Collaborations between organisations and individuals can often produce fantastic results, just take Ciaran Lavery and Ryan Vail’s album, Sea Legs if you need an example. The Lyric Theatre are pleased to announce that three local musicians will be involved in a variety of productions at the venue throughout December.
Peter McCauley, of Rams’ Pocket Radio fame, will be working as the Musical Director of ‘The Nativity…What the Donkey Saw’. While Peter has a range of experience throughout the music industry, this will be a new challenge but one to relish. “The move to musical director for theatre was the most challenging transition yet. Swap working with musicians, songwriters and recording engineers, to working with actors, comedians, a choreographer, director, set designer and writers. The variety of experience, perspectives and disciplines, makes for an exciting collaboration with results beyond what I could have anticipated. My background isn’t theatre, but the Lyric feels to me like the kind of place where you can break the mould, and different perspectives are welcome.”
Ursula Burns, the critically acclaimed Belfast based harpist ‘dangerous harpist’, is taking up the opportunity to compose lyrics for ‘The Gingerbread Mix-Up’. The festive production is aimed at families and will give Ursula the chance to develop her writing skills. “I was amazed by the Lyric’s openness to the creative process, the freedom to think outside the box, to take risks, and their receptiveness to new ideas. Gingerbread is a really sweet show with lots of audience interaction. As a touring musician, it’s vital to have a connection with a local theatre and get a chance to diversify into creating scores and songs for shows. Writing to a brief is very different from the self-indulgent process of making an album. The Lyric is such an inspiring and beautiful place and it has a family atmosphere – I feel very lucky to have had this opportunity as it keeps my song-writing muscles flexed.”
The final artist to be welcomed by the Lyric, is the song writer, Duke Special. Duke has been the artist in residence for the Lyric over the last twelve months and will celebrate this with three special shows. Sadly for the us, the shows are completely sold out but rest assured that Duke has learned a lot and written lots of great new music.
Tickets for both events that Peter McCauley and Ursula Burns are involved in are still available from the Lyric Theatre.
