AFOREWARDFROMOUR
EXECUTIVEPRODUCER
âThe Lyricâs mission is to create, entertain and inspire, we are committed to delivering quality theatre from exceptional artists and especially new writing. We are very proud to produce Amanda Verlaqueâs 'This Shit Happens All The Time' in association with Imagine! Belfast Festival. Directed by Rhiann Jeffrey and starring Caoimhe Farren, this courageous new play offers audiences an emotional rollercoaster ride through a challenging love story that confronts us with our own accountability in defending the vulnerable against the forces of hateâ.
JIMMY FAY
DIRECTOR,RHIANNJEFFREY
âIâm going to tell you a story. On the one hand itâs a love story, on the other nightmare. In one sense i belongs in the past, but i very much a part of our present and we all own i
The first question I alway ask myself when directin a show, is âwhy here, why now?â Why do audiences in Northern Ireland need to hear this story, and why should we be the ones to tell it?
There are the facts; same-sex marriage only just became legal in NI in 2020, five years after Ireland and six years after the rest of the UK. There were 246 homophobic hate crime offences reported by the police in NI 2021, compared with 195 the previous reporting year.
And there are the experiences. On the first day of rehearsals, I got a taxi to work and on the short drive to the Lyric I was asked what show I was working on. âWell, itâs a story based on a true event that deals with homophobic hate crime, coercive control but also the celebration of lesbian visibility,â I replied. Earlier in the conversation he had shown an interest in theatre, so I suggested that he came to watch the show. âThe only lesbians Iâm interested in watching are the ones on the internet when the wifeâs awayâ he guffawed, as he winked at me in the rear-view mirror.
This sh*t happens ALL the time, and thatâs a pretty tame example. These are just a few of the hundreds of reasons why this story needs to be told and why putting queer stories centre stage is so absolutely necessary. As Amanda articulates perfectly in the script; âA lot has changed, but I donât want to settle for âitâs better than it used to be'.â
This production for me, is storytelling in its purest, rawest form. Thereâs no set or props for a reason (and surprisingly, not a budgetary one!) Connection and intimacy were always key in the vision for the piece. I want you to feel like you know her. That it could be your friend, sister, daughter telling this story
Iâd like to thank our team for such a beautifully creative and warm-hearted experience whilst producing this piece, legends the lot of you. A special thank you to Caoimhe for her relentless energy, interrogation and transcendent talent, and to Amanda for her courage, trust and ability to draw so much beauty from such a painful experience. It has been a powerful and encouraging experience to have so many strong female artists bringing this story to life on the Lyricâs stage and itâs a privilege to be able to share it with you all. Love.
Caoimhe was born in Derry and currently lives in London where she trained at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA). Lyric Theatre credits include: Hello Charlie, a rehearsed reading of Caoimheâs first play; developed as part of the Lyricâs New Playwright Programme 2021
Theatre includes: Scenes from an Inquiry (The Playhouse), Chemistry, A Brief List of Everyone Who Died (Finborough Theatre and Finborough Theatre online), The Ferryman (Gielgud Theatre), V.E. (Kingâs Head Theatre), Outsiders, Clickbait (The Bunker), Confidence/Supply, Carnivores, Girls & Dolls (Southwark Playhouse), EleXion (Theatre 503), Growth (Old Red Lion), The Commissioners (Company of Angels), Dancing at Lughnasa (Ireland tour), Snow White: The Remix, Under the Carpet (The Playhouse) Woman of Troy, Government Inspector, Coram Boy, Philissnes, Twelfth Night, Blood Wedding, Allâs Well That Ends Well (ALRA)
Television includes: Willow (Disney+), This Way Up, Derry Girls, (Channel 4/Netflix) Doctors (BBC)
AmandaVerlaque Writer
Amanda is a writer for stage, screen and VR. The MAC, Belfast produced her critically acclaimed debut play Distortion, and her radio play Lolly, which featured in their On The Street Where We Live audio series (which she also executive produced) Sheâs just made her debut as a director for VR with her short film Egg, produced by RETĂŹnĂZE
Amandaâs career in the creative industries began as an arts and entertainment journalist before moving into TV drama and film. She enjoyed 25 years as an award winning script editor, storyliner, producer and executive producer on dramas such as Holy Cross, Red Rock and Ups & Downs for broadcasters and companies including BBC, RTE, Blinder Films and Tiger Aspect.
RhiannJeffrey Director
Rhiann is a Freelance Theatre Director and Associate Director for Prime Cut Productions.
Recent directing credits include; Ensemble: Symbols for Prime Cut Productions, Distortion by Amanda Verlaque for the Mac Theatre, Blowing Minds by Rosemary Jenkinson as part of SIX by Brassneck, a short film by Jan Carson The Pause Between Now and Next for the Irish Arts Centre, New York, in association with the Lyric Theatre, On the Street Where We Live an 8-part audio play produced by The Mac, Belfast 2050: Under the Albert Clock produced by the Lyric Theatre in association with Origin Theatre Company (New York Times Critics Pick), Life From Time, a short film by Caoileann Curry-Thomspon, No Explanation a short film by Kyron Bourke, VERGE new play readings for Prime Cut Productions, Glory: Desire for NI Opera Studio, The Right Twig for Fighting Words, 'The Tempest' for Rose Bruford College and Everyday I Wake Up Hopeful, by John Patrick Higgins for Prime Cut Productions
CaoimheFarren Me
CaoimheMcGee
Deputy Stage Manager
Caoimhe is a freelance stage manager and theatre maker originally from Donegal Caoimhe recently graduated from Queenâs University Belfast with a BA in Drama followed by an MA in Arts Management.
Her recent credits include Deputy Stage Manager on Theatre at the Millâs Jingle All the Hairspray by Caroline Curran, directed by Fionnuala Kennedy, and Sodabread Theatreâs A Night in November at the Chiswick Playhouse, London and The MAC, Belfast; Stage Manager on Oona Dohertyâs Fly the Flag project in association with Sky Arts and The MAC, and Orla Graham and Kirby Thompsonâs Occupied at The Golden Goose Theatre, London and Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin
She has also worked with Prime Cut Productions, Cahoots NI, Headrush, Ireland, Dumbworld Productions and on various independent projects
Her debut play FRESHERS has just premiered at Smock Allies Scene and Heard Festival in Dublin.
SarahJaneShields
Lighting Designer
SJ began designing lighting in Dublin Youth Theatre, completing M Sc in Interactive Digital Media 2021 and a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies 2006 (Trinity), and the Rough Magic Seeds3 programme 2006 - 2008. From 2010 â 2017, she was co-artistic director of WillFredd Theatre.
Previous designs for the Lyric include All Mod Cons and Educating Rita.
Other recent lighting designs include SHIT, Conversations After Sex (This Is Pop Baby), All the Angels (Rough Magic Theatre Company), Book of Names (ANU Productions), The Veiled Ones (Junk Ensemble), Afterlove (Stephanie Dufresne, Galway Dance Project, Galway Arts Festival), One Good Turn (Abbey Theatre), Hansel and Gretel (Irish National Opera, Theatre Lovett, Abbey Theatre), A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings (Collapsing Horse)
ErinCharteris
Costume Designer
Erin graduated from Queens University in 2011 with a BA Hons in English Literature She has worked at the Lyric Theatre since it reopened in 2011 and works full time in the Costume Department. During a five month sabbatical from the Lyric she worked as a maker on season six of Game of Thrones. She received a certificate in historical hair styling in 2018 and has since made historically accurate wigs for museum interpretation.
Costume Design Credits: Lyric Theatre credits include: The Comedy of Errors; Light Shining in Buckinghamshire; Oedipus the King; Our Country's Good; The Miracle; 55 Days; What Are They Like?; Mistletoe and Crime; Eternal Love, The Ladykillers and Alice The Musical, Peter Pan, Sadie, Pinocchio, This Shit Happens All the Time
Other credits include: Yes, So I Said Yes; Normal; Breathing Water; The Golden Point and Afterwards; Greenshoot Productions; Frankenstein; Proni: Titanic Centenary Event; City Hall: Titanic Centenary Event, History of Stormont immersive experience, Kabosh: Partition Stories with the National Museums of Northern Ireland, Kabosh; Callings.
GarthMcConaghie Sound Designer
Garth has worked extensively as a Composer, Sound Designer, Musical Director, Arranger and Music Producer for studios, theatre, film and television. Garth's work has been performed and broadcast all over the UK, Ireland and internationally as part of theatrical productions, exhibitions, art installations, television and radio.
Recent TV/Radio Credits include: Derry Girls (Hat Trick Productions, Channel 4), Flight (BBC 1 / BBC 4), My Mother and Other Strangers (BBC 1), Malaria, Comic Relief, Days Like This (BBC NI, nominated for IFTA), Wee Wise Words (BBC NI), Not Now Farley (BBC Learning Zone), On the Air (BBC NI), Ulster Volunteers (RTE), A Year in Sex City (DoubleBand Films/BBC 1).
Recent Theatre Credits include: Xântigone (Prime Cut Productions / MAC, Belfast), The Border Game (Prime Cut Productions), A Night in November (Soda Bread, Chiswick Playhouse), Mojo Mickybo (Bruiser), In the Name of the Son (GBL Productions), A Christmas Carol (MAC Belfast),
Rebus: Long Shadows (Birmingham Repertory Theatre), The Miami Showband Story (GBL Productions, Grand Opera House, Belfast, Gaiety Theatre, Dublin), Bouncers (Big Telly / MAC Belfast), Spud! (Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Freak Show (Big Telly), Tamed (Southwark Playhouse, London), The Elves and the Shoemaker (MAC Belfast, Cahoots NI), A Night In November (Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Penguins (Cahoots NI, Birmingham Repertory Theatre), Under the Hawthorn Tree (Cahoots NI, MAC Belfast), Hansel & Gretel (MAC Belfast),
Recent Theatre Credits (contd): Aladdin (SSE Arena, Belfast), Nivelli's War (Cahoots NI, New Victory Theater, Broadway, New York, Lyric theatre, Belfast), The Faerie Thorn (Big Telly), Madame Geneva (Macha Productions), Pinocchio (MAC Belfast, Cahoots NI), Macbeth (YMT:UK, Lyric Theatre, Belfast, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, RADA Studios and Sadler's Wells Theatre), Christmas Eve Can Kill You (Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Shh! We Have a Plan (Cahoots NI, touring China, 2019), Egg, (Cahoots NI, touring USA, 2016), The Scarlet Web (Big Telly), Mistletoe & Crime (Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Sometimes There's Light [Sometimes There's Dark] (Moving Dust, Asylum, London and touring, 2014), God of Carnage (Prime Cut Productions), Crazy (GBL Productions), My English Tongue, My Irish Heart (Green Shoot Productions), Forget Turkey (Lyric Theatre, Belfast).
THECOMPANY
CAOIMHE FARREN
PRINCIPAL FUNDER
WRITER
DIRECTOR
LIGHTING DESIGN
SOUND DESIGN
COSTUME DESIGN
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER PRODUCER
HEAD OF PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION MANAGER
COMPANY STAGE MANAGER
STAGE MANAGER & COVID COMPLIANCE OFFICER
DEPUTY STAGE MANAGER
CASTING DIRECTOR
SENIOR TECHNICIAN TECHNICIANS
MARKETING MANAGER
MARKETING OFFICER
PHOTOGRAPHY
MAKE UP ARTIST
AMANDA VERLAQUE
RHIANN JEFFREY
SARAH JANE SHIELS
GARTH MCCONAGHIE
ERIN CHARTERIS
JIMMY FAY
MORAG KEATING
ADRIAN MULLAN
SIOBHĂN BARBOUR
AIMEE YATES
STEPHEN DIX
CAOIMHE MCGEE
CLARE GAULT
IAN VENNARD
ADRIAN WALL
CORENTIN WEST
GERARD MCCORRY
RACHEL LEITCH
LUCY BROWNLIE
CARRIE DAVENPORT
JOHNNY FRAZER
CHRISTOPHER HEANEY
NUALA CAMPBELL
ALSO FUNDED BY THE LYRIC IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY
LYRICSTAFF
BOARDOFDIRECTORS
SIR BRUCE ROBINSON (CHAIRMAN)
STEPHEN DOUDS (VICE CHAIRMAN)
NUALA DONNELLY
STAFF
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
SENIOR PRODUCER
CASTING DIRECTOR
LITERARY MANAGER PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING MARKETING MANAGER MARKETING OFFICERS
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
HEAD OF PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER
COMPANY STAGE MANAGER STAGE MANAGERS
SENIOR TECHNICIAN TECHNICIANS
SCENIC CONSTRUCTION MANAGER
COSTUME SUPERVISOR
DEPUTY COSTUME SUPERVISOR
HEAD OF FINANCE & HR
FINANCE OFFICER
FINANCE ASSISTANT
FINANCE & HR ASSISTANT
FINANCE & ADMIN ASSISTANT
HEAD OF CREATIVE LEARNING
CREATIVE LEARNING MANAGER CREATIVE LEARNING ADMINISTRATOR
HEAD OF CUSTOMER SERVICE
CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER ASSISTANT CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER
DUTY SUPERVISORS
PATRICIA McBRIDE
MIKE MULLAN
DR MARK PHELAN
JIMMY FAY
MORAG KEATING
CLARE GAULT
REBECCA MAIRS
KERRY FITZSIMMONS
CLAIRE MURRAY
RACHEL LEITCH
KATIE ARMSTRONG
EMMA BRENNAN
LUCY BROWNLIE
ĂIMEAR O'NEILL
ADRIAN MULLAN
SIOBHĂN BARBOUR
AIMEE YATES
LOUISE GRAHAM
STEPHEN DIX
IAN VENNARD
ADRIAN WALL
CORENTIN WEST
GERARD MCCORRY
COURTENAY DRAKOS
GILLIAN LENNOX
ERIN CHARTERIS
MICHEĂL MEEGAN
TONI HARRIS PATTON
SINĂAD GLYMOND
BARRY LEONARD
SHIREEN AZARMI
PHILIP CRAWFORD
ERIN HOEY
CARAGH O'DONNELL
DELANEY
JULIE MCKEGNEY
ELLA GRIFFIN
SĂAN GALLAGHER
LUCY ARMSTRONG
MARINA HAMPTON
RONAN MCMANUS
KATHY MOORE
SIONNĂN NĂ NUALLĂIN
PATRON
LIAM NEESON OBE
BOX OFFICE MANAGER
BOX OFFICE SUPERVISOR
HOUSEKEEPING
EMILY WHITE PAUL McCAFFREY
DEBBIE DUFF
AMANDA RICHARDS
SAMANTHA WALKER
CUSTOMERSERVICESTAFF
PAMELA ARMSTRONG
NIKI BROWNE
JENNIE BURNS
CARLA BRYSON
STEPHEN CALVERT
JACK CORBETT
JOLENE CRAIG
ALANNAH CRAWFORD
ALACOQUE DAVEY
CARA DEVLIN
RYAN DONNELLY
NINA GEARY
ORLA GRAHAM
MARINA HAMPTON
CATHAL HENRY
TERESA HILL
LAUREN HUTCHINSON
MEGAN KEENAN
GERARD KELLY
MEGAN KELLY
AOIFE OâNEILL
SAMANTHA OBMAN
BERNADETTE OWENS
ALBA PEREZ
BOBBI RAI PURDY
JOIA RAYCHOUDHURY
LIAM ROWAN
IDE SIMPSON
CAELAN STOW
MORGAN SHUTTLEWORT
JENNIFER WALSH
CARLEY MAGEE-TOLLERTON
TIARNAN McCARRON
ELLEN McCORMICK
ANDREW McCRACKEN
PATRICIA McGREEVY
SUKE McKEGNEY
SHAUNAGH McKIRGAN
RONAN McMANUS
TIERNA McNALLY
KATHY MOORE
DONĂL MORGAN
SOLOMON MORROW
VOLUNTEERS
JEAN DUMAS
YVONNE DUMAS
JOAN GORMLEY
EILEEN SAUNDERS
EVELINE WILKINSON
A Lyric Theatre Production
In association with Imagine Festival of Ideas & Politics
