By Conor O’Neill
Belfast’s Lyric theatre welcomes a new writing talent as Amanda Verlaque’s This Sh*t Happens All The Time hits the stage on March 22 – April 2.
The piece promises to be a ‘Deeply personal autobiographical monologue about homophobic hate crime’. Directed by Rhiann Jeffrey and produced by the Lyric in association with Imagine! Belfast festival of Ideas and Politics.
Starring Caoimhe Farren, the play tells the story of a woman who falls in love and her girlfriends ex-boyfriend responds with murderous intent. In 2022 he’s be arrested but in the Belfast of 1992 homophobic hate crime doesn’t even exist.
Drawing on personal experience the piece will explore misogyny, coercive control and queer baiting to ask what questions and protections granted to most of society remans out of reach for Northern Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community.
Jimmy Fay, the Lyric’s Chief Executive Producer said: “The Lyric’s mission is to create, entertain and inspire, we are committed to delivering quality theatre from exceptional artists and especially new writing. We are very proud to produce Amanda Verlaque’s This Shi*t Happens All The Time with Imagine” Belfast Festival. This courageous new play provides audiences with an emotional rollercoaster journey through a love story that challenges and confronts us with our own accountability in defending the vulnerable against forces of hate.”
Patrick O’Neill, Festival Director of Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics added: The Imagine! Belfast Festival is delighted to produce this exciting new production in conjunction with the Lyric. As a supporter of new writing, particularly on diversity issues, we hope that this play will highlight issues surrounding the widespread incidence of LGBTQ+ bullying and abuse. Our festival is all about challenging and entertaining audiences on the big issues of our time and we are pleased to support the dynamic talents of Amanda Verlaque, Rhiann Jeffrey and Caoimhe Farren in this gripping new play.”
If this sounds the meaty, questioning kind of theatre you’re into, get booking as I’m sure tickets will go fast.
Simply visit http://www.lyrictheatre.co.uk or phone the box office on 02890 381081
ENDS
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