Liam Neeson was back at the Lyric in Belfast on Saturday for a final look around the building, which closed its doors yesterday.

MOVING
And the star, who flew in on Saturday morning, said it was a moving experience to see the theatre one last time.


"Being backstage in the dressing rooms and seeing pictures of the actors who have performed in the Lyric, particularly those who have since left us, did choke me up a little bit," he said.

The 55-year-old may be an intimidating six foot four inches tall, but he is soft spoken and passionate about his art.


The actor was part of the audience for a matinee show of The Wizard Of Oz - having lent his voice to the production in the role of the Wizard.
Liam recorded his parts for the play in New York last autumn.


"The building hasn't changed that much at all, except that it has got more dilapidated," he said of the 40-year-old theatre.


"It'll be sad when the building has to be knocked down, but it has to be put to rest," Liam said. "And it will rise again."


The visit was his first to the Belfast landmark in more than 30 years, though he has been a constant supporter of the Lyric and is patron of the theatre.


"When I started here it was a very dangerous time for Northern Ireland and yet the theatre never closed," he said.


"There were two performances I can think of where there was a bomb scare and we had to wait out on the street dressed in costume, but then we came back in and resumed the show."


PAY DAY
But he joked that his favourite moment at the Lyric was: "getting my first cheque".



"It was £31.50, which was exactly £1.50 more than I was getting for working in the Housing Executive," he said.



DEBUT
The Ballymena-born actor made his debut at the Lyric in the 1970s, learning his craft before going on to work in movies with directors such as Stephen Spielberg, Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese.
Liam Neeson is arguably Northern Ireland's most successful cinema export, appearing in dozens of blockbuster films.


He has starred in a Star Wars film, been nominated for an Oscar for his role in Schindler's List and played Irish revolutionary Michael Collins.
He spoke about plans to portray Abraham Lincoln in a film about the US president which will be directed by Stephen Spielberg and is due to begin production in the autumn.



He acknowledged that a growing number of blockbuster films are being made in Northern Ireland, and said he was looking at a number of scripts which could bring him back to the Province.

He also spoke about speculation that he could be about to take the role of Ian Paisley in a film about the DUP leader.
"Well, you never know," he joked, in the politician's distinctive voice.


ROLE
But he said the idea of him playing Ian Paisley began partly in jest.
"A journalist at a Press conference for the film Michael Collins asked what I was doing next and I said that I would play Ian Paisley.
"I was semi-joking, but I hear that there are now a couple of scripts going around.


"I personally don't think I'd be right for the role, I think Robbie Coltrane would be great.


"Actually, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Paisley in New York a few weeks ago and I told him he was responsible for getting me started as an actor.



"As a boy I used to sneak into the Protestant hall in Ballymena to hear him preach. It was extraordinary. It would put the chills up your back.
"I told him that and he chuckled. I think he got a kick out of it."
The Lyric Theatre opened in Stranmillis in 1968 and has since been a showcase for a host of local theatre talent.



It has been an instrumental venue for some of Ulster's most renowned actors, directors and writers, including Martin Lynch, Ciaran Hinds, Marie Jones, James Nesbitt and a host of others.
A new £17.25 million theatre is to be built on the site and is due to open in 2010.



TARGET
While most of the money will be provided by the Government, efforts to secure funds for the new facility are ongoing, though Liam said the target is now within reach.


"We're 95 per cent there," he said. "We need one more million pounds – and that's attainable."
He added that he was looking forward to seeing the new theatre: "I'd love to come back and do an opening production here."



In the meantime, the Lyric will become a touring company in 2008, putting on shows in other venues across Belfast and Northern Ireland.
The theatre's executive director Michael Diskin said that Liam Neeson's visit was an exciting day for the Lyric.


"There has been a real buzz about the place, and we're looking forward to the future of the theatre," he said.


"There's been a lot of nostalgia and mixed emotions because the Lyric is closing. But there's an optimism about what's going to come next."