Lyric Theatre Belfast - Spring/Summer 15 Season Brochure

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to become a corporate partner of the lyric, contact Chief Operating Officer Ciarรกn McAuley on (028) 9038 671 or Ciaran@lyrictheatre.co.uk

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A Message from our Principal Funder The Lyric is home to so much that is outstanding about locallyproduced professional theatre in Northern Ireland. It plays a huge role in the development of local talent, from actors to writers, directors to stage designers and technical crews. This quality and diversity is studded throughout this season’s programme.

For starters, we have a new play by Arts Council Major Individual Award Winner, Owen McCafferty, and a brace of award-winning plays by Brassneck, including Man In The Moon, which proved such a great hit in New York and which features as the Arts Council’s showcase performance at the Brussels Platform in March.

The Lyric’s own productions will as always be a highlight, as an unprecedented twelve nominations at the 2014 Irish Times Theatre Awards ably testifies.

The Arts Council and the Lyric have enjoyed a strong partnership for many decades and we continue to support this celebrated theatre in all aspects of its development. We are proud this season to be supporting the Lyric’s excellent education and outreach work through the All-Ability Creative Learning Showcase, which sees Kids In Control providing new opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to engage in theatre training.

Finally, I would take this opportunity to thank Mark Carruthers, who is retiring from the board of the Lyric, for his remarkable commitment and contribution to the development of the theatre.

Throughout his time at the Lyric, his desire to make this theatre the very best that it can be has always been paramount, helping to affirm the Lyric’s position as a leading light of the local arts scene.

Roisín McDonough Chief Executive Arts Council of Northern Ireland

E M WELCO A Message From Our corporate partner As always, Jimmy, Ciaran and the team at the Lyric should be congratulated for putting together yet another outstanding programme for us to enjoy.

There is much to look forward to in 2015, featuring the very best of local writing, production and performance talent – from the return of much loved Belfast playwrights to exciting new work.

This season sees the Danske Bank Stage host the world premiere of Death of a Comedian by local playwright Owen McCafferty. The captivating Faustian-style drama follows comedian Steve Johnston as he wrestles with life’s choices and compromises.

In May, the Lyric welcomes The Shadow of a Gunman, the first play in Sean O’Casey’s well known ‘Dublin Trilogy’. Often described as a tragedy, the play tells the story of two young men who share lodgings in a Dublin tenement against a backdrop of the Irish War of Independence.

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This year will also feature the return of Gulliver’s Travels to Northern Ireland – its place of inspiration. With music by local singer songwriter Duke Special and book by Andrew Doyle audiences will be enchanted with the stage adaptation of Jonathan Swift’s world-renowned novel.

It will be a great pleasure for us, as corporate partner, to welcome much loved local playwright Marie Jones back to the Danske Bank Stage in August with the critically acclaimed Fly Me to the Moon.

Productions of this calibre are what audiences have come to expect from the Lyric and this season certainly does not disappoint. We look forward to warmly welcoming you to another fantastic season on the Danske Bank Stage.

Gerry Mallon CEO Danske Bank UK

NEW SEASON Welcome to our spring/summer season.

This is an exciting season for us as we have engaged with some dynamic and prestigious producing partners to present classic plays and new work.

Producing partners that include the Abbey Theatre, Soho Theatre and Decadent Theatre, as well as an extraordinary range of local and international visiting companies.

“Comedy”, said W.C. Fields one day on a film set to a seven year old child actor and a monkey, “is a serious business. A serious business with one purpose, to make people laugh”.

The business may have expanded these days to become a multi-billion dollar industry, but the purpose remains the same - to make people laugh. The means to do that varies as always. One comedian’s harmless prattle is another’s deadly bore. One person’s satire becomes another person’s blasphemy and that makes comedy a deadly serious business, as we have recently seen. There is no end to what the human imagination can find offensive. Or funny.

Our Abbey, Lyric, and Soho co-production of Owen McCafferty’s Death of a Comedian explores the complex inner and outer world of one comedian as his career develops and he tries to understand how to achieve this task. Owen’s new play has all the hallmarks of what makes him one of our most exciting playwrights. It has his dark humour, the tough poetry of how people attempt to communicate, the tilt at fate of his central character, like Sisyphus endlessly rolling the rock up the hill to see it roll down again. Forever. And his best jokes. Ever.

Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman features a writer of short scary stories as its chief protagonist.

It is with great pleasure that we present this brilliant thriller of a play as it is rarely granted permission to be staged anywhere, and I’d like to welcome Andrew Flynn and his Decadent Theatre company back to the Lyric.

Sean O’Casey’s first play The Shadow of a Gunman, set during the War of Independence, is our second exciting co-production with the Abbey Theatre. It is a radical and energised production by the hugely talented Wayne Jordan with a fantastic cast that includes Mark O’Halloran and Belfast’s own Dan Gordon in his Abbey debut, and his first acting appearance on the new Lyric stage.

This only scratches the surface of what promises to be a rich, varied and exciting season, and I’d encourage you to explore what’s on offer on the Danske Bank Stage and in the Naughton Studio.

Here in this programme of work I hope you find something you will enjoy. We at the Lyric are here to serve you and offer you the very best in Irish theatre.

Finally, I’d like to pay tribute to Mark Carruthers who has announced his retirement from the Board of the Lyric Theatre after serving for 14 years, including the past 8 years as Chairman.

A passionate advocate of the arts in Northern Ireland and a staunch supporter of the Lyric, Mark played a crucial leadership role in overseeing the construction and opening of the new theatre in 2011. I appreciate how much the theatre means to Mark and I know he will continue to be supportive of the Lyric’s work. Mark has stepped down from the Lyric Board but he isn’t stepping away from the wider family of Lyric supporters.

JIMMY FAY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Patron / Liam neeson obe trustees / acting chairman / sid mcdowell cbe phil cheevers, stephen douds, nicky dunn, henry elvin, patricia mcbride, dr mark phelan, sir bruce robinson 5 / LYRIC THEATRE

Co-productions and tours The news that the Lyric Theatre has been nominated for an unprecedented 12 Irish Times Theatre Awards this year is a real cause for celebration, and coincidentally comes at the start of a year when we will be embarking on a greater number of ambitious tours of our productions and co-productions than ever before.

The importance of bringing our work to new audiences outside Belfast cannot be overestimated. Aside from the natural desire to give as many people as possible the opportunity to see – and hopefully enjoy – our productions, the sight of Lyric Theatre shows on stage in Dublin (Death of a Comedian, The Shadow of a Gunman), London (Death of a Comedian), Glasgow (Can’t Forget About You) and elsewhere sends a powerful message about the calibre of the arts in Northern Ireland. Moreover, our collaborations with the Abbey, Soho and Decadent signal an exciting era of co-creation – pooling artistic ideas and technical expertise to develop productions with a uniquely cosmopolitan flavour.

And this is just the beginning. In the second half of this year we hope to announce further collaborations and tours, including plays by such celebrated authors as Brian Friel and Conor McPherson.

Watch this space…

Can’t Forget About You by David Ireland will tour to the Tron Theatre, Glasgow in 2015

VISITING PRODUCTION

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Mojo Mickybo is a vibrant and fast-paced tale of two boys growing up in Belfast in the early 1970’s—one from “up the road” the other from “over the bridge”. Their friendship centres on playing headers, spitting from cinema balconies and re-enacting Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid while blissfully unaware of the sectarian violence brewing around them.

Directed by David Grant, former Artistic Director of the Lyric Theatre and Drama Lecturer at Queens University Belfast. This production stars Seamus O’Hara (Six Degrees BBC) and Christopher Grant (Scúp BBC/TG4 and The Sparticle Mystery CBBC).

“Both actors bring a charm and energy to their performances...a sensitive realisation of a demanding script....a performance that is well worth seeing.”

Irish Theatre Magazine

TIMEs 8PM TICKETS £10 BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

This is an opportunity for a new generation of theatre-goers to experience one of McCafferty’s most popular and successful plays and a chance for those who saw it first time round to rediscover its continuing relevance today.

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by Ste ed t c Dire Set & Costume Designer Michael Vale Lighting Designer Ben Ormerod Sound Designer Tom Mills assistant director sara joyce Previews: February 7, 8 & 10 See www.lyrictheatre.co.uk for full performance schedule and concessions

Prices Previews and selected matinees £15 Off-peak (Tues & Weds 7.45pm and all other matinees) £20 Peak (Thurs – Sat 7.45pm) £24.50 CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE WEDS 25 FEB 7.45PM AUDIO-DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE THURS 26 FEB 7.45PM

SAT 7 FEB – SUN 1 MAR tickets: £15 - £24.50 Meet Steve Johnston. He’s always wrestling with compromise.

As his career takes off, the stages get bigger. As he is thrust into the limelight, the stakes get higher.

Death of a Comedian is the eagerly-awaited new play by Belfast-born Owen McCafferty (Quietly, Scenes from the Big Picture) which has its world premiere at the Lyric Theatre before moving to the Abbey Theatre, Dublin and the Soho Theatre, London.

An Abbey Theatre commission and a coproduction between the Lyric Theatre, the Abbey Theatre and Soho Theatre.

CONTAINS STRONG LANGAUGE #deathofacomedian

BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

He’s constantly under the spotlight. He’s a standup comedian.

A powerful and deliciously dark comic story about the price of success in the world of standup comedy, Death of a Comedian is directed by Steve Marmion and stars Brian Doherty, Katie McGuinness and Shaun Dingwall. Written by one of Northern Ireland’s leading playwrights, it is Owen McCafferty’s first play since becoming Artist in Residence of the Lyric Theatre.

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VISITING PRODUCTION

this is how we fly A collaboration between fiddler Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and jazz clarinetist Seán Mac Erlaine already sounds an intriguing proposition, but throw in American hard shoe dancer Nic Gareiss and Swedish percussionist Petter Berndalen and the results are something quite special. This is How we Fly play everything from Irish fiddle tunes to Appalachian folk and polskas from Berndalen’s native Sweden. Shot through with the exuberant, anarchic spirits of folk and jazz, this is traditional music as you’ve never heard it before.

“Fresh-faced, unboxable music” The Irish Times

Back by popular demand

Eddi Reader Eddi Reader was brought into the limelight with Fairground Attraction and their single Perfect and parent album First of a Million Kisses both of which topped the British charts. However, it has been her subsequent solo albums which signalled her increasing ability to assimilate different musical styles and make them all very much her own. From the traditional to the contemporary, her rare blend of meltingly true vocals and towering romanticism combine with an astute and pragmatic nature to make her a unique and powerful figure in contemporary British music.

She has effortlessly developed into one of popular music’s most thrilling and affecting performers.

BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

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Time 8pm TICKETS £15

Mon 16 Feb Time 7.45PM TICKETS £20

VISITING PRODUCTION

c21 Theatre Company world premiere of

Stitched Up

By Rosemary Jenkinson Directed by Stephen Kelly ‘We do not have a situation that is a crisis in emergency departments across Northern Ireland’ Edwin Poots. January 2014 Stitched Up is an entertaining satirical drama about the current crisis within the NHS. A surgeon, Aidan, is reaching meltdown with his career. His wife, Kate, is meanwhile preoccupied with her own campaign to remove the peace walls around Belfast, not to mention the arrival of Bono!

This dark, edgy and funny three-hander by the writer of White Star of the North looks at how difficult it is to be moral in contemporary society.

TUES 17 – SAT 21 FEB Time TUES – SAT 8PM & SAT 3PM TICKETS £15 / £12 CONCESSION

Additional date added due to popular demand.

Jake O’Kane, star of BBC NI’s hit show The Blame Game and the country’s best known political stand-up, returns with his brand new show, Tongue Lashing. Following the successes of his earlier Teargas and Mouthful tours, Jake is back with a ferociously irreverent review of Northern Ireland in 2014.

Having created one of the most talked about comedy moments when dealing with the flags issue, Jake now turns his satirical eye on the local issues, events and characters which made the headlines over the past twelve months.

Turning his attention to everything that makes Northern Ireland unique, Jake’s new show is the perfect antidote to the year that’s been. Everyone’s fair game and as Jake’s angry this show is for 16+ only.

SUN 1 MAR Time 7.45pm Tickets £18

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But one night, when Aidan is alone, he is forced to make a life-or-death decision that could change everything…

Jake O’Kane’s Tongue Lashing

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VISITING PRODUCTION

Dana Masters Fresh from wowing the 11,000 strong crowd at Proms in the Park and a recent performance on BBC NI “The Arts Show”, Dana Masters plays the Lyric Theatre for the first time as a solo artist with the backing of Linley Hamilton and band.

Dana covers Soul classics and Jazz standards, filling her songs with a redemptive power and a heartfelt passion that speaks directly to your soul.....not to be missed.

BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

Media Partners BD Promotions Clear Channel Alexander Boyd Displays

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Mon 9 Mar Time 7.45PM TICKETS £17.50

St. Patricks Eve with McPeake Ask Bob Dylan,Van Morrison, or Bono about the roots of Irish Music, and they will point you to the McPeake Family!

The four generations of the McPeake Family are one of those rare Irish gems that have been whispered as ‘folk-royalty.’ Their beloved song Wild Mountain Thyme has been on the lips of music lovers across the globe - in Irish pubs, concert halls, and music festivals worldwide - since it was first performed in the late 1940s. This hauntingly beautiful folk anthem has been covered by music superstars such as Glen Frey (The Eagles), Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan and Judy Collins, to name but a few.

McPeake’s unique blend of pop, folk, and Irish music attracts widely diverse audiences that might not otherwise commingle. Fans consistently use superlatives such as fresh, authentic, original, and dazzling to describe the experience that is – McPeake!

Mon 16 Mar Time 7.45PM TICKETS £15 Concessions £12.50

belfast children’s festival

FRAGILE

By Onirica Mecanica

Wed 11 & Thurs 12 Mar

Spanish artists Onirica Mecanica present a performance of robots and objects exploring the place that machines and technology has in our world today.

Running time: 50 mins. Recommended age: 8+

Times Wed & Thurs 7.30PM Thurs 11AM (Schools) TICKETS Adults £10 Children £8

Laika, Belgium present

Nipt ‘Narrow’

A man lives in a small house, he gets a visit from a woman. They seem born for each other. She moves in with him. The house is small but the love is great.

Fri 6 – Sun 8 Mar

Large enough to be so close.Yet so close that it becomes cramped. And that hurts…

Times Fri, Sat & Sun 6pm, Sat 4pm Tickets Adults £10 Children £8

Running time: 50 mins. Recommended age: 6+

BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

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VISITING PRODUCTION

‘A laugh from the moment the adult actors come on stage wearing short pants.This is a highly entertaining adaptation of three of O Connor’s funniest stories’ Irish Examiner

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Much loved author Frank O’Connor

First confessions are the hardest...

wed 11 – Sat 21 mar

The short stories of Cork-born Frank O’Connor are universally regarded as being classics of their kind.

TIMEs wed – Sat 7.45pm Sat Matinee 2.30pm (additional performances sun 15 2.30pm, tues 17 7.45pm)

Now, Patrick Talbot has taken three of the funniest stories and adapted and directed them for the stage. My Oedipus Complex, The Genius and First Confession are brought together in a single full-length play - God Bless The Child will provide a hugely entertaining and uplifting night of theatre.

Meet young Michael, who goes into mortal combat with his father when he returns from the First World War; Larry, a genius who can’t understand why the world can’t keep up with him; and Jackie, who has the grim task of not only making his first confession and communion, but must also deal with his very obstreperous grandmother.

‘A thoroughly enjoyable parcelling of three of Ireland’s best short stories’ Irish Times

TICKETS Off Peak (Tues – Thurs Evening + Matinees) £18 Peak (Fri & Sat Evening) £22

VISITING PRODUCTION

”Sometimes you don’t even know what you’ve been craving until the real thing comes along” New York Times “McDonagh’s tricks and turns have a purpose – they are bridges over a deep pit of sympathy and sorrow, illuminated by a tragic vision of stunted and frustrated lives.” Irish Times

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From internationally-acclaimed author Martin McDonagh, writer and director of feature films such as In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, comes the first ever Irish tour of The Pillowman.

Winner of the Olivier Award for Best Comedy, the Evening Standard Award for Best New Play and two Tony Awards, The Pillowman has taken the West End and Broadway by storm.

Following the success of their recent tour of McDonagh’s A Skull in Connemara, Decadent Theatre Company return with this must-see production. The Pillowman celebrates the raw, vital human instinct to invent fantasies, to lie for sport, to con for one’s own end. Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman is as dark a comedy as it is possible to find.

CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE AND ADULT CONTENT

previews mar 24, 25 & 26 TIMEs Tues – Sat 7.45pm, Sat & Sun 2.30pm TICKETS Previews £15 Off-Peak (Tues – Thurs Evening + matinees) £20 Peak (Fri & Sat Evening) £24.50

BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

When stories become gruesome reality, surely it can only be the author who is to blame? An interrogation room. Two police officers are determined to make a young writer pay the ultimate price for telling tales, when it transpires that the content of some of his short stories bear an uncanny similarity to horrific real-life crimes.

Tues 24 Mar – Sun 19 Apr

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VISITING PRODUCTION

The Nualas lock up your husbands

BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

In their most dangerous show ever The Nualas break the mould they made previously with a deluge of new songs, higher harmonies, different keys and slightly shorter dresses, if that’s possible!

And there’s more – expect new Nuala revelations, harder laughs, slicker riffs, and even tighter foundation wear, if that’s possible! When this show previewed in Dolan’s of Leitrim at least three Gardai and a relationship counselor had to be called. As part of their ensuing community service (six weeks scooping out litter from the Shannon) the girls were obliged, as a warning, to call this sweltering new show, Lock Up Your Husbands.You have been warned.

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David Hull Promotions presents

the 4 of us The 4 Of Us bring their 25th anniversary acoustic show to the Lyric Theatre showcasing songs from their brand new album, as well as songs from their extensive back catalogue.

From their first anthem Mary - still a radio favourite, through to the UK-charting She Hits Me, to Sunlight - the band has notched up over two decades of radio hits and six Top 20 charting albums.

Don’t miss this rare chance to catch them live.

‘Never before have I been to a gig where the atmosphere has been so electric …’ The Irish News

“The Nualas have put comedy and music in a blender and come up with a world class comedy souflee.”

Sunday Times

sun 26 apr 2015

Sun 29 Mar

Time 7.45pm TICKETS £20

TIMEs 7.45pm TICKETS £16

VISITING PRODUCTION

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By P oe t le Tony t by (Mis Directed Ciaran Nolan g Starrin After a four week off-Broadway run in New York City where the play was nominated for ‘Best Play’, ‘Best Actor’ and ‘Best Director’ at the 1st Irish Theatre Festival, Brassneck Theatre Company (producers of the smash-hit The Holy, Holy Bus – see page 23) are delighted to be back on home soil again at the Lyric for one week only!

Sean Doran hasn’t had the best of luck. He’s been sacked from his job, his girlfriend and child have left him and he’s back living in his ma’s house... If this kid bought a duck, it would drown.

A hilarious rollercoaster with a dark twist, Man In The Moon is the tender story of one man’s resolve, to overcome everything that life has to throw at him.

Post Show Discussion A discussion with author Pearse Elliott, actor Ciaran Nolan and invited guests on Thurs 23 Apr will address the issues raised by the play in regards to Mental Health.

TIMEs Tues – Sat 7.45pm, Sat & Sun 2.30pm TICKETS mon - thurs £16 / concessions £14 fri £20 / concessions £18 CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE

BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

Alone with a carry-out at the Half Moon Lake, Sean reflects on his life so far as he tries to make sense of it all. Over the course of one moonlit evening, he takes us on a soul-searching journey through life, love and death, via his past, present and future.

Mon 20 – Fri 24 Apr

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O’Casey Jordan ean S y B Wayne by Directed Set and Costume Design: Sarah Bacon Lighting Design: Sarah-Jane Shiels Composer and Sound Designer: Mel Mercier CAST includes: Malcolm Adams Mr Gallogher Lloyd Cooney Tommy Owens David Ganly Seamus Shields Dan Gordon Adolphus Grigson Louise Lewis Mrs Grigson Amy McAllister Minnie Powell Mark O’Halloran Donal Davoren Catherine Walsh Mrs Henderson

Previews May 3, 5 & 6 See WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK FOR FULL PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE and concessions SCHOOLS PERFORMANCES AVAILABLE PRICES Previews and selected matinees £15 Off – Peak (Tues & Weds 7.45pm and all other matinees) £20 Peak (Thurs – Sat 7.45pm) £24.50 Schools £10 + Every 11TH ticket free CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE Tues 2 Jun 7.45pm signed & AUDIO-DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE Thurs 4 Jun 7.45pm

Sun 3 May - Sat 6 Jun tickets: £15 - £24.50

Donal’s neighbours believe he is a gunman on the run. The way Minnie Powell looks at him encourages him to play along. However, when the city is placed under curfew, his fantasy starts to feel uncomfortably real.

Wayne Jordan (The Plough and the Stars, Twelfth Night) returns to the plays of Sean O’Casey to direct this exciting co-production between the Abbey Theatre and the Lyric Theatre.

BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

Donal Davoren struggles over his poetry as he battles to find peace in a busy Dublin tenement. Outside, Ireland descends into a vicious guerrilla war.

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VISITING PRODUCTION

Rise Productions presents An Grianan Theatre presents

Frank Pig Says Hello

By Patrick McCabe Directed by David Grant

BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

Pat McCabe is one of Ireland’s most daringly original writers. Frank Pig Says Hello is his stage version of his highly acclaimed novel The Butcher Boy which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

Set in 1960s rural Ireland, it is a poignant and provocative journey into the heart and mind of Francie Brady, a young man driven beyond the boundaries of his mental and emotional health.

Over 30 characters are played by two versatile actors, Patrick McBrearty and Stefan Dunbar, in a powerfully evocative and rewarding theatre experience.

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Tues 12 – Thurs 14 May TIMEs Tues – thurs 8PM + Wed 10.30AM TICKETS £12 Concession £10

The Games People Play Winner of Best New Play at the Irish Times Theatre Awards and the sell-out success of Dublin Fringe Festival, Rise Productions returns with The Games People Play, the follow-up to their international smash hit Fight Night.

Described as “THE state of the nation play for the negative equity generation,” this is a radical re-working of the Tír na nÓg myth. Niamh and Oisín were sold the dream – the house, the life, the kids. But what do you do when everything you ever dreamed of still isn’t enough? One night, a series of games starts to escalate, and threatens to unravel their suburban paradise. Touching family drama meets epic Celtic mythology, presented in the trademark ‘Theatre Strong Style’ of Rise Productions.

Fri 15 – Sun 17 May Times Fri & Sat 8PM, Sat 2.45PM, Sun 1.30PM TICKETS Evenings £14 Matinees £12

VISITING PRODUCTION

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Mon 15 – Sat 20 June

Following the phenomenal world-wide success of his show The Love-Hungry Farmer by John B. Keane, which had a very successful run at the Lyric in 2013, Des has devised and will perform in a hugely entertaining new play about the many ladies in the extraordinary life of one of the greatest playwrights of all time.

TICKETS Off-peak (Mon – Wed) £18 / Concessions £16 Peak (Thurs – Sat) £22

Author of Pygmalion, which became the smash-hit film My Fair Lady, Shaw shares anecdotes about the loves of his life, who included leading actresses of his day like Mrs Pat Campbell and Ellen Terry and elaborates on his forthright views on marriage and celibacy.

TIMEs Mon – Sat 7.45PM

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Celebrating his 80th year in 2015, one of Ireland’s most renowned actors and performers, Des Keogh, gets to fulfil a life-long ambition to play legendary Irish man of letters George Bernard Shaw.

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VISITING PRODUCTION

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BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

Yer Granny is a riotous new comedy about a diabolical 100-yearold granny who’s literally eating her family out of house and home.

She’s already eaten their fish and chip shop into bankruptcy and now she’s working her way through their kitchen cupboards, pushing the Russo family to desperate measures just to survive beyond 1977.

As proud head of the family, Cammy is determined that The Minerva Fish Bar will rise again and that family honour will be restored – and all in time for the Queen’s upcoming Jubilee visit.

But before Cammy’s dream can come true and before Her Maj can pop in for a chat, a single sausage and a royal seal of approval, the family members must ask themselves how far they will go to solve a problem like Yer Granny.

Adapted from the smash-hit Argentinian comedy classic La Nona, the cast of Yer Granny features some of Scotland’s best-loved performers, including Gregor Fisher (Rab C Nesbitt) in the title role, alongside Paul Riley (Still Game), Jonathan Watson (Only An Excuse?), Maureen Beattie (Casualty), Barbara Rafferty (Rab C Nesbitt), Brian Pettifer (Rab C Nesbitt) and Louise McCarthy (Men Should Weep).

Age recommended: 14+ 22

Tues 23 – Sat 27 June TIMEs Tues – Sat 7.45PM & Sat 2.30PM TICKETS Off-peak (Tues – Thurs + matinee) £20 Peak (Fri & Sat evening) £24.50

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Elliott LIN earse V P By TONY DE Y B D E DIRECT Winner of the Belfast Telegraph audience award at the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queens, The Holy, Holy Bus is on the road again!!!

Join four of the female faithful on a journey of personal pilgrimage, which by the time they have returned home, will have changed all of their lives forever.

A hilariously madcap adventure about love, hope, happiness and faith, The Holy, Holy Bus will have you laughing, crying and even praying for some divine inspiration along the journey!

TIMEs tues - sat 7.45PM sat & sun 2.30pm TICKETS OFF-PEAK (TUEs-THURs evening + matinees) £18 / concessions £14 PEAK (FRI & SAT evening) £20 / concessions £18

BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

There is a bus that leaves a West Belfast parish once a year to see the holy sites of Ireland… the locals refer to it as, ‘The Holy, Holy Bus’.

TUE 30 JUNE – FRI 10 JULY

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VISITING PRODUCTION

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BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

Directed by Des Kennedy Book by Andrew Doyle Choreographed by Jennifer Rooney

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Gulliver’s Travels returns to Northern Ireland – its place of inspiration – this summer - in a spectacular musical adaptation from the creative team behind the West End’s Once The Musical with music from platinum-selling singer songwriter Duke Special and book by stand-up comedian Andrew Doyle. Voyage through unknown lands with mythical creatures and witness Jonathan Swift’s classic satirical tale magically brought to life on stage. Swift conceived the idea of a ‘giant’s story’ while overlooking Belfast from Cave Hill and subsequently wrote the majority of Gulliver’s Travels in Cookstown, County Tyrone!

Follow Lemuel Gulliver on his whirlwind expedition when he finds himself washed ashore after a devastating shipwreck. Captured by the miniature beings of Lilliput and exploited by the giants of Brobdingnag, Gulliver journeys through wild lands encountering new civilisations, experiencing all things weird and wonderful.

Step aboard; the adventure awaits…

Thurs 30 July – Sat 1 Aug TIMEs Thurs – Sat 7.45PM & Sat 2.30PM TICKETS £12 Concessions £9 Under 5s £6

VISITING PRODUCTION

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After the sell-out success of Mistletoe and Crime at the Lyric, comes another hilarious Marie Jones comedy.

Marie Jones is the author of some of the most successful plays ever produced on the island of Ireland. This play, which reunites Mistletoe and Crime stars Katie Tumelty and Tara-Lynne O’Neill, investigates whether we are valued more in life or in death.

‘Desperately funny-terrific performances’ The New York Daily News

TIMEs Tues - Sat 7.45PM Sat & Sun 2.30PM TICKETS Off-Peak (Tues & Wed + matinees) £20 / concessions £16 Peak (thurs - Sat) £22.50

BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

Francis and Loretta are community care visitors. Davy, one of their elderly charges, has had a significant win on the horses, but he doesn’t know. When the cash-strapped women learn that Davey will not be around for a considerable time they are faced with a mouthwatering dilemma.

Thurs 6 – Sat 22 Aug

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creative learning

G N I N R A E L E V I AT CRE KIC/Lyric Theatre All-Ability Creative Learning Showcase This showcase will highlight unique, innovative and dynamic work from the KIC 2014/15 annual six month all-ability physical theatre programme delivered in partnership with the Lyric Theatre.

Connecting young people of all abilities and backgrounds to the progressive youth theatre training undertaken by the Lyric’s Creative Learning Department.

Wed 1 Apr 7.30PM Thurs 2 Apr 1.30PM & 7.30PM TICKETS £7/£5 Concessions

National Theatre Connections Fri 24 – Sun 26 Apr Join us as ten youth theatre groups from across Ireland take over the Lyric, performing newly commissioned short plays from the National Theatre. Check online for tickets and details.

BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

Theatre and Summer School

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Don’t forget, our popular theatre school classes run right through until June, and details of our annual Summer School will be online soon. For booking details, check with our box office.

Public Funding: Bringing great art within everyone’s reach.

Our Creative Learning Department provides opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with all aspects of theatre making at the Lyric.

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TUES 24 – SAT 28 MAR Times TUES – SAT 7.30PM, THURS 10.30AM, SAT 2PM TICKETS £10 / CONCESSIONS £6

A new spirit of philosophical and religious enquiry is growing in 12th century France. Peter Abelard, a man of great learning and independence of mind, starts a war of ideas with the powerful Abbot, Bernard of Clairvaux. Then he begins a wild affair with his equally brilliant student, Heloise, and his enemies find just the pretext they need to destroy him.

Following the success of last year’s production, 55 Days, this year’s students from the Lyric’s flagship training programme for young people, the Drama Studio, return to the work of Howard Brenton.

Exploring the relationships between logic and religion, faith and power, Eternal Love addresses one of the greatest love stories of the middle ages.

By arrangement with Nick Hern Books.

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SEATING PLAN / HOW TO BOOK

DANSKE BANK STAGE SEATING PLAN

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FRONT TWO ROWS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR SOME PERFORMANCES. CHECK W ITH BOX OFFICE AT TIME OF BOOKING. BALCONY SEATS HAVE RESTRICTED VIEW AND MAY BE SOLD AT A DISCOUNTED RATE.

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PLEASE INFORM BOX OFFICE IF YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULAR ACCESS REQUIREMENTS.

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SEATING IN THE NAUGHTON STUDIO IS UNRESERVED.

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BOOKBOOK ONLINE ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

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LYRIC THEATRE / 38

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS TICKETS ARE SOLD SUBJECT TO OUR FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS, DETAILS OF W HICH, ALONG W ITH OUR TRANSACTION CHARGES, ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST FROM THE B OX O FFICE AND ON OUR WEBSITE.

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BOX OFFICE OPEN 7 DAYS PER WEEK MONDAY TO SATURDAY 10AM TO 5PM, OR 7PM IF THERE IS A PERFORMANCE THAT EVENING / SUNDAY 10AM TO 5PM

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BOX OFFICE / 028 9038 1081

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ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK TELEPHONE / 028 9038 1081 TEXT RELAY / DIAL 18001 028 9038 1081 FOR THOSE USING A TEXTPHONE/MINICOM IN PERSON / LYRICTHEATRE, 55 RIDGEWAY STREET, BELFAST, BT9 5FB

Wheelchair accessible

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HOW TO BOOK

ueen’s Quarter of Belfast off Stranmillis oad. The theatre is at the bottom of dgeway Street where it meets Stranmillis mbankment beside the River Lagan.

There are bike racks outside the theatre.

BY TAXI The Lyric’s taxi partner is Fonacab.

028 9033 3333. A freephone is available at the box office.

BUS The Lyric is situated the etro Service 8a Theatre from city centreinup Queen’s Quarter of Belfast off Stranmillis anmillis Road.

BY BIKE PARKING There are bike racks outside the theatre.

he nearest station is Botanic Avenue.

BY TAXI Stranmillis and off-street The Lyric’s taxiEmbankment partner is Fonacab.

028 9033 3333.

A freephone is available parking in the public car park at at the box office.

Stranmillis Embankment accessible by

There is on-street parking along the

Road. The theatre is at the bottom of TRAIN Ridgeway Street where it meets Stranmillis Embankment beside the River Lagan.

BY BUS

WW.TRANSLINK.CO.UK Metro Service 8a from city centre up

PARKING entrance on Stranmillis Road. See There is on-street parking along the for more information.

Stranmillis Embankment and off-street parking in the public car park at Stranmillis Embankment accessible by entrance on Stranmillis Road. See map for more information.

Stranmillis Road.

BY TRAIN The nearest station is Botanic Avenue.

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LYRIC THEATRE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE ANY ALTERATIONS TO THE PUBLISHED PROGRAMME IF NECESSARY.

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BOOK BOOK ONLINE ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK //WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK BOOK ONLINE WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

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THEATRE LOCATION

GETTING TO AND FROM THE THEATRE

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PRICES FROM JUST £5

£10 STANDBY SUNDAY

The Lyric Theatre has a number of recessionbusting discounts and concessions, subject to availability, to ensure that everyone is able to attend the theatre. (Visiting companies may offer different concessions.)

A limited number of £10 Standby tickets, subject to availability, will be sold from 2 hours in advance of, and up to 30 minutes prior to, each Sunday matinee on the Danske Bank Stage.

(SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY)

BOOK ONLINE / WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.CO.UK

• Over 65s 10% discount on Off-Peak matinees only • Students and Unwaged £10 tickets for Off- Peak performances only • Children 15 and under, and Equity members half-price for Off-Peak performances only • Groups 1 ticket free with every 10 purchased • Schools £10 for Off-Peak performances only • Balcony Seats have restricted view and are sold at a 20% discount • Danske Bank Staff 2 for 1 Tuesdays and Off- Peak matinees • Danske Bank Customers 20% off Tuesdays and Off-Peak matinees

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£5 COMMUNITY GROUP SUPER SAVER TICKETS Community groups registered in Northern Ireland can avail of £5 tickets for certain productions, subject to availability. Please download an application form from the About Us section of our website.

ACCESSIBILITY Access dogs are allowed inside the auditorium. A free carer seat is available to those customers who require essential assistance to attend the theatre.

Additional services: • Lift access to all floors • Infra-red audio enhancement and induction loops • Captioned and Audio-Described performances for all Lyric Theatre Productions on the Danske Bank Stage • Wheelchair spaces in a variety of areas within the auditoria – advance notice required at time of booking • Accessible toilets (left and right handed) • Baby changing facilities and adult changing mats

www.darraghneely.com

CONCESSIONS

CafÉ Bar Open every day from 9.30am - 5pm A welcoming and light filled space, The Lyric CafÊ Bar is perfect for informal meetings, catching up with friends, or just some quiet time to yourself.

soup, sandwiches and pastas served 11.30am - 2.30pm Pre-show tasting platters served 6PM - 7.30pm Sunday brunch served 10am to 2pm

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