Project Blog

One of the Lyric Theatre’s most famous alumni, Ciaran Hinds, returned to the scene of his early career this week. He was at the Lyric to launch a campaign offering people the chance to name a seat in the auditorium of the Lyric’s proposed new £17.25million theatre on the riverbank site that has been the home of local drama since 1968. The seat campaign is just one of a number of initiatives aimed at urgently raising the remaining £2million required to safeguard the future of the Lyric. The current venue will close in January 2008.

Born in Belfast in 1953, Ciaran’s early career included many productions at the Lyric in the 70s and 80s, including Equus, Once a Catholic, Whose Life Is It Anyway? and Indian Summer. Since then he has enjoyed a varied and busy career, with notable performances in major Hollywood films Tomb Raider; Miami Vice, Steven Spielberg’s Munich, and The Road to Perdition, alongside Paul Newman and Tom Hanks; as well as TV dramas Persuasion, The Mayor of Casterbridge and the mini-series Rome as Julius Caesar. Ciaran heads off to Broadway shortly for a lengthy engagement, so this visit was his final chance to have one last look around the Lyric before it closes in January. He was given a tour of the building by Dan Gordon, director of the current Lyric production, The Hypochondriact.

“Over the past forty years, the Lyric Theatre has offered the people of Northern Ireland a continually high standard of professional theatre, from Classic European drama to new Irish writing,” said Ciaran. “The Lyric needs to be a vital force in the regeneration of the province, to stimulate, educate and provoke debate. I sincerely hope it receives the support – both financial and moral – that it richly deserves.”

“We’re delighted to have Ciaran’s support at this critical moment in our fundraising campaign,” said Lyric Development Director Angela McCloskey. “Ciaran is one of many fine actors who began their career at the Lyric and have gone on to enjoy great worldwide acclaim in film and television. We all reap the benefits when these actors talk passionately not just about the Lyric, but also about Northern Ireland, on the international stage.”

The seat campaign offers audiences the chance to support the Lyric’s fundraising challenge and help to build a fantastic new theatre for Belfast and Northern Ireland. With each seat bearing a personalised nameplate, this is a unique opportunity for people to mark a special birthday or anniversary, pay lasting tribute to a friend or loved one, or demonstrate their personal commitment to the arts.

The spacious and comfortable seats in the main auditorium of the proposed new theatre will be designed in a single, raked tier to guarantee optimum sightlines and ensure a sense of intimacy between actors and audience. A personal donation of £500 or a corporate donation of £1,000 will secure your seat. You can pay in a lump sum or spread your payment over a number of months. And with only 300 seats on offer, you might want to name one today! Phone (028) 9038 5692 or go to the Support Us section of this site.

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