The Need for Change
The Lyric Theatre closed on 13th January 2008 after forty years of service to the community. For decades, the Lyric took pride in never closing its doors throughout the worst years of the Troubles. But recently we have been forced to cancel shows due to flooding caused by the deteriorating fabric of the building.
The Lyric's backstage facilities have been described by the Director of a major trust as amongst the worst in the UK.
Staff and actors work in rundown portacabins behind the theatre.
There is:
- cramped circulation space, poor access and no catering;
- poor physical access;
- inadequate support for artists
We kept the building open for as long as possible, but the fabric of the building was rapidly deteriorating and continuing to patch it up was simply not a cost-effective, safe or viable option.
Our future now depends on securing the funds to build a bigger and better theatre which will be a spectacular addition to our cultural landscape.
But we cannot start construction until we have raised the final £1 million. The Lyric has the biggest fundraising challenge ever faced by an arts organisation in Northern Ireland and we urgently need your support.