Lyric Theatre expands its digital ambition

Lyric Theatre is delighted to announce further plans for their digital ambition, which also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the opening of the building this month.
By Julie-Ann Spence
Published 12th May 2021, 15:19 BST
Top L-R: Paula McFetridge, Michael Patrick, Camille Donegan Bottom L-R: Niall Austin, Tara Lynne O'Neill, Cillian LenaghanTop L-R: Paula McFetridge, Michael Patrick, Camille Donegan Bottom L-R: Niall Austin, Tara Lynne O'Neill, Cillian Lenaghan
Top L-R: Paula McFetridge, Michael Patrick, Camille Donegan Bottom L-R: Niall Austin, Tara Lynne O'Neill, Cillian Lenaghan

Live to Digital, a partnership with Future Screens NI is a pilot project exploring the future role of digital experiences within the theatre.

Following a nationwide open call, Live to Digital has commissioned six artist-led theatre projects to explore how to place the imaginative use of digital technology at the heart of the storytelling and performance. The projects will consider digital experiences from VR to AR and spatial technologies. The projects will also explore the artistic process of creating theatre to reach a digital audience during restrictions and post Covid-19, enabling the Lyric to continue to deliver excellence in digital cultural production. The first stage development of each project will receive funding up to £15,000, with learnings used to inform the digital programming at the Lyric.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Along with the theatre’s recent announcement of a Digital Production Manager role, projects like Live to Digital are an important step in the Lyric’s ambition to develop the theatre’s digital infrastructure, expertise, and build on their digital success over the last 12 months.

Despite their stages being dark, as a result of the impact of the Pandemic, the Lyric continued to engage with audiences through online, digital, and broadcast content, producing a comprehensive programme of high-quality digital content. This included a four-part series of new work across different art forms (New Speak), a new series of audio readings of new work from Northern Ireland (Listen at the Lyric), a series of short films commissioned by the BBC (Splendid Isolation: Lockdown Drama – nominated for a Royal Television Award), a full staging of a new play recorded for broadcast by BBC 4/ BBC Arts (Sadie) and digital versions of the Lyric’s Creative Learning productions for distribution to schools across Northern Ireland (Blackout & Eco Schools).

Jimmy Fay, Executive Producer at the Lyric, said: “As well as looking to our future we are delighted to also mark the 10th birthday of the new building on Ridgeway Street. Whilst we haven’t been able to welcome audiences for over a year, we have worked tirelessly to keep the spirit of the Lyric alive through digital programming for our audiences.”

Related topics:Lyric Theatre