERPEA, WILLUM, BERTIE JONES, TEDDY, TREE 2 & MINX
WOODCUTTER, UNCLE DAN, TREE 3 & MYRTLE
GRETEL & SPLIT
Mark trained at the Guildford School of Acting and the Irish Film Actors Studio, Dublin.
Orla trained at The Arts Educational School London of Musical Theatre.
Catriona is actor and singer from Derry and is based in Belfast. She studied Acting at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama.
Theatre credits include: Alex in The Book Thief (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry and Curve Theatre, Leicester); Kevin T and Others in Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre, London and The Abbey Theatre, Dublin); Alice (Lyric Theatre) Macheath in The Threepenny Opera (Opera Northern Ireland); Theo in Beauty and The Beast (Lyric Theatre); Jesus Christ Superstar (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), Bob Crewe in Jersey Boys (Piccadilly Theatre), Derek Scully in The Commitments (Palace Theatre), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre), Jest End (Leicester Square Theatre), Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre); Mary Sunshine in Chicago (Cambridge Theatre), Soup in Merry Christmas Betty Ford (Lyric Theatre); Chris in Have a Nice Life (Union Theatre), Asher in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (national tour), Randolf in Bye Bye Birdie (Landor Theatre), The Boy Friend (50th anniversary production). Workshops include: Breakfast on Pluto; The Commitments; London Time. Recordings: Les Miserables – The Movie; Stage and Screen (BBC Radio 3).
Theatre credits include: The Last Ship (PW Productions - American Tour) , Musical of The Year (Eloy Productions), The Last Ship (UK Tour/Princess of Wales, Toronto), Beauty and The Beast, Molly Wobbly’s Tit Factory (The Lyric Theatre), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (ATG/Jerry Mitchell Productions), Comrade Rockstar (Julian Woolford), One Night Stand (PBM), HATCH! (The Mac Theatre), Den Of Iniquity (BASA Productions), GET GOT (The Main Space/Edinburgh Fringe), Comedy Of Errors (Theatre at the Mill), Molly Wobbly’s Tit Factory (Assembly Rooms/Edinburgh Fringe), Sleeping Beauty (Market Theatre), Lead Production Singer (P&O Azura), Romeo & Juliet (NZ Opera Company), Night of a Thousand Voices (SSE Arena Belfast), Jack & The Beanstalk and Peter Pan (Millennium Forum). Workshops include: Houdini developmental workshop (Sting / Karl Sydow), Devils Advocate (Julian Woolford). Original Cast Albums include: Lizzie Musical of the Year, Renata - Comrade Rockstar and Ruth - Molly Wobbly’s Tit Factory.
Concerts: A Little Princess (Southbank Centre); Night of A Thousand Stars (Royal Albert Hall); Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert (02 Arena). Television: Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV). Mark was the recipient of the Kenneth Branagh Renaissance Award to pursue training.
HANSEL & GRETEL / 24 NOV 2023 - 06 JAN 2024 / LYRIC THEATRE PRODUCTION
Theatre credits include: Not on our Watch and The Shedding of Skin (Kabosh Theatre Company); Rough Girls, A Walk Is Not A Walk, Blackout, Women’s Christmas Rehearsed Reading (Lyric Theatre); Cinderella (Cahoots NI & The MAC); Secrets of Space (Cahoots NI); Teechers (Bruiser Theatre Company); Prism, Dancing at the Disco at the End of the World, Tribe, Yes Sir, I Can Boogie, Closer, and Snoozle & The Lullbugs (Replay Theatre Company); Dear World (Big Telly); Cinderella and The Frozen Princess (GBL Productions); Tangled (Cre:8); Date Show (Three’s Theatre Company); The Man of Mode (Derby Live); Aladdin (Millenium Forum Productions); Pacifists Guide to the War on Cancer (Workshop, National Theatre); The Playboy of the Western World, An Apple A Day and An Englishman Walks into an Irish Bar (London Irish Rep Theatre.) Film credits include: Joy to the World (Calico Pictures/Sky) and The Quarry (Village Films).
ODHRÁN MCNULTY HANSEL & SLUGGER
CHRISTINA NELSON
CONOR QUINN BUGS, EVIL AUNT, CHIP BARNABY, MONTY TREE 1, NED & KOO
Odhrán trained at the Guildford School of Acting from 2015-2018. He recently returned from a two month run in New York performing Good Vibrations (Irish Arts Center, 2023). Theatre credits include: Eternal Love, Good Vibrations (Lyric Theatre); Private Peaceful (Pintsized Productions); Tragik Plastik (Tinderbox Productions); John Hume: Beyond Belief (Derry Playhouse). Screen credits include: The Butchering (Amazon); Frank of Ireland (Channel 4); The Good Christian Women’s Writing Group (RTE); I Saw Myself Dead (Independent Film). On top of his acting credits Odhrán also works in production and is currently working on his most recent short film Dead On Arrival which is scheduled for release later this year.
Christina Nelson is a highly acclaimed actress, director and writer. Earlier this year Christina was in New York, Irish Arts Centre with Good Vibrations after a Belfast run in Grand Opera House. She recently toured with Living room (Big Telly) a multimedia production and with The Cassandra of Ulster (Up The Lagan theatre company). At the beginning of the year Christina performed in a one woman show I’ll Tell My Ma by Patricia Gormley (Greenshoot Productions).
Conor Quinn is an actor-musician from “Banbridge Town in the County Down”. He is a graduate from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Theatre credits include: Into the Woods (NI Opera), Paddington (Histrionic Productions), Cinderella (Cahoots NI), Cabaret de la Boite Noir (NI Opera), The Lost Boy (NI Opera) and Mojo Mickybo (Bruiser NI). Screen credits include: In Heat (BFI/ Film4).
During 2022 Christina played Bette Midler and Dolly Parton in the successful tours of The Broads and I Got You Dolly, Love Cher written by Maria Connelly. Christina has written and directed many children’s productions that have been performed throughout NI in school and festivals. The most recent being Maverick The Mermaid and Me as part of the Maritime Festival. Last year Christina Directed a sell out show for online sensation Belfast Girls at the SSE Arena Belfast. TV/Film Credits: Hope Street (BBC); Back in 5 (Armchair and Rocket); History Makers (Director Stephen Pierce, BBC); Make the Difference, (Director Michael O’Neil); My Mother and Other Strangers (Director Adrian Shergold, BBC). Christmas at the Lyric wouldn’t be the same without Christina, and she is looking forward to spreading some festive cheer again this year, after last years Lyric Theatre’s Snow Queen.
HANSEL & GRETEL / 24 NOV 2023 - 06 JAN 2024 / LYRIC THEATRE PRODUCTION
CREATIVES TARA LYNNE O’NEILL WRITER Tara Lynne O’Neill is a Northern Irish Writer & Actress for Stage and Screen. She wrote and starred in her debut play Rough Girls (Methuen Drama), which was commissioned by and performed at Lyric Theatre, Belfast and later filmed and broadcast on BBC Four. Tara has also written productions for The MAC, Belfast including NINOW100 and A Christmas Carol. Tara is well known for her acting roles in Derry Girls (Channel 4/ Netflix), Last Rifleman with Pearse Bronson and The Bay (ITV).
Tara is the current Artist In Residence at The MAC, Belfast.
PATRICK J O’REILLY DIRECTOR Patrick trained at the Le Coq International school in Paris and is a writer and Artistic Director with Tinderbox theatre company in Belfast. Since his appointment in 2016, he has directed a number of critically acclaimed works. He was awarded the Stewart Parker BBC Drama Award for his production The Weein in 2009. The Man Who Fell To Pieces was nominated for a ZeBBie award for best play of 2018 and in 2021 he received a National Lottery Nomination for his continuous artistic programmes for artists during the pandemic. Most recent productions include Rhino (Belfast International Arts Festival); Mirrrorball (Replay Theatre Company); Something Different March at the MAC; Birds of Passage in the Half Light (Edinburgh Festival 2022); and Dressed for Space (Rotterdam DakenDagen). Patrick also works as an accredited licensed Creative Therapist in Northern Ireland.
KATIE RICHARDSON MUSIC & LYRICS: COMPOSER & SOUND DESIGNER Katie Richardson is a musician, composer, sound designer and musical director who currently makes her own music under the name Hex Hue. For several years she was a member of Choice nominated ‘Pleasure Beach’ with whom she toured the UK and Ireland. Under several different guises, she has worked and collaborated with musicians such as Foy Vance and Duke Special as well as supporting artists like Van Morrison, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Jesca Hoop, Bell X1, All Saints and many more. Katie is one of award winning theatre company, Prime Cut’s, Reveal artists which champions and develops emerging theatre makers. She is currently working on a music based commission with them as part of this award. In Summer 2020 Katie curated the Creative Hub for the TedX Stormont online and co-founded Safe in Sound which is a new initiative with the vision to create a safe, strong, connected creative sector founded on equality, diversity and respect. This year Katie was commissioned to write a new body of music to celebrate 30 years of Beat Carnival which was performed in The Mac in September 2023. Theatre Credits include: Good Vibrations, Rough Girls, All Mod Cons and Beauty and the Beast (Lyric Theatre); The New Electric Ballroom (The Gate Theatre); Father the Father (Prime Cut Productions); Not on Our Watch, Callings, The Shedding of Skin (Kabosh Theatre Company); Brink (Maiden Voyage Dance); The Man Who Fell to Pieces, Huzzies (Tinderbox Theatre Company). Film credits include; Gael Force (Tara Hegarty); Oyster (Farset Films); Let us be seen (Vish Films); The Death of a Projectionist (Out of Orbit); BIND - a dance film, Eileen McClory and Quotidian.
HANSEL & GRETEL / 24 NOV 2023 - 06 JAN 2024 / LYRIC THEATRE PRODUCTION
STUART MARSHALL SET DESIGNER Stuart’s previous Christmas designs at the Lyric include The Snowman, Season’s Greetings, Alice the Musical, Christmas Eve Can Kill You, Pinocchio, Howl!, Red Riding Hood, The Star Catcher, The Nativity: What the Donkey Saw, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Bah Humbug!, Charlotte’s Web, Mistletoe and Crime, New Years Eve Can Kill You, Peter Pan, Driving Home for Christmas, Sleeping Beauty and The Snow Queen. Seasonal designs elsewhere include Aladdin, Robin Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella (Waterfront Belfast); All Through the House (Tinderbox, Crescent Arts Centre); Christmas Eve Can Kill You (Belfast Civic Arts Theatre, Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey); and other versions of Hansel and Gretel at the Marketplace Theatre Armagh, Pavilion Theatre Dun Daoghaire and at the MAC Belfast.
GILLIAN LENNOX COSTUME DESIGNER After graduating with BA hons in Fashion and Textiles at The University of Ulster Gillian Lennox went on to be a designer within the fashion industry. After a spell designing for Marks & Spencer Menswear Gillian began a 14-year career working for a London based manufacturing/design company where she progressed to Head Designer supplying companies such as on line retailer ASOS, and Southern Ireland high street stores Dunnes and A-Wear. Her designs for ASOS and A – Wear were often featured in magazine editorials. Gillian’s work often took her overseas to Paris, Syria and Morocco where she gained insight into the entire process of textile design, garment and pattern construction. Throughout her career Gillian also continued with her own freelance work and has been a maker and illustrator for
Universal Studios when they first came to Northern Ireland with films such as Your Highness and more recently was a maker for the movie The Northman. Gillian has assisted on the BBC Proms and Children in Need and designed and made the costumes for The Belfast Mela South Asian Dance Academy. Before being appointed as Costume Supervisor with the Lyric Theatre in August 2017 Gillian freelanced as a maker with the Lyric Theatre, working on various productions including Little Red Riding Hood & the Big Bad Wolf, The Gingerbread Mix Up, The 39 Steps and The Ladykillers. For the Lyric Theatre, Gillian has supervised the costume department on all producing shows for the past six years and has been the Costume Designer for Dr Scroggy’s War, Good Vibrations, Alice: The Musical, Double Cross, Rough Girls (Arts & Business Awards), Dark of the Moon, Shirley Valentine, Peter Pan: The musical, 1984 (Postponed Covid), Sadie, Dracula, Pinocchio, Blue stockings, The Snow Queen, Romeo & Juliet & Good Vibrations 2023 (Grand Opera House, Belfast & Irish Arts Center, New York) Most recently Gillian was the costume designer for Tosca (NI Opera) where her designs were showcased on the Grand Opera House stage.
MARY TUMELTY LIGHTING DESIGNER Mary Tumelty, born and lives in Belfast, graduated from Queen’s University, Belfast in 2004 with a BA in Drama Studies. She trained at the Grand Opera House, Belfast in Lighting, Sound and Stage Management for two years. In 2006 she moved to a full- time permanent position within the Brian Friel Theatre at Queen’s University as a theatre instructor. Recent Lighting design credits include; Abomination (Lyric Theatre - The Belfast Ensemble & Outburst Festival), which received an Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Opera 2020; Kindermusik (Belfast Children’s Festival); The Saviour (The Everyman Theatre, Cork - Landmark Productions);
Body Politics (MAC, Belfast, Brian Friel Theatre - MACHA Productions); A Night in November (MAC, Belfast - Soda Bread Theatre Company); Pinocchio (Lyric Theatre); How to Bury a Dead Mule (Naughton Studio); Blue Stockings (Lyric Studio); Abomination (Abbey Theatre, Dublin); Birds of Passage in the Half Light (Gilded Balloon Edinburgh - Tinderbox); Propaganda (Lyric Theatre - Lyric Theatre & Belfast Ensemble); The Snow Queen (Lyric Theatre); Silent Trade (Naughton Studio - Kabosh Theatre Company); Agreement (Lyric Theatre); The Hen Do (Grand Opera House Belfast GBL); Burnt Out (Lyric Theatre); Rhino (Naughton Studio - Tinderbox); The Headless Soldier (Lyric Theatre). Relights: The Dead An Opera (The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin); Backwards up a rainbow, Landmark Productions (Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire). Film Credits: Ten Plagues (The Belfast Ensemble); Democracy Dances (Orchestra and Electronics collaboration); Ulster Orchestra and The Belfast Ensemble (Waterfront Hall); The Musician (Lyric Theatre The Belfast Ensemble); Conversations with Friends (Lyric Theatre - CWF Productions, Element Pictures, BBC Three, Hulu) Mary is delighted to be working on the production Hansel & Gretel for the Lyric’s Christmas show.
PAULA O’REILLY CHOREOGRAPHER Paula O’Reilly is a Belfast/Dublin based Choreographer, Movement Director and Intimacy Coordinator in training. She has worked as an Assistant Director and Choreographer combined on many projects to great success. Her expertise lies in creating and extracting a physical language unique to each production and to each individual directors vision. Paula is a skilled and passionate collaborator with years of experience and can structure choreography ranging through many different styles of dance. A long with all of this, drawing on her career as a
Dancer and Comedic Performer she is able to coax comedy to life within physical expression and timing. She is a founding member of award winning dance theatre company ponydance. Paula is a 2020 Irish Times Theatre Awards nominee for Best Movement Direction for the Bitter Like A Lemon and Abbey Theatre co production ‘In Our Veins’. Theatre Credits Include: Somewhere Out There You (The Abbey Theatre, Dublin); LIE LOW (Ciara Elizabeth Smyth, Primecut Productions, The Abbey Theatre Dublin & The Traverse); The Half Moon (The Lyric Belfast & The Pleasance Dome); The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Primecut Productions & The Lyric Belfast); Tartuffe (The Abbey Theatre, Dublin & National Tour); Silent Trade (Kabosh, The Lyric Belfast & NI Tour); Aladdin (GBL, The Waterfront, Belfast); Bridesmaids of Northern Ireland (GBL, The Grand Opera House Belfast); Lie Low (Ciara Elizabeth Smyth, Project Arts Centre, The Lyric); The Half Moon (Alice Malseed & Green Shoot Productions); Callings (Kabosh); Distortion (The MAC); The Shedding of Skin (Kabosh); Beauty and The Beast (The Marketplace & GBL); Secrets of Space (Cahoots NI, The MAC Belfast & USA Tour); The Snapper, Revival (The Gate Theatre, Dublin); The Odd Couple (The Everyman, Cork); Bigger People (The Local Group and Pentabus); In Our Veins (Bitter Like A Lemon and The Abbey Theatre); The Tales of Hoffmann (Irish National Opera); The Snapper (The Gate); Pulse (Primecut Productions); Hansel & Gretel (The MAC); SINNEAD, One Night Only for Two Nights (The MAC); Harder, Faster, More (Red Bear Productions at The Project); Acis & Galetea (Ireland National Opera at The National Opera House and National Tour); Herculaneum (Wexford Festival Opera); Cristina Regina di Svezia, Le Roi Malgre Lui, A Village Romeo & Juliet, The Magic Flute (Wexford Festival Opera); Orfeo ed Euridice (Buxton Opera Series).
HANSEL & GRETEL / 24 NOV 2023 - 06 JAN 2024 / LYRIC THEATRE PRODUCTION
FROM THE REHEARSAL ROOM
HANSEL & GRETEL / 24 NOV 2023 - 06 JAN 2024 / LYRIC THEATRE PRODUCTION
HANSEL & GRETEL / 24 NOV 2023 - 06 JAN 2024 / LYRIC THEATRE PRODUCTION
Board of Directors Sir Bruce Robinson (Chairman) Kirsty Black Hannah Crowdy Paul Hayes Jean Horstman Mike Mullan Dr Mark Phelan Rosie Timoney Louise Warde Hunter Patron Liam Neeson OBE Executive Producer Jimmy Fay Senior Producer Morag Keating Casting Director Clare Gault Production Co-Ordinator Kerry Fitzsimmons Head of Finance & HR Micheál Meegan Finance Manager Michael Ford Finance & HR Officer Barry Leonard Finance & Admin Assistant Shireen Azarmi Casual Finance Assistant Wei Xia Head of Development & Marketing Claire Murray Marketing Manager Rachel Leitch Marketing Officers Emma Brennan Adam Steele Digital Marketing Officer Beverly Steele Development Officer Ben McDaid
Head of Production Adrian Mullan
Casual Scenic Carpenter Finn Steadman
Production Manager Siobhán Barbour
Casual Workshop Assistants Conor Barbour Phelan Hardy
Assistant Production Manager Fergal Lonergan Company Stage Manager Aimee Yates
Head of Creative Learning (Career Break) Philip Crawford
Stage Managers Stephen Dix Louise Graham
Acting Head of Creative Learning Erin Hoey
Technical Manager Arthur Oliver-Brown
Creative Learning Manager (Fixed-Term) Kathy Moore
Senior Production Technician Ian Vennard Theatre Technicians Liam Hinchcliffe Declan Paxton Corentin West Scenic Construction Manager & Lead Carpenter Aidan Payne Scenic Construction Apprentice Jack McGarrigle Costume Supervisor Gillian Lennox Costume Assistants Ciara Leneghan-White Mairead McCormack Casual Costume Assistants Ally McConnell Arlene Riley Casual Theatre Technicians Mairtin Bradley Deborah Branson Stephen Cassidy Jonathan Daley Patrick Freeman Emma Gibson Annemarie Langan Shane Lunn Barry McCusker Ross McDade Sheila Murphy Danny O’Shea James Shortt Adrian Wall
HANSEL & GRETEL / 24 NOV 2023 - 06 JAN 2024 / LYRIC THEATRE PRODUCTION
Creative Learning Administrator Claire Hamilton Head of Customer Service Julie McKegney Customer Service Manager Seán Gallagher Assistant Customer Service Manager Anna McErlane Duty Supervisors Orla Graham Marina Hampton Gerard Kelly Carley Magee-Tollerton Tierna McNally Box Office Manager Emily White Box Office Supervisor Liam Rowan Housekeeping Debbie Duff Customer Service Staff Rebecca Allen Pamela Armstrong Mackenzie Banas Jennie Burns Carla Bryson Michelle Calvert Steven Calvert Jolene Craig Conor Cupples
Alacoque Davey Cara Devlin Ryan Donnelly Scott English Harrison Gordon Orla Graham Marina Hampton Teresa Hill Lauren Hutchinson Chris Kane Megan Keenan Gerard Kelly Greta Kelly Megan Kelly Shannen Lofthouse Carley Magee-Tollerton Jordan McCaffery Tiarnán McCarron Ellen McCormick Clara McDevitt Jane McErlain Carol McGill Patricia McGreevy Suke McKegney Ruby McKinney Shaunagh McKirgan Tierna McNally Francis Mezza Catherine Moore Donál Morgan Solomon Morrow Sionnán Ní Nualláin Hana O’Neill Samantha Obman Bernadette Owens Nathalie Parent Ellie Pearson Alba Perez Ben Purdy Bobbi Rai Purdy Sarah Reid Liam Rowan Morgan Shuttleworth Samantha Walker Jennifer Walsh
LYRIC THEATRE STAFF LIST
Volunteers Jean Dumas Yvonne Dumas Joan Gormley Eveline Wilkinson
HANSEL & GRETEL / 24 NOV 2023 - 06 JAN 2024 / LYRIC THEATRE PRODUCTION