Good Vibrations Programme 2023

WELCOME

We are thrilled to bring the revival tour of Good Vibrations to the Grand Opera House in Belfast and the Irish Arts Center in New York. This stage adaptation of the beloved film based on the life of Terri Hooley is a testament to the power of creativity, even in the toughest of times.

As we gather once again to witness the story of Terri Hooley and the punk bands he championed, we are reminded of the energy, shock, and back-to-basics approach that defined the punk movement. It was a time of youth rebellion, of rejecting the status quo and embracing expression. And the music that emerged from it all was urgent, exhilarating, and vibrant.

The story of Terri Hooley is one of the great ballads of Belfast. His refusal to play by the rules of a consumer society, his insistence on independence and authenticity, is both inspiring and difficult to follow. But through the talents of writers Glenn Patterson and Colin Carberry, this amazing and chaotic tale has been woven into a vivid tapestry that captures the spirit of punk and the heart of Belfast.

We are deeply grateful to the filmmakers for allowing us to bring this production to the stage, the amazing musicians from the period who continue to be such a source of inspiration and I want to thank Terri and his partner Claire for been so cool and fun about our show.

We are proud to present this production of Good Vibrations to audiences in Belfast and New York, and we hope that you will be as moved, inspired, and exhilarated by this story and its music as we have been.

JIMMY FAY LYRIC THEATRE

CAN THEATRE BE PUNK?

Revolution: I find myself thinking a lot about this word. Because what’s punk? It’s rebellion; kicking against conformity and stagnation and daring to dream of something better - or, at least, more exciting, more invigorating - that’s what it is. It is the art of the possible. This is very much the story we set before you now: whether or not you deem the project of Good Vibrations (both the record shop, and our play) a success is up to you, but you can’t deny the ambition. I’m also considering revolution as something cyclical, recurring, as if in we humans the act of dreaming alternate realities is inevitable, intrinsic to our nature. You could say we are constantly revolting. And this play itself is both revolutionary in meaning and in nature. In the remounting of this of show - first presented at the Lyric Theatre Belfast in 2018 - we found much that’s fresh, new, and, well, revolutionary all over again. Its message of persistence, resistance, and endurance hits differently in 2023.

I’ll be the first to concede that plays don’t seem very punk. I’ll also be the first to admit how nothing could be further from the truth. Theatre is in essence revolutionary. The words and movements may - hopefully - stay the same but the performance is different every time. It has enormous capacity for change.

As do we.

REBECCA MAIRS DRAMATURGE

“what’s punk? It’s rebellion; kicking against conformity and stagnation and daring to dream of something better - or, at least, more exciting, more invigorating - that’s what it is.”

A NOTE FROM THE MUSICAL DIRECTOR

When punk music exploded in the 70s it embraced a DIY ethos, a rebellious spirit, and an antiestablishment message. It was more than the music it was a movement and sub-culture driven by a frustrated youth. In Northern Ireland while the conflict was raging punk music became a creative outlet for these young bands to express that frustration and talk about being a forgotten generation in a place that gave them very little opportunity or freedom.

I was young when the Good Friday agreement was made so I have vague memories of a bomb shattering the windows in our house, men with guns on the street and being searched when going into the city centre; but the biggest impact on my generation and the generations since has been growing up in a post conflict society and the challenges that might bring. When all resources go on a war or a conflict so many other things become forgotten.

The music scene in Belfast is a beautiful thing. It changed my life when I was younger and has continued to be an important and

vital community for me throughout my life. We had very little musical infrastructure or industry back then but the passion, talent and collaborative spirit amongst the musicians and musical community was and is unmeasured. My peers were and are my inspiration. Their work ethic, commitment to change and creative curiosity drives us all forward when the weight of working in a critically underfunded industry becomes overwhelming.

One of the biggest joys (and there are many) of working on this show has been falling in love with music from a different generation of Northern Irish bands and sharing the music far and wide. Bands like Rudi, the Outcasts, Protex, Stiff Little Fingers, the Undertones and so many more that we couldn’t fit in to the show.

Punk and post-punk is still very much alive and thriving in Northern Ireland but it is different. The ethos is the same but the messages have changed and we see more women taking to the guitar or the drums to be loud about their rights and what they want. Incredible bands like Problem Patterns are leading the way with their blend of powerful

feminist, queer punk. These talented multi-instrumentalists write, sing and shout about inequality, our lack of government, solidarity and change. PP along with bands such as Strange New Places, Cherym, Gender Chores, Robocobra Quartet, Jock, Mob Wife and Chalk all give me hope and remind me that amidst the heaviness of the world right now we have a society filled with activists and artists who make us feel a little lighter and brighter and much more empowered.

KATIE RICHARDSON MUSICAL DIRECTOR, COMPOSER AND ARRANGER

“WHEN PUNK MUSIC EXPLODED IN THE 70S IT EMBRACED A DIY ETHOS, A REBELLIOUS SPIRIT, AND AN ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT MESSAGE. IT WAS MORE THAN THE MUSIC IT WAS A MOVEMENT AND SUB-CULTURE DRIVEN BY A FRUSTRATED YOUTH.”

SONGS

I SAW THE LIGHT

Hank Williams

BLOOD AND FIRE

Niney the Observer

PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE

The Shangri-Las

ALONE AGAIN OR Love

TIN SOLDIER

Small Faces

JUST ANOTHER TEENAGE REBEL

The Outcasts

BIG TIME

Rudi I SPY

Rudi

CAN’T YOU UNDERSTAND

Fran O’Toole

TRUE CONFESSIONS

The Undertones

IN THE CITY

The Jam

TEENAGE KICKS

The Undertones

I CAN ONLY DREAM

Protex

THE PRESSURE’S ON

Rudi

HAPPY HOUSE

Siouxsie and the Banshees

TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM

The Teddy Bears

ALTERNATIVE ULSTER

Stiff Little Fingers

SELF CONSCIOUS OVER YOU

The Outcasts

LAUGH AT ME

Sonny Bono

TERRI HOOLEYTHE MAN, THE GODFATHER OF PUNK, THE LEGEND

Terri Hooley, a music fan who risked his life by opening a record shop in 1970s Belfast during the Troubles.

During the hight of the troubles, Terri Hooley had a different response to the violence:

“I decided: Right, if they’re gonna kill me, I’m going to do something I really want to do, I’m going to set up a record shop.”

So, in 1976, he opened ‘Good Vibrations’ on Great Victoria Street in Belfast, at that time considered to be the most bombed quarter mile in Europe. The area had been so badly impacted by the ongoing violence that the shop’s landlord let Terri have the first six months of the tenancy for free.

Good Vibrations quickly became a hub for local music enthusiasts. It was here that Hooley began to champion local bands, particularly those in the emerging punk rock scene, and started to produce and release their music on his newly-formed record label of the same name.

Good Vibrations quickly gained a reputation for releasing high-energy and politically-charged punk rock music, with the label’s first release being the 1978 single “Big Time” by Rudi. This was followed by a string of successful releases from other Belfast punk bands, including The Undertones, The Outcasts, and Stiff Little Fingers.

Despite the ongoing violence and political turmoil in Northern Ireland, Hooley remained committed to promoting and supporting local music, even organizing a punk rock concert in the heart of Belfast city centre during the height of the Troubles. Hooley’s passion for music and his willingness to take risks in promoting local talent earned him a reputation as a maverick and a rebel, and he became a beloved figure in the Northern Irish music scene. However, the financial pressures of running an independent record label eventually caught up with him, and he was forced to close Good Vibrations in 1983.

In the years since, Hooley has continued to be involved in the music industry, running a record store and occasional record label, and helping to organize music festivals and events. He was the subject of the 2012 film “Good Vibrations”, which told the story of his life and work in promoting punk rock music in Belfast during the Troubles.

Today, Terri Hooley is remembered as a pioneering figure in Northern Irish music, whose passion for music and commitment to promoting local talent helped to shape the sound of punk rock in Belfast

“THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER, AND THE FIGHT WILL NEVER BE OVER, UNTIL WE BEAT THE BIGOTS, THE RACISTS AND THE HOMOPHOBIC BASTARDS IN THIS COUNTRY”

- TERRI HOOLEY

Terri Hooley outside the original Good Vibrations shop (Alastair Graham)

RUDI

Formed in 1975, Rudi started as a covers band playing rock ‘n’ roll and glam rock hits, with original members Drew Brown, Leigh Carson, Graham “Grimmy” Marshall, Ronnie Matthews, and Brian Young.

In January 1978, Terri Hooley saw them perform at The Pound Club in Belfast and was so impressed that he decided to launch his record label.

“Rudi took to the stage and they blew my mind. From the moment the first chords were played I was completely in love with them - hook, line and sinker.”(Terri Hooley, Good Vibrations)

Rudi’s debut release was the “Big Time” single, which was the first record on Hooley’s Good Vibrations label and was released in May 1978.

THE OUTCASTS

O’Neill, Michael Bradley, and Billy Doherty from 1975 to 1983.

The band recorded their debut EP, “Teenage Kicks,” on 15 June 1978 with a budget of only £200, engineered by Davy Shannon at Wizard Studios, Belfast, and released on Good Vibrations, a record label in Belfast. The EP’s title song became a hit, receiving support from John Peel, who considered it his all-time favourite song and maintained this opinion until his passing in 2004.

The Outcasts, a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland, formed in 1977 with a line-up including Blair Hamilton, Greg Cowan, Colin “Getty” Getgood, Colin Cowan, and Martin Cowan. After building a strong local following, they were picked up by the It record label, which released the band’s debut single “Frustration” in May 1978. Their success led them to be signed by Terri Hooley’s Good Vibrations label, which released “Just Another Teenage Rebel” in November 1978, earning the band airplay on national radio, including from the legendary John Peel. The Outcasts’ energetic sound and passion for punk rock continue to inspire fans all around the world.

A NOTE FROM THE COSTUME DESIGNER

The time period of late 1970s into early 1980 is when I was a little girl and with sisters 12/13 years older than myself, the clothing and music are imprinted in my memories and is a time period I truly love -it feeds my rock n roll soul!

Throughout the design process, research was key as the bands and the main protagonist Terri Hooley are all actual people in our living history so the costumes needed to stay as faithful to the bands and the people of Belfast and Derry/ Londonderry. With a mix of hippies, punks and the general seventies attire there was a lot to consider. Once I saw the photo of Terri’s then wife Ruth I was reminded of the Bob Dylan Song Girl from North County Fair with her hair hanging long and was inspired by all the wonderful women from that time period, Emmy Lou Harris and Joan Baez with peasant tops, waistcoats and leather knee boots.

There is also lots of Lee & Wrangler denim, red lined biker jackets and of course boot boy trousers’ all worn with the obligatory Doc Martin’s and Monkey Boots. As a designer it is important for

me to source originals from the time period where possible, often restraints such as budget and time are hurdles to overcome but spending time souring will always uncover lots of wonderful gems in good condition and the correct size which adds authenticity and creates a more natural narrative for the costumes, the fact there are still Lord Anthony Sherpa and snorkel jackets out in the world makes my heart glad.

For the three bands The Undertones, Rudi and The Outcasts, it was very important for each individual member to be identifiable and recognised for their own individual style. As the wonderful cast multi roll, costume had to work with the boundaries of quick changes but place importance in making the distinction between the bands. Brian Young one of the members of Rudi and Greg Cowan from the Outcast’s were both very generous with their memories of the clothing they wore at that time. Greg had mentioned his red Crombie tipped with black velvet, that he got custom made in North Street, and Brian’s infamous black shirt with

the leopard print yoke and his striped yellow and black socks were a must for the costume list. There are lots of images out there for the Undertone’s but a green snorkel with orange quilted lining and a Fair Isle jumper most synonymous with Fergal Sharkey

The punks of Belfast at that time were different to the Punks of London; they were almost playing catch up, but the energy, youthful spirit and sheer grit of the 1970s generation especially during the heightened troubles was something I wanted to capture. Polly punk and the ensemble female punks are inspired by an image I found of Liz Young on Spit records, Vivienne Westwood muse Debbie Juvenile and the punks of Belfast that frequented The Delta and Plaza in early 1980s.

GILLIAN LENNOX COSTUME DESIGNER

“the energy, youthful spirit and sheer grit of the 1970s generation especially during the heightened troubles was something I wanted to capture”

A NOTE FROM THE SET DESIGNER

From the outset we wanted to create a set that is as fluid and yet familiar as possible. Instead of depicting one specific location, we set out to create a space that was a collage of the important spaces in Terri’s tale, and simultaneously a contemporary museum; lovingly displaying one man’s life and a one music movement’s artefacts.

Of course the best backing for such a space is our magnolia pegboard. Pegboard being the backdrop to many cool foregrounds. There was a board of it in the Good Vibrations shop, it was used a lot in recording studios at the time, and it expresses the makeshift workshop like way in which a community and pop culture scene was built.

Every texture of the set should be evocative of a different space. The sticky orange Lino of a town hall

or pub, the black rubber floor of a gig backstage, the roller shutter on an intimidating street, and the curtain of a gorgeous unexpectedly glamorous theatrical space.

Another source of inspiration is artist Michael Landy, in 2001 he created the piece “Break Down” in which he meticulously laid out, catalogued, and subsequently shredded all of his possessions in an empty shop on Oxford Street. It seemed to be a useful metaphor for this folklore tale in which a constantly regenerating city and community feel that they’re in a city that sees them as disposable.

There are certain spaces that we always feel privileged to be in, none more so than backstage at a concert, we’ve used flight cases to create the sense that this is one of those, intangible, exclusive, “cool”

spaces. It’s a great metaphor for this musical movement and era, now a memory play the entire scene is also beautifully intangible, exclusive, and cool.

There is a version of this set where we recreate the shop, or we wheel on the living room in Jerusalem street… But hopefully what our set does is demonstrate that Good Vibrations was more than a location or shop front, that instead, much more excitingly, we have holding space and a visual metaphor for the feeling, the music, and the passion.

GRACE SMART SET DESIGNER

JIMMY FAY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

CLARE GAULT CASTING DIRECTOR

MORAG KEATING SENIOR PRODUCER

REBECCA MAIRS LITERARY MANAGER & DRAMATURGE

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ADRIAN MULLAN HEAD OF PRODUCTION

AIMEE YATES COMPANY STAGE MANAGER

PRODUCTION MANAGER

STEPHEN DIX STAGE MANAGER & CODIE MORRISON ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS

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IAN VENNARD & MEGAN JOYCE FOH AUDIO ENGINEERS

ARTHUR OLIVER-BROWN TECHNICAL MANAGER

LYRIC SCENE SHOP SET CONSTRUCTION

CHRIS HUNTER SCENIC ARTIST

GILLIAN LENNOX COSTUME SUPERVISOR

NUALA CAMPBELL MAKEUP ARTIST

BARRY MCCUSKER MONITOR AUDIO ENGINEER

JONATHAN DALEY CHIEF LX & PROGRAMMER

AIDAN PAYNE LEAD SCENIC CARPENTER

JACK MCGARRIGLE SCENIC CONSTRUCTION APPRENTICE

SARAH CAREY & MAIREAD MCCORMACK COSTUME ASSISTANTS

SOPHIE WATSON HAIR STYLIST

RACHAEL HARRIOTT COMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC RELATIONS / PRESS

MCCUSKER PRO AUDIO AUDIO EQUIPMENT VENDOR

LIAM HINCHCLIFFE, DECLAN PAXTON & CORENTIN WEST TECHNICIANS

FINN STEADMAN SCENIC CARPENTER

PHELAN HARDY WORKSHOP ASSISTANTS

NIAMH MOCKFORD & ARLENE REILLY DRESSERS

LIBBY DOHERTY HAIR COLOURIST & CUT

NORTH HARBOUR PRODUCTIONS, LEIGHTON MILNE & JOHNNY FRAZER PHOTOGRAPHY / VIDEOGRAPHY

WITH THANKS OISIN KEARNEY, BRONAGH MCFEELY & EXSPECTATIONS

Michael Bradley Musical Director and Supervisor, Sound Designer and Arranger for Original 2018 production at Lyric Theatre, Belfast.

CAST

Cat is from Warrenpoint, Co Down and currently lives in Magheralin, Co. Armagh. She graduated with a Drama Degree before completing a Post-Grad Intensive Performer Training Course at Queen’s University, Belfast.

Theatre credits include: The Border Game (Lyric Theatre/Prime Cut); Be My Baby (Lyric Theatre) Cinderella (GBL Productions); The Vagina Monologues (Strut & Bellow); A Fairy Big Adventure, Seashell Stories, Winter Wonderland; Secrets Of The Ravine (Place To Wonder); Bliss, Snoozle & The Lullabugs, TiNY, Babble, The School Underneath (Replay Theatre Company); Where Are We Going?, We Are Not Afraid, How Tom Beat Captain Najork And His Hired Sportsmen (Curious Doings); Huzzies (Tinderbox); War Of The Worlds, A Christmas Present (Wireless Mystery Theatre); Butterfly & Caterpillar (Young At Art); Three Women (C21); Antigone (Prime Cut).

Film, TV and radio credits include: Brought To Light (BBCNI Radio Drama); Ordinary Love (Out of Orbit); Doting (PJ Hart/NI Screen); The Devil’s Doorway (dir Aislínn Clarke); The Chase (15 Second Film Festival); Brendan Smyth: Betrayal of Trust (Hole In The Wall Gang); One Night (NI Film School).

Cat was chosen to create a piece of ‘art as a vehicle for change’ for the 2022 Imagine Belfast Festival of Politics and Ideas. After What They Might Be premiered at the festival, she was invited to share some this work at TEDx.

Connor Burnside is an actor and musician from Belfast.

Trained at the Institute for Contemporary Music in London.

Theatre credits include: Vernon God Little (The Brian Friel theatre, Belfast) The Family Hoffman (The Mac Theatre, Belfast) Good Vibrations (Lyric theatre, Belfast) Miami Showband Story (Opera House, Belfast) and Black Magic Ops R&D (National Theatre Studios, London)

As a musician Connor has toured supporting Sting, Stereophonics, Alanis Morissette, Blondie, Hozier, One Republic, James Bay, Eagles of Death Metal and Sigrid, with artists Alex Francis, Thomas Headon and Joshua Burnside.

Most recently burnside has been working in the studio with Grammy award winning producer Mark Taylor.

AS DAVE HYNDMAN, DOCTOR, RECORD EXECUTIVE, PAUL MCNALLY

Darren Franklin is an actor from Belfast. Darren has an ALCM Distinction from the London College of Music. He plays the piano, guitar, drums, Eb (tenor) Horn, Saxophone (Alto), recorder and ukulele.

Theatre credits include: The Snow Queen (Lyric Theatre, Belfast); Propaganda (Lyric Theatre, Belfast); The Ferryman (Gielgud Theatre); Abomination: A DUP Opera (Abbey Theatre); Tír na nÓg (Aon Sceal/Mill Theatre, Dundrum); A Christmas Carol; Stitching Time; Herons; Graveyard Shift (The MAC); Teenage Kicks (Millennium Forum); Departure Lounge (Grand Opera House, Belfast); Mass; Pirates of Penzance Concert (The Belfast Ensemble); Kiss Me Kate; The Devil Made Me Do It (N.I. Opera); Macbeth; Mixed Marriage (Lyric Theatre, Belfast); When I Say ‘Tee’, You Say ‘Bo’ (Edinburgh Fringe) Lay Up Your Ends; The Home Place; Shh, We Have a Plan; Stitched Up (N.I. Tour), EGG (U.S.A. Tour).

Film and television credits include: Gone (Future Screens); Septet for Four (The Belfast Ensemble); Lord Mountbatten (RTE/History Channel), Dry Your Eyes; Betrayal of Trust; Give My Head Peace (BBC).

AS MARILYN HYNDMAN, RECORD EXECUTIVE, MRS SHARKEY, NUN

as Billy Doherty, NED, Hatchett

MARTY MAGUIRE AS GEORGE HOOLEY, PAT, ANDY, RUC OFFICIER, DAVY, ORANGEMAN, SOLDIER

Theatre credits include: Drum Belly, King Lear, Curse of the Starving Class, Macbeth, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Romeo and Juliet, Henry IV, Da, Observatory, At Swim Two Birds, The Passion of Jerome, By the Bog of Cats, The Doctors Dilemma, The Well of the Saints, The Corsican Brothers, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme and Philadelphia Here I Come! (Abbey Theatre). Translations and Living Quarters (Lyric Theatre / Abbey Theatre). Staging the Treaty (Anu). Least Like the Other (Irish National Opera), Borstal Boy (Gaiety), Wuthering Heights, An Enemy of the People, Festen, All my Sons (Gate). Hecuba, The Effect, The Critic, Travesties, Life is a Dream, Solemn Mass for a Full Moon in Summer (Rough Magic). The Colleen Bawn, Gentrification (Druid). The Winter’s Tale, The Hairy Ape (Corcadorca). Medea, Titus Andronicus and La Musica (Siren). Roberto Zucco, Wideboy Gospel (Bedrock). The End of the Road, Whereabouts, The Flesh Addict (Fishamble). The Chairs (Tinderbox).

Television credits include: The House Across the Street (Ch 5), Amber, (RTE). Single Handed (Element), Roy (Jam), The Catalpa Rescue (Perpetual), Proof (Subotica) and Amongst Women (BBC/ RTE).

Film credits include: The Flag (Treasure), Gridlock (Failsafe), Out of Innocence (Defiant), Pursuit (An Pointe), The Break (Stanley’s Deathpark), Priest (Magna), Batman Begins (Warner Bros).

Odhrán trained at the Guildford School of Acting from 2015-2018,

Theatre credits include: Eternal Love (Lyric Theatre, 2015) Good Vibrations (Lyric Theatre, 2018), Private Peaceful (Pintsized Productions, 2019), Tragik Plastik (Tinderbox Productions, 2021) John Hume: Beyond Belief (Derry Playhouse, 2023 and for

Television credits include: The Butchering (Amazon, 2015) Frank of Ireland (Channel 4, 2020), The Good Christian Women’s Writing Group (RTE, 2018), I Saw Myself Dead (2022)

Chris Mohan is an actor and musician from Belfast. In 2016 he graduated with BA (Hons) Acting from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

Theatre credits include: Good Vibrations (original Lyric Production), Aladdin (GBL, Waterfront Theatre) Bollixed (Accidental Theatre), Darling, It’s Not About You (Tristan Bates Theatre, London), The Miami Showband Story (GBL, Irish Tour), Peter Pan (Courtyard Theatre), Macbeth (C21, Irish and Scottish tours), Tom (Theatre At The Mill), Blackout (Liverpool Everyman), Chelsea’s Story (Alter Ego CS, 2 Tours) Little Red Riding Hood (C21, Tour) Herons (Mac Theatre) Operation Blitzed (Big Telly Theatre Company.)

Film credits include: KNEECAP, The Last Girl and MEYOUUSTHEM

Television credits include: Hope Street (BBC), MotherFatherSon (BBC), The Athena (Sky One), PSNI Recruitment commercial, Toxic Masculinity (BBC web Series), Moy Park Chicken commercial (Beattie McGuinness Bungay).

Voiceover include regular U105 advertisements and Poems of Passchendaele (BBC)

Chris is also a professional wrestler and since commencing training in 2021 has wrestled across Ireland for Titanic Wrestling (NI), Fight Factory Pro Wrestling (Dublin), Pheonix Wrestling (Cork) and NXG Wrestling (NI.)

as Ronnie Matthews, SHY guy, Mutt

as Graham ‘Getty’ Marshall, Hank williams, RECORD EXECUTIVE

AS MAVIS HOOLEY, NUN

Christina Nelson is a highly acclaimed actress, director and writer from Belfast, NI. She trained at Rupert Stanley College and has over 35 years experience in the industry. Christina is looking forward to punk’ing it up for Good Vibrations

Christinas recent Lyric Theatre credits include Snow Queen (Lyric Theatre) Pinocchio (Lyric Theatre), Lady Killers (Lyric Theatre), Sinners (Lyric Theatre)

Her Recent acting credits include, Cassandra of Ulster (Dublin), McCooeys (Grand Opera House), Betty and Bernies School Reunion (SSE Arena), Ring of Steel (Kabosh) Her last directing role was the sell out Bernies Big Day Out (SSE Arena) she is also writing and directing a new children’s show, Teddy, Dolly and Me for Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, for a summer tour. Christina is working with GBL and Greenshoot productions on a new community engagement project, culminating in a large-scale professional production written by Gary Mitchell and directed by Christina in 2023/2024.

Over the last year she has directed and appeared in a series of comedy plays touring throughout Northern Ireland. The latest being her hit, one woman show I’ll Tell My Ma a prequel to the Aisling Award winning Is That Too Hot (Mac Theatre), also staring Christina and written by Patricia Gormley. During 2021/22 Nelson played Bette Midler and Dolly Parton in the successful tours of The Broads and I Got You Dolly, Love Cher (Eastside Arts) written by Maria Connelly.

TV/Film Credits: Back in 5 (Armchair and Rocket), History Makers (director Stephen Pierce, BBC), Make the Difference (Director Michael Oneil) My Mother and Other Strangers (Director Adrian Shergold, BBC)

GOOD VIBRATIONS / 09 - 20 May 2023 /

AS POLLY ‘THE PUNK’, BBC RECEPTIONIST

Jolene is an actor/singer born and bred in Belfast.

Theatre credits include: Wiper at Work, Dear Ireland (The Abbey Theatre, Dublin), Polly in Good Vibrations (Lyric Theatre, Belfast 2018), Florinda in Into The Woods (NI Opera/Lyric Theatre), Kiss Me Kate (NI Opera/Lyric Theatre), Sweeney Todd (NI Opera/ Lyric Theatre), Mirrorball (Replay Theatre Co/Lyric Theatre), Pumpgirl in Pumpgirl (Decadent Theatre Company) and Logainne in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Bruiser Theatre Company).

Television credits include: Eat the Rich (RTÉ Storyland), My Mother and Other Strangers (BBC), Marú (RTÉ), Scúp (RTÉ) and Cracking Crime (RTÉ).

Jolene is a main vocalist every year for Lush! Classical at The SSE Arena, Belfast with The Ulster Orchestra. She is one half of singing duo ‘O’Hara’ with her sister Philippa. They have performed all over Ireland and the UK. Jolene provided vocals on Van Morrison’s Moving On Skiffle album and is part of the live band lineup for his Moving on Skiffle live tour. Jolene can also be heard on the BBC programmes Classical Connections with John Toal accompanied by Ruth McGinley on piano and on Belfast Mixtape - Songs from Lockdown concert.

AS BRIAN YOUNG, BANK MANAGER

Gavin is a multidisciplinary creative from Belfast; working as an Actor, AV VR Designer and Filmmaker for the past ten years. Gavin has had the opportunity to work across the main performance venues in Northern Ireland, The Republic of Ireland, as well as in Canada and Sweden.

Recent acting credits include: The Northman (Focus Features), St Mungos (BBC), Good Vibrations (Lyric Theatre), Miami Showband (Irish Tour), The Sparticle Mystery (BBC), Tender Napalm (Lyric Theatre), Demented (Lyric Theatre), Departure Lounge (GOH) Smiley (Lyric Theatre), Re-engerise (Lyric Theatre).

Recent AV Design credits include: Mirrorball (Replay), Duck Duck Goose (Fishamble), The House (Big Telly), The Musician (The Belfast Ensemble), Ten Palgues (The Belfast Ensemble), Septep (The Belfast Ensemble), Fall Of The House of Usher (The Belfast Ensemble), C*** of Queen Catherine (The Belfast Ensemble), Something in the Air (Brassneck)

Recent Filmmaking credits include: The House VR, Two Fingers Up, Heave, Beautiful, Take Him Out, Mr Penny, Handyman’s Tool, One of Life’s Little Lessons

AS GREG COWAN, FEARGAL SHARKEY, MARTY,

Dylan Reid was born & currently lives in Derry, Northern Ireland. He graduated with a level 3 Performing Arts from NWRC.

Theatre Credits include: Cinderella (Millenium Forum), Walled city Passion (Blue Eagle), The White Handkerchief (The Playhouse), Good Vibrations (Lyric Theatre), Once the Musical (Landmark Productions), Once the Musical - South Korea (Mark Rubinstein LTD)

Film & TV Credits include : A Bump Along the Way (Element Pictures & Gallagher Productions) Walled City Passion (RTE & BBC) Let It Shine (BBC) The White Handkerchief (BBC)

AS TERRI HOOLEY AS RUTH CARR

Glen was most recently seen on stage in the World Premiere of Under the Black Rock at The Arcola Theatre, London where he originated the role of Brendan Swords. His most recent screen work was in Season 3 of the ITV/Netflix award winning drama MARCELLA.

Other notable TV credits include: BAFTA award winner Jamie Johnson (BBC/Short Form), BAFTA nominated The Secret (ITV/Hat Trick) as well as playing regular characters in Coronation Street (ITV), EastEnders (BBC), River City (BBC) and Malachy Fisher in Hollyoaks (Channel 4) where he was nominated for ‘Best Actor’, ‘Best Dramatic Performance’ and ‘Best Exit’ at The British Soap Awards, TV Quick & Choice Awards, Inside Soap Awards and with The Royal Television Society.

Lyric Theatre, Belfast credits: Dockers, Arms and the Man and The Snow Queen. Other Theatre credits include: Antigone directed by Amir Nizar Zuabi, part of the ‘International Directors Lab’ and Paddy Campbell’s The Blessed directed by Maria Crocker (both National Theatre, London). Stones in his Pockets (New Vic Theatre and International Tour), Whistle Down the Wind (UK Tour), Murder in Bridgport (World Premiere, Old Red Lion, London).

Trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama.

Theatre: Cinderella (The MAC Belfast); Bridesmaids of Northern Ireland (GBL Productions); Kiss Me Kate (Lyric Theatre Belfast); The Threepenny Opera (Northern Ireland Opera) Cinderella (The Orchard Theatre); Cinderella (Grand Opera House); The Bloody Irish! (Helix Theatre/Broadcast on PBS); Aladdin (Grand Opera House); Lizzie Siddal (Arcola Theatre); Cinderella (Grand Opera House); Notes To Future Self (Birmingham Repertory Theatre); The Secret Garden (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Parade (Donmar Warehouse)

Television: Brave New World (Amblin/ Dreamworks for NBC Universal); Francis of Assisi: A Life Of Adventure (Dreamlight International Productions); Hayden’s Dream (Paul McKenzie/Foz Allan); Doctors (BBC); London Irish (Channel 4); The Life And Adventures Of Nick Nickleby (BBC); 6 Degrees (BBC NI); Misfits (E4 for Channel 4); Injustice (Travers Productions Ltd); Runaway (Company Television Productions Ltd); Casualty (BBC); Vexed (Greenlit Rights Lts); The Inbetweeners (Bwark Productions); Minder (Talkback Thames/ Five)

Film: Her Penpal (UFO Films); Unsinkable (PMI Films); The Heiress (Flare Film); Son of Perdition (Matthew Harrison Films); Life Just Is (Ruby Films); Jane Eyre (Focus Features); A Kiss For Jed (Louisiana Film Productions); Boogeyman 3 (BM3 Productions); Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (Dreamworks/Warner)

CREATIVES

DES KENNEDYDIRECTOR

Directing credits include Piaf at the Gate Theatre, Dublin; Teenage Kicks at the Millennium Forum, Derry; White Star Of The North at Lyric Theatre Belfast; How The World Began for Out Of Joint (Arcola); God’s Country (Tinderbox); The Prophet Of Monto at The Flea Theatre (off-Broadway); The Great Ramshackle Heart (Old Vic New Voices/Public Theater, NY); Johnny Meister and The Stitch (Mead Theatre, Washington D.C); Dying City for Rough Magic SEEDS at Project Arts Centre, Dublin; Scenes From The Big Picture for Solas Nua, Washington D.C. (one of best 10 productions of decadeWashington Post).

Des was the original Associate Director on the West-End production of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child (Palace), and has since directed new casts and productions of the play for Broadway, Melbourne, Hamburg, Toronto, Tokyo and San Francisco. During lockdown he directed the short film The Girl At The Window (by Lisa McGee) for the Splendid Isolation series produced by Lyric Theatre Belfast/BBC, and the film was subsequently selected for the Paris Short Film Festival and the Ontario Short Film Festival (where it was awarded second prize). Des is also a screenwriter and his original script Tribute is under development with Playground Entertainment.

Colin Carberry & Glenn PattersonOriginal Screenplay and Stage Adaptation

Colin is a writer of screenplays and fiction from Belfast. He has written various plays for BBC Radio 4 and is developing a TV series.

Glenn Patterson is a novelist, journalist and writer for film, television and radio from Northern Ireland who has recently written and presented the factual podcasts The Shankhill Gold Rush and before that The Northern Bank Job for BBC Radio 4. His books include Where Are We Now, Gull, and Backstop Land

As a duo, they wrote the film Good Vibrations which was nominated for Outstanding Debut at the 2014 BAFTA

Film Awards. They had previously won Best Script at the 2013 Irish Writers Guild Awards, and Best Script at the 2012 Dinard British Film Festival. They were also nominated for Best First Script of 2013 by the Writers Guild of Great Britain.

They are currently developing two new musicals.

Grace Smart

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Set Designer Theatre includes: The Winter’s Tale, Hamlet, Metamorphoses, Henry VI, Richard III (The Globe); Red Riding Hood (Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse); The Wonderful World of Dissocia (TRSE); The Death of Dance (Theatre Royal Bath/ Arcola Theatre); Death of a Salesman (Parco Theatre, Japan); When the Long Trick’s Over (High Tide); A Chorus Line, My Beautiful Laundrette, Memoirs of an Asian Football Casual (Curve Theatre); Straight to Video (Civic Theatre); Herding Cats (Soho Theatre); Christmas Concert (Donmar Warehouse); Crocodile Fever (Traverse Theatre); The End of History (Royal Court); One Night in Miami, Shebeen (Nottingham Playhouse); God of Chaos (Theatre Royal, Plymouth); St Joan, Good Vibrations, Here Comes the Night, The Colleen Bawn (Lyric Theatre, Belfast); Killer Joe (Trafalgar Studios); Postcards from the Ledge (Landmark Productions/The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin); East is East (Northern Stage); Normal, Blasted (STYX); Shopping & Fucking (Lyric Hammersmith)

Opera includes: Last Days, Susanna (Royal Opera House); The World’s Wife (Mavron Quartet/Welsh National Opera).

Awards include: Linbury Prize for Design 2015 Overall Winner (St Joan).

GILLIAN LENNOXCOSTUME DESIGNER

After graduating with BA hons in Fashion and Textiles at The University of Ulster Gillian Lennox went on to be a designer within the fashion industry.

After a spell designing for Marks & Spencer Menswear Gillian began a 14-year career working for a London based manufacturing/design company where she progressed to Head Designer supplying companies such as on line retailer ASOS, and Southern

Ireland high street stores Dunnes and A-Wear. Her designs for ASOS and AWear were often featured in magazine editorials.

Gillian’s work often took her overseas to Paris, Syria and Morocco where she gained insight into the entire process of textile design, garment and pattern construction.

Throughout her career Gillian also continued with her own freelance work and has been a maker and illustrator for Universal Studios when they first came to Northern Ireland with films such as Your Highness and more recently was a maker for the movie The Northman

Gillian has assisted on the BBC Proms and Children in Need and designed and made the costumes for The Belfast Mela South Asian Dance Academy.

Before being appointed as Costume Supervisor with the Lyric Theatre in August 2017 Gillian free-lanced as a maker with the Lyric Theatre, working on various productions including Little Red Riding Hood & the Big Bad Wolf, The Gingerbread Mix Up, The 39 Steps and The Ladykillers

For the Lyric Theatre, Gillian has supervised the costume department on all producing shows for the past five years and has been the Costume Designer for Dr Scroggy’s War, Good Vibrations, Alice: The Musical, Double Cross, Rough Girls (Arts & Business Awards) Dark of the Moon, Shirley Valentine, Peter Pan: The musical, 1984 (Postponed Covid), Sadie, Dracula, Pinocchio, Blue stockings, The Snow Queen, Romeo & Juliet & Good Vibrations 2023

Most recently Gillian has been involved in a living history tender for Mid Ulster Council/Lyric designing and producing 23 costumes for historical sites and National trust properties.

KATIE RICHARDSONMUSICAL DIRECTOR, COMPOSER AND ARRANGER

Katie Richardson is a musician, composer, sound designer and musical director who currently makes her own music under the name Hex Hue. For several years she was a member of Choice nominated ‘Pleasure Beach’ with whom she toured the UK and Ireland. Under several different guises, she has worked and collaborated with

musicians such as Foy Vance and Duke Special as well as supporting artists like Van Morrison, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Jesca Hoop, Bell X1, All Saints and many more.

Katie is one of award winning theatre company, Prime Cut’s, Reveal artists which champions and develops emerging theatre makers. She is currently working on a music based commission with them as part of this award. In Summer 2020 Katie curated the Creative Hub for the TedX Stormont online and co-founded Safe in Sound which is a new initiative with the vision to create a safe, strong, connected creative sector founded on equality, diversity and respect. This year she is working on several exciting large scale music commissions, theatre and film projects and her debut album as Hex hue is due for release in the Autumn.

Theatre Credits include: Rough Girls, Good Vibrations, All Mod Cons and Beauty and the Beast (Lyric Theatre), The New Electric Ballroom (The Gate Theatre), Father the Father (Prime Cut Productions), Not on Our Watch, Callings, The Shedding of Skin (Kabosh Theatre Company), Brink (Maiden Voyage Dance), The Man Who Fell to Pieces, Huzzies (Tinderbox Theatre Company).

Film credits include; Oyster (Farset Films), Let us be seen (Vish Films), The Death of a Projectionist (Out of Orbit), BIND - a dance film, Eileen McClory and Quotidian

JENNIFER ROONEYCHOREOGRAPHER & MOVEMENT DIRECTOR

Jennifer Rooney trained at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. She has worked as a choreographer for over twenty years and is currently the resident movement director on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (London).

Choreography credits

For TV and Film: Derry Girls (series 2 and 3), World on Fire (series 2), Old Friends and Other Days (Northern Ireland Opera)

Theatre: Into the Woods (West Australian Opera, Perth), Piaf (Gate Dublin), Into the Woods, La Boheme & Kiss Me Kate (Northern Ireland Opera), A Christmas Carol (The MAC), The Elves and the Shoemaker (Cahoots NI, The MAC), Good Vibrations (Lyric Theatre, Belfast), Turnabout (Maiden Voyage Dance)

Directing credits: The Devil Made Me Do It (NI Opera), Flight (BBC, One Dance Uk), Lark (Northern Ireland Screen)

Associate movement Director: Truth (Helen Chadwick Company, UK Tour), Once (The Olympia Theatre, Dublin & Charlotte Theatre, Seoul, South Korea) Resident Movement Director: Once (Phoenix Theatre, London)

JACK KNOWLESLIGHTING DESIGNER

Theatre includes Caroline, or Change (West End/Broadway); Private Lives, Committee (Donmar Warehouse); Romeo and Julie (also Sherman Theatre), Top Girls, Barber Shop Chronicles (also World Tour), Beginning (also West End), Cleansed (National Theatre); Best of Enemies, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Windsors: Endgame, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (West End); Patriots, Spring Awakening (nominated for WhatsOnStage Award for Best Lighting Design), Nine Lessons and Carols, The Duchess of Malfi, Three Sisters, Shipwreck, Machinal, They Drink it in the Congo, Boy, Carmen Disruption, Game (Almeida Theatre); Sons of the Prophet (Hampstead Theatre); Antigone (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp, The End of History, Instructions for Correct Assembly, 2071 (Royal Court); Venice Preserved (Royal Shakespeare Company); Anna Karenina, Steel (Sheffield Theatres); Light Falls, The Producers, The Greatest Play in the History of the World (also Traverse/Trafalgar Studios/UK Tour), Death of a Salesman, Happy Days, Parliament Square, Our Town, Twelfth

Night, A Streetcar Named Desire, Wit, The Skriker, There Has Possibly Been An Incident (Royal Exchange); Piaf, Wonderland (Nottingham Playhouse); Gin Craze! (Royal and Derngate); Good Vibrations (Lyric Theatre, Belfast/New York); Circle Mirror Transformation (Home MCR); Junkyard, Pygmalion (Headlong); Mary Stuart, The Beacon (Staatstheater Stuttgart); 4.48 Psychosis, Reisende auf einem Bein, Happy Days (Schauspielhaus Hamburg); The Forbidden Zone (Salzburg Festival/ Schaubühne/Barbican); Phaedra (Enniskillen International Beckett Festival); A Sorrow Beyond Dreams (Vienna Burgtheater); Lungs, Yellow Wallpaper (Schaubühne); Night Train (Schauspiel Köln/Avignon Festival/ Theatertreffen). Opera includes The Seven Deadly Sins/Bluebeard’s Castle (Teatro Colón); La bohéme (Gothenburg Opera). Awards include Knight of Illumination Award for Barber Shop Chronicles.

IAN VENNARDSOUND DESIGNER

Ian Vennard has worked at the Lyric Theatre since May 2016 and is currently the Senior Production Technician.

His Lyric Theatre credits include: Alice the Musical (2018); Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleetstreet: The Musical (A Lyric Theatre and Northern Ireland Opera co-production - 2019); and Kiss Me, Kate (A Lyric Theatre and Northern Ireland Opera co-production2020), Rough Girls (2021), Propaganda: A New Musical (A Lyric Theatre and Belfast Ensemble co-production)

Ian also has close ties with the Belfast Ensemble since their conception and credits include: Doppler Effect (2017); Fall of the House of Usher (2018); Young Pornographers (2019); Abomination - a DUP Opera (2019 & 2022 Irish Tour) Into The Woods - Northern Ireland Opera: 2022 - Production Sound Designer

from the rehearsal room