The Lyric Theatre's New Spring/Summer Programme: A Celebration of Northern Irish Creativity
Claire Dickson
The appointment of new playwright Karis Kelly arises at an already exciting and optimistic time for the Lyric Theatre as it launches its new spring/summer programme. This will hopefully allow the theatre to to leave the strained separation period between live audiences and the performing arts industry in its dim and distant past.
It is not without previous acclaim that Kelly enters the role. Her achievement in receiving a prestigious writing bursary for her play Consumed which follows four generations of Northern Irish women and is characterised by her interest in NI-based theatre, only makes Kelly more suited to write for a Belfast audience. Kelly’s presence on the shortlist for the ‘Women’s Prize for Playwriting’ exists as further evidence of a confidently emerging talent.
The Lyric’s literary manager Rebecca Mairs has also spoken of her delight at Karis joining the team due to her incredible aptitude in writing for both stage and screen. Mairs looks forward to Kelly taking the theatre’s NI-based work to new heights with her original piece of gig theatre based on the little-known story of the Satanic Panic in NI at the height of The Troubles. Kelly’s background in advocating for other new and emerging writers will also act as a valuable opportunity for the theatre wherein their Young Playwright’s programme will certainly be enhanced thanks to her fresh outlook.
The new talent arising from the Lyric Theatre doesn’t stop there, as their upcoming spring/summer programme also boasts NI Opera’s take on Into the Woods featuring some of Northern Ireland’s most promising creative and musical talent, including lyrics and music by the legendary Stephen Sondheim. The performance will act as a melting pot for more traditional tales, namely Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel, whilst exploring what happened prior to once upon a time and in the wake of happily ever after.
The new programme also displays relevant social and political issues such as Amanda Verlaque’s one-woman interpretation of issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Northern Ireland. Verlaque has 25 years’ award-winning experience in TV drama as well as her previous work being showcased at Outburst Queer Arts Festival and The Mac. This Sh*t Happens All the Time stars Caoimhe Farren and explores homophobic hate crimes, a theme becoming all the more prevalent in Northern Ireland.
The Lyric Theatre’s announcement of their new programme represents more than just a means to entertain its audience. One of the principle roles attributed to the arts industry is its power in affecting the world outside of the theatre walls. The pandemic has undoubtedly made this role all the more necessary, and thus the reopening of the arts sector in recent months inevitably represents the opening of society in a celebration of creativity once again.
You can find more information about the Lyric’s spring/summer programme here.
Claire Dickson is a Culture Reporter and Politics student at Queen’s University Belfast.