National Lottery Heritage Grants £10,000 to £250,000
In 2026, an events programme will celebrate the role the Lyric has played in the cultural life of Belfast since Mary O'Malley founded the theatre in 1951. It will capture memories from artists, staff and audiences and celebrate the people and creativity that have defined the theatre’s history.
The project will include:
- A free public exhibition A House of Play: 75 Years of the Lyric Theatre Belfast, with artworks by Jack B. Yeats, Alice Berger Hammerschlag and Basil Blackshaw, will be on show alongside poetry and writing from Seamus Heaney, Brian Friel and Christina Reid
- A life-size replica of Mary O’Malley’s original studio theatre in her living room at Derryvolgie Avenue will be created
- A new digital archive to make the Lyric’s collections easier to explore online
- A special edition of Threshold – Ireland’s longest-standing literary magazine which nurtured generations of writers – will be commissioned and published
Claire Murray, Head of Development and Marketing, said: “This is a truly transformative project for the theatre, making it possible for us to conserve and protect the Lyric’s remarkable history and importantly bring it to life for everyone to enjoy. We have so many amazing stories to tell and this project will help shine a light on the creativity and the people that built and continue to shape the Lyric.”
A Heritage Manager position has been created to lead the project and catalogue the theatre’s archive including costumes, production records and Threshold editions. Recruitment is open until midday on Tuesday 4 November 2025.
