UK Theatre Awards 2022 - Nominations are in!

The UK Theatre Award Nominations were announced yesterday and we were delighted to have received nominations for our Creative Learning Department and co-production of Translations by Brian Friel. The full list of nominations can be viewed by Clicking Here.

Executive Producer Jimmy Fay commented on the nominations:

We are delighted to have received UK Theatre Award nominations for our Creative Learning Department and our co-production of ‘Translations’ with the Abbey Theatre, in addition to visiting production ‘How to Bury a Dead Mule’ being nominated for Best New Play.

These nominations reflect the diverse amount of work the Lyric does on and off-stage, particularly the outstanding projects carried out by our Creative Learning to engage, foster and promote a love for theatre to children and young people. Furthermore, our co-production of Brian Friel’s ‘Translations’ being nominated for Best Play Revival is a welcomed recognition of the significant work put in by both the Lyric and Abbey Theatres, and the outstanding cast and crew, in making this co-production as successful as it was. Brian had a long and warm relationship with the Lyric Theatre over the decades and it’s touching we receive a nomination for this production as this week marks 42 years since the first premiere of ‘Translations’ in the Guildhall, Derry in 1980.

Finally, we wish to congratulate Richard Clements, writer and performer of ‘How to Bury a Dead Mule’, and all involved, on their nomination for Best New Play. In the launch of our latest season we sought to focus on new work and new writing for our stages by celebrating and promoting home grown talent; we are ecstatic to see New Northern Irish writing and performances being recognised at a National level.

Head of Creative Learning, Philip Crawford commented:

The work we do is, in itself, hugely rewarding but it is nonetheless very gratifying to have that recognised in this nomination by the UK Theatre Awards.

Creative Learning works to provide a broad range of outreach and learning opportunities to young people, community groups and those interested in a career in the arts. To read more about some of the work they engage with, visit our Creative Learning Page.

How to Bury a Dead Mule by Richard Clements first performed in the Naughton Studio in March 2022, returning for another run in September 2022. Richard had to say:

I am delighted that 'How to Bury a Dead Mule' has been nominated for Best New Play at the UK Theatre Awards. It has been a whirlwind year and a half, writing in lockdown and then developing it with director Matthew McElhinney, bringing in a top creative team and seeing how audiences at the Lyric Theatre Belfast have responded to what is at heart, a deeply personal and yet universal account of war and it’s impact on family. There are so many people to thank but for now this is for my Grandfather…