19 Great Theatre Productions Across Northern Ireland In March
By Jessikah Hope Stenson
This month there’s a wide range of theatre productions to see all around the country from unique Disney adaptations to amateur theatre and the Enniskillen Drama Festival.
Whether you’re an avid theatre-goer or not, these aren’t to be missed. Here’s the low-down on what the country has to offer until the end of the month:
County Antrim
1. Give My Head Peace
Running Until March 5, Grand Opera House
Tickets range from £12.25 - £22.25 (goh.co.uk)
Da is hoping to plan something special but Ma may drag him with her to London to meet the Queen as she picks up her OBE. Meanwhile Uncle Andy decides that it’s time to dig into his own family tree to discover the story surrounding his own great-great Uncle Andy.
2. Educating Rita
Running until March 5, Lyric Theatre
Tickets range from £13 - £24.50 (lyrictheatre.co.uk)
A down-to-earth hairdresser from the working-class streets of Belfast enrols in an Open University course in English Literature. There she meets Frank, a lecturer from North Down who teaches at Queen’s. He has enough problems as it is, yet the two form an unlikely alliance. This award-winning production reimagines a popular story, filling it with even more wit and hilarity.
3. Bambi
March 4 – 5, The MAC
Tickets £13 (themaclive.com)
This unique stage adaptation of a Disney classic shows Bambi change from fawn to stag whilst learning powerful lessons about love, friendship and saying goodbye. Presented as part of Belfast’s Children’s Festival this one is certain to appeal to families.
4. Austen’s Women
March 4, Theatre At The Mill
Tickets from £12 - £14 (theatrethemill.com)
Thirteen of Jane Austen’s heroines are brought to life in this production which revisits the author’s most celebrated works. Using only Austen’s words catch Lizzy Bennet and co celebrate women in literature. This one’s for any book lover.
5. Avenue Q The Musical
March 8 – 12, Grand Opera House
Tickets range from £16.75-£35.75 (goh.co.uk)
Winner of the Best Musical, Avenue Q, is set in the world where ‘the internet is for porn and everyone’s a bit racist’. Avenue Q follows the story of Princeton as he moves into his apartment on Avenue Q in New York where he meets the ‘girl next door’, the ‘Republican’, the ‘internet sexpert’ and the ‘slut’; all of whom help him to discover his purpose in life. The adult humour makes this show only suitable to those over the age of 12.
6. The Cripple Of Inishmaan
March 11, Theatre At The Mill
Tickets from £12 - £14 (theatrethemill.com)
Set on the island of Inishmaan off the west coast of Ireland, this coming-of-age tale tells the story of a Hollywood production. Breaking away from his daily life, Billy is determined to be in the Hollywood film and he’ll do anything to get there.
7. The Turn Of The Screw
March 11 – 12, Lyric Theatre
Tickets £20 (lyrictheatre.co.uk)
On a remote estate in the English countryside a new governess begins taking care of two children, but there’s evil just around the corner. Northern Ireland Opera are back, reviving their successful production for another stint.
8. Into The Woods
March 11 – 12, Lyric Theatre
Tickets £15 (lyrictheatre.co.uk)
Classic tales become haunting when a baker and his wife discover they’ve been cursed with childlessness by the witch next door. This bitter story shows the couple take off on a quest to break the spell. While wishes might be granted, there’s bound to be consequences. This production is suitable for children as it provides a moving lesson about community responsibility.
9. A Moon For The Misbegotten
March 15 – 19, Lyric Theatre
Tickets range from £15 - £24 (lyrictheatre.co.uk)
Nobel Prize-winning playwright Eugene O’Neill’s play which explores humanity at the most basic level. The sequel to Long Day’s Journey Into Night follows despairing James Tyrone and fierce Josie Hogan as they find each other and hope. An international production team and actors from Ireland and the USA come together in this unique production this March.
10. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
March16 – 27, Grand Opera House
Tickets from £24.50 - £48.50 (goh.co.uk)
From the same production company which brought The King and I and the show which has broken all the box office records at the West End, audiences can now see a star-studded cast which includes Jason Manford (Caractacus Potts), Martin Kemp (Childcatcher), Amy Griffiths (Truly Scrumptious) and many more perform one of the world’s most beloved Musicals at the Grand Opera House.
11. The 39 Steps
March 29 – April 16
Tickets range from £10 - £24.50 (lyrictheatre.co.uk)
Bruiser Theatre Company bring their new production of Alfred Hitchock’s The 39 Steps to the lyric theatre. The classic spy thriller is set to have audiences on the edge of their seats – with tears of laughter! Hero Richard Hannah deals with everything from murder to beautiful women in this hilarious production.
12. The Virgin Father
March 29 – April 2
Tickets range from £12 - £15 (lyrictheatre.co.uk)
When Joe married the quiet girl who was already carrying another’s child, he never expected this. Watch as Joe desperately tries to find out what happened to his family in order to save himself in a land occupied by foreign forces targeting his son. This is a love story about the temptation to believe.
County Armagh
13. The Rising And By Way Of Interludes Word War 1
March 4, The Market Place Theatre And Arts Centre
Tickets from £11 (marketplacearmagh.com)
Two friendly characters – one Catholic and one Protestant – are seen during the 1916 rising, witnessing a pivotal moment in Irish History. Full of humour, song and dance, this is set to be an action-packed ninety minutes.
14. The Year Of The Hiker
March 12, The Market Place Theatre And Arts Centre
Tickets from £8 (marketplacearmagh.com)
John Kean’s play shows a ‘hiker’ who leaves his wife and disappears. In his absence, this wife is left to single-handedly bring up their three children during extremely difficult times. Twenty years later the ‘hiker’ returns. A bitter play about family tensions.
15. After Miss Julie
March 24, The Market Place Theatre And Arts Centre
Tickets from £11 (marketplacearmagh.com)
Adult themes and strong language has been warned for Prime Cut Productions’ After Miss Julie. This is a tragedy about a Miss Julie, who descends into the servants’ kitchen of her father’s country mansion, where everything changes. Adapted from Strindberg’s Miss Julie Co Fermanagh VE Day 1945.
County Derry
16. Blinkered
March 3, The Playhouse
Tickets from £10 (derryplayhouse.co.uk)
Ryan is a talented musician with loving family and friends but something is not quite right. This enlightening production about depression and the issue of suicide has been developed in association with Zest NI and Youthlife.
17. EXiT
March 4 – 5, The Playhouse
Tickets from £10 (derryplayhouse.co.uk)
The modern music industry battles against the artist in this unusual play. Jonah Walker is a talented but stubborn singer with a huge decision to make: she he accept an offer from a corporate record company? There’s be wider exposer, but less soul and the only alternative is to stay independent and struggle.
County Fermanagh
18. The Sunshine Boys
March 4, Ardhowen Theatre
Tickets £6 (Box Office 028 66 325440)
Kicking off the Enniskillen Drama Festival 2016 Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys is brought to the Ardhowen Theatre by the Phoenix Players – the oldest amateur drama group in the county. The history of comedy meets Simon’s hit play for a smashing night of entertainment. The festival is also incorporating plenty more plays over the course of the month.
County Tyrone
19. The Vicar Of Derramore
March 11, Burnavon Arts & Culture Centre
Tickets £10 (burnavon.com)
The Magherafelt Players are set to bring this fun-filled play based on the popular TV comedy series The Vicar Of Dibley. The unique local slant makes it unlike any other play this month.