We were very sad to hear of the passing of our friend Tom Jordan, best known for his role in the RTÉ drama Fair City, who was artistic director of the Lyric Theatre in 1987-1988.
During his time at the Lyric, Tom directed the hugely successful Hugh Leonard’s Da (9th Sep - 10th Oct 1987) which packed the theatre, and starred Roy Heayberd as Charlie, Trudy Kelly as Mother, Joe McPartland as Da and a young Marty Maguire as Young Charlie. In early 1988 he directed Sean O'Casey’s Juno and the Paycock starring Stella McCusker as Juno Boyle.
Houston Marshall, who was designer in residence at the Lyric during his tenure, said that Tom was “a great champion on behalf of all the artistic staff in the theatre, [he] had a lovely sense of comedy and timing”, and during his year as artistic director he “filled the theatre” with successful productions of Hugh Leonard’s Da, An Gael by Brendan Behan, Wuthering Heights by John Boyd, Orphans by Lyle Kesserman, The Loves of Cass Maguire by Brian Friel and Romanoff and Juliet by Peter Ustinov. I was very fond of Tom and really enjoyed working with him”.
Marty Maguire, whose first Lyric role was under Tom’s direction, called Tom “a gentleman who had a lot of time for everyone, including this relative newcomer”.
From our Executive Producer Jimmy Fay, and all the Lyric staff and Board, we send our heartfelt condolences to Tom’s wife Julie and family.
During his time at the Lyric, Tom directed the hugely successful Hugh Leonard’s Da (9th Sep - 10th Oct 1987) which packed the theatre, and starred Roy Heayberd as Charlie, Trudy Kelly as Mother, Joe McPartland as Da and a young Marty Maguire as Young Charlie. In early 1988 he directed Sean O'Casey’s Juno and the Paycock starring Stella McCusker as Juno Boyle.
Houston Marshall, who was designer in residence at the Lyric during his tenure, said that Tom was “a great champion on behalf of all the artistic staff in the theatre, [he] had a lovely sense of comedy and timing”, and during his year as artistic director he “filled the theatre” with successful productions of Hugh Leonard’s Da, An Gael by Brendan Behan, Wuthering Heights by John Boyd, Orphans by Lyle Kesserman, The Loves of Cass Maguire by Brian Friel and Romanoff and Juliet by Peter Ustinov. I was very fond of Tom and really enjoyed working with him”.
Marty Maguire, whose first Lyric role was under Tom’s direction, called Tom “a gentleman who had a lot of time for everyone, including this relative newcomer”.
From our Executive Producer Jimmy Fay, and all the Lyric staff and Board, we send our heartfelt condolences to Tom’s wife Julie and family.