Lyric 75th Anniversary Gala

For 75 years, the Lyric has been Northern Ireland's home for transformative theatre.

On February 3rd 2026, we gathered at one of London's most iconic venues, The Fishmongers' Company Hall, to celebrate that legacy and to fundraise to build the Lyric's future.

An Evening of Celebration and Purpose

Guests enjoyed a champagne reception overlooking the Thames before sitting down to an elegant three-course dinner. The evening brought together an incredible gathering of friends and distinguished guests - including H.E. Ambassador Martin Fraser, acclaimed singers and actors including Ciarán Hinds, Simon Callow, Jamie Dornan, Fra Fee, Nan Fee, Amy Lennox, Niamh Perry and Declan Bennett, Lyric Drama Studio students, West End musicians, corporate partners, longstanding supporters, and friends old and new - all united in their commitment to the Lyric's future.

Special performances and heartfelt speeches reminded us why this work matters, whilst lively silent and live auctions hosted by Sophie Colgan turned celebration into action, all marking this milestone moment in the Lyric’s history and fundraising to build the next chapter of creativity and impact.

As part of our Fund For The Future Campaign, this Gala was hosted to fundraise for a truly transformative capital build, 'The Nest'. A new space in the theatre that will enable our Creative Learning Team to expand their education and outreach work. This build will allow them to welcome even more young people, often from the most disadvantaged communities, through our doors, supporting the future of creativity in Northern Ireland.

The 75th Anniversary Gala brought together 130 guests for an unforgettable evening of friendship, fine dining, and shared purpose. With their support, our attendees raised an incredible £112,000 towards building 'The Nest'.

Why Fundraising Matters

Events like the Lyric 75th Anniversary Gala are vital in helping sustain our fundraising efforts. As a charity, our Development team works extensively to find creative ways to help us fundraise to ensure the future of the Lyric Players and the continuation of 75 years of legacy.

Here's to the next 75 and the power of theatre to transform lives.

With special thanks to:

The Fishmongers' Company for hosting our event and Tourism Ireland for their kind sponsorship.

Neil Shawcross, Colin Davidson, Adam & Sarah Gadd, Two Cities, Swizzles Gareth Neame, Rufus Gerrard Wright, Hastings Hotels, Northern Ireland, Alexis Day, SD Entertainment, Galgorm Resort, The Bedford Hotel Belfast, for their generous donations of auction items.

Our special guests, Simon Callow, Ciarán Hinds, Jamie Dornan,Conor MacNeill, Fra Fee, Gilbert Ash, Morrison Foerster, KPMG (Gold Level Partner of the Lyric), Latham & Watkins, AIB, The Lyric Board, Queen's University Belfast, Consello, Maebeth Fenton Martin, Sophie Colgan and the Lyric Team for making this very special event possible.

Our performers & readers, Declan Bennett,Fra Fee, Nan Fee, Amy Lennox, Alex Parker (piano), Niamh Perry, Dara Stewart (double bass), Justin Wilman (fiddle), Simon Callow, David Evans & Melanie Lavery.