28 June 2011

First Minister Makes Lyrical Visit

First Minister Peter Robinson has visited the recently opened and fully refurbished Lyric Theatre, meeting the venue's chairman as well as a number of famous faces.

The lyric is Northern Ireland’s only full-time theatre, producing plays and promoting local culture, employment, economic and community development.

The First Minister met with Lyric Chairman and BBC news presenter Mark Carruthers OBE, Chief Executive Ciarán McAuley and Lyric Trustee, actor and playwright Dan Gordon.

During his visit, the First Minister met with theatre staff, caught a glimpse of rehearsals for The Jungle Book and took a behind the scenes look at the set for the current production, Dockers - a modern Ulster classic by playwright Martin Lynch that showcases what the Lyric does best – putting local issues and characters centre stage.

Following its four year redevelopment, The Lyric now has a new daytime Café Bar, and is expecting estimated audiences this year of some 70,000.

A spokesman for the theatre said that among a wide range of productions, the Lyric also makes an important contribution to the local economy, and is also proving a mainstay for the employment of the Northern Ireland’s artistic community.

"The theatre’s Creative Learning department offers skills development to hundreds of young people each year, through a range of innovative projects with local school, as well as the Lyric Theatre School providing weekly drama classes for everyone from toddlers to adults," the spokesman added.

(DW/KMcA)