A HOUSE OF PLAY:
75 YEARS OF THE LYRIC PLAYERS BELFAST
February 2026
To honour Mary and Pearse O’Malley’s legacy, the Naughton Studio will be transformed into a recreation of the original theatre from their Derryvolgie home, bringing audiences back to the place where the Lyric first took shape.
On Sunday 8th February, Rogue Encounters will stage a rerun of Don’t Fence Me In, by The Unusual Suspects, facilitated by Brain Injury Matters, following a successful staging in the Naughton Studio last December on International Day for Persons with Disability. This is a fitting finale to the 75th Anniversary Week at the Lyric Theatre, showcasing the inclusive programming at Northern Ireland’s premier professional producing theatre, and something beyond the imaginings of the Lyric pioneers.
Marvellous Humans
March 2026
Marvellous Humans Display
Annual display at the Lyric Theatre, showcasing the creative participation of teenager and young adult groups in Rogue Encounters core projects.
Live Theatre featuring: Physical Graffiti All Ability Youth project; All Doors Open Adult Disability project.
Film screenings featuring: To Be Honest, a project exploring mental health issues for youth; Marvellous Humans at the Lyric Theatre, uniquely learner-led creativity for neuro-diverse youth.
Outreach
March 2026
Physical Theatre and Global Music in North Belfast
Rogue Encounters will conclude delivery of a year-long multi-layered project at the John Paul Youth Club, North Belfast, also involving Beyond Skin. A programme of youth empowerment through creativity will conclude with festive event to promote the outdoor amphitheatre in the grounds of the club. The project will be led by Outreach Manager, Jade Quinn, assisted by Trainee Artistic Leader, Billí Mills. The project is funded by Urban Villages.
Suicide Awareness
Spring 2026 will see a performance art installation/storytelling project with members of the Suicide Awareness and Support Group (SA&SG) in West Belfast. This project will be delivered by Rogue Encounters Artistic Director, David Calvert, and Creative Team member, SoSo Ní Cheallaigh, and will involve the installation of physical theatre enactments by members of SA&SG filmed in the organisation’s Garden of Hope. Filming by Rogue Encounters regular film maker, Michael McNulty
Frankenstein at the Lyric Theatre
In April, the story that just won’t die will be told at the Lyric Theatre. Rogue Encounters Artistic Director, David Calvert, continues his association with the Lyric Drama Studio with an imaginative deep dive into the dark reaches of the human mind, alongside a brave young actor to help bring one of fictions greatest characters to back to life.
See what is brought to the surface in the Naughton Studio, 21st April-2nd May. www.lyrictheatre.co.uk