Project Blog

Update from EC Harris design team

Work commenced on the construction of the new Lyric Theatre in March 2009 and over the last year considerable progress has been made. Give the size, style and shape of the theatre, there are a number of complexities associated with the construction process and the design team and contractor have been working tirelessly to manage these and maintain progress against the programme.

The groundwork phase, which consisted of the installation of the piles for the theatre, excavation of the site for the lower accommodation and drainage system are complete. The construction of the superstructure of the theatre is well progressed with both the central lift shaft and auditorium back wall in place which gives a good sense of the height of the new theatre. The walls and floors of the first two levels are also complete with great progress being made with levels 3- 5. The installation of the steel auditorium roof trusses has commenced and with the steps of the theatre entrance in place one can get the sense of the theatre coming together. The installation of the electrical and mechanical services is running in parallel with the superstructure construction and will be ready for the next phase fit-out once the superstructure is complete later this year.

The design team are making great progress with the detail of the internal fit-out arrangements such as the seating for the auditorium and the studio, the theatre lighting systems, reception area, bar area as well as the back-of-house areas such as the kitchen and dressing rooms. With the both construction and design progress well as the project moves towards the next phase of installation the sense of excitement and transformation the new Lyric Theatre will bring is starting to materialise.

Every time I go down to the building site I’m reminded of what it is we do – plays. A special space for making them is growing daily on Ridgeway Street and every day brings a new scene and a new act. The progress is unbelievable and the precision remarkable. Last night I watched as the giant steelworks that bind the sides and back wall of the main auditorium together were being dropped into position by the massive cranes. It was a triumph of engineering and exactitude as the trusses slotted into place precisely between the towering concrete walls five floors up. Read the rest of this entry »

Our recent fundraising dinner in New York has generated tremendous interest and those of us who were involved in putting the event together were delighted, of course, that it was so successful. I heard Paul Rankin chatting to Gerry Kelly on the radio and I think he summed up the whole thing perfectly: “It was held in a very cool penthouse near Broadway in New York. As we were sitting down, you could see Manhattan glittering in the background. It was an out of the world experience. It was just a stunning event”.

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Liam Neeson hosted a private fundraising dinner last week in New York in aid of the Lyric Theatre, of which he is Patron. Special guests who turned out to show their support included actors Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn and Ciarán Hinds. The dinner was held at the Manhattan home of Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Chairman of the American Ireland Fund, and guests included many leading philanthropists from the Irish American business community.

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