Lyric Theatre
55 Ridgeway Street, Belfast BT9 5FB
Belfast's Lyric has been showcasing local performances since the 1950s. On 1st May 2011 the doors opened on the theatre's new building having moved to its new home on the Stranmillis Embankment, overlooking the River Lagan. It houses the Danske Bank stage and main auditorium with a seating capacity of 398 (no balconies or barriers, ensuring an intimacy between performers and audience) and the adaptable Naughton Studio which can hold between 125 and 170 people, depending on set up. The annual programme is jam packed with local productions as well as festival events and national touring companies. Both the programme and tickets can be accessed via the theatre's website with promotional offers and family deals often available. The cafe bar offers unparalleled views across the Lagan and is open daily. It often hosts its own small events and discussion groups before and after performances. The theatre itself has a strong and loyal following amongst Northern Irish playwrights and performers with many having appeared at the theatre at some stage in their career, eg. Kenneth Branagh, James Nesbitt, Aidan Dunbar and Seamus Heaney. Many are honoured inside the building via paintings and sculptors.
