else, which was especially important for Jacob and Wilhelm who were stuck where they were.
They soon set about rewriting their own story.
They collected all the tales they had heard growing up. All the folklore from their town, from the city, then from the whole country.
They published their first book, Children’s and Household Tales in 1812. These stories became so popular that the brothers received honorary doctorates from universities.
The brothers are now among the best-known storytellers. You may have heard of a few of their tales. Cinderella? Sleeping Beauty? And of course our very own Hansel & Gretel?
Often these folk tales were quite “Grimm” so the brothers would end them with a funny rhyme. In the tale of Hansel and Gretel :
“Our story’s done. See a mouse run. And whoever catches it can make a great big furry hood from it.”
It got me thinking. Who is this mouse? What was his part in the tale of Hansel and Gretel? Why did he stay silent until the end?
And then I remembered Jacob and Willhem. The hardships they had to overcome. The way in which they rewrote their own story. From riches to rags to then becoming the most famous storytellers of their time.
And so I arrived at the tale of MONTY the quiet mouse. Whose hardships are re-written by falling into the world of fairy tales.
A call to every child and adult that their story is still unwritten. That circumstances can change and that dreams can come true.
funny characters, popping music. A hoot!”
Q: What is it like writing a Christmas show?
A: “Writing a Christmas show is a huge responsibility. For most people a Christmas show is their first introduction to theatre. Be they 5 or 75.
It can switch them on to the joy of theatre or switch them off. It was my first experience of theatre and it lit a flame in me that burns to this day.
The buzz of the audience, the lights going out and then boom! You are welcomed into another world. Letting your imagination run
NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
I have one particular memory from my childhood that warms the heart and stretches my smile from ear to ear. 1988. (Revealing my age here!) It was a couple of days after Christmas, that space where the Santa Claus buzz shifts to the ‘count the days before school not so buzzing time’. I was about eight or nine years old and one of my presents was the treasured Roald Dahl book set. I vividly remember one afternoon hiding under the bed, the book as my treasure, rapidly turning the pages, my mind racing from chapter to chapter, my eyes widening with every plot twist and turn, my imagination being carried by Matilda, Miss Honey and the terrifying Missus Trunchbull! I couldn’t close the book, devouring the story in massive imaginative mouthfuls (try saying that out loud) and over the next few years, my secret hiding place became my compass and my books became the vital map for my creativity to grow and expand in the years that followed. Books became my creative force during the the turbulent teenage years, finding moments of pure escapism, seeking inspiration from characters in their own stories and finding golden nuggets of strength in my own Imagination. To this day, I have so many characters to thank for their ongoing advice! (In particular James and the Giant Peach)
I am pure buzzing to share the fantastical world of books with the wonderful magical experience of live theatre. A huge thank you to everyone at the Lyric for continuing to create a magical playhouse for us all. Thanks to all of the creative team for their incredible imaginations and hard word and to the magical cast who are about to brighten your world with their creative magic! A special thank you to writer TaraLynne O’Neil for creating a powerful story for us all to play inside and share with you today. Finally, we really need one more ingredient to complete this story and that my friends, is you!
Merry Christmas!
PATRICK J O’REILLY
ACT 1 NEVER GONNA GET AWAY FAIRYTALE TOWN TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN INTO THE FOREST USE YOUR HEAD EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE SWEET!
ACT 2 SONGS
THE COMPANY
Director Music & Lyrics: Composer & Sound Designer
Set Designer
Lighting Designer
Costume Designer
Choreographer
Cello
Violin
Viola
Saxophone
Drums Bass
Piano Electronics
Tara Lynne O’Neill
Patrick J O’Reilly
Katie Richardson
Stuart Marshall
Mary Tumelty
Gillian Lennox
Paula O’Reilly
Laura McFadden
Clare Hadwen
Richard Hadwen
Ben Castle
George Sloan
Si Francis
Matt Evans
Katie Richardson
Songs produced by Katie Richardson
Additional mixing and engineering by George Sloan at Half Bap Studios
Set Construction
Lead Scenic Carpenter
Scenic Artist
Scenic Carpenters
Scenic Construction
Apprentice
Workshop Assistants
Costume Supervisor
Costume Assistants
Dresser / Maintenance
Pattern Cutter
Makers
Knitter
Hair & Make-up
With thanks
Photography / Videography
Lyric Scene Shop
Aidan Payne
Chris Hunter
Finn Steadman
Matt Laverty
Jack McGarrigle
Phelan Hardy
Conor Barbour
Gillian Lennox
Ciara Leneghan White
Mairead McCormack
Arlene Reilly
Erica Poole
Sarah Carey
Arlene Riley
Marian Hegarty
Audhild Zimmerman
Caroline Reynolds
Becky Chapman (QUB)
Niamh McGrath (Lir)
Carrie Davenport
Leighton Milne
Johnny Frazer
Melissa Gordon
Graphic Designer
Public Relations / Press
Adam Steele
Rachael Harriott
Communications
MARK DUGALE
SNATTERPEA, WILLUM, BERTIE JONES, TEDDY, TREE 2 & MINX
anniversary production).
Workshops include: Breakfast on Pluto; The Commitments; London Time.
Recordings: Les Miserables – The Movie; Stage and Screen (BBC Radio 3).
Concerts: A Little Princess (Southbank Centre); Night of A Thousand Stars (Royal Albert Hall); Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert (02 Arena).
Television: Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway (ITV).
Mark was the recipient of the Kenneth Branagh Renaissance Award to pursue training.
ORLA GORMLEY
WOODCUTTER, UNCLE DAN, TREE 3 & MYRTLE
Woolford).
Original Cast Albums include: LizzieMusical of the Year, Renata - Comrade Rockstar and Ruth - Molly Wobbly’s Tit Factory.
CATRIONA MCFEELY
GRETEL & SPLIT
Catriona is actor and singer from Derry and is based in Belfast. She studied Acting at the Royal Central
Not on our The Shedding of Skin Rough Blackout, Rehearsed Cinderella Secrets of (Bruiser Dancing at the Disco at the End of the World, Closer, (Replay Dear World (Big The Frozen Tangled (Three’s Theatre (Derby (Millenium Forum Pacifists Guide to the (Workshop, National The Playboy of the Western Englishman Walks into an Irish Bar
Film credits include: Joy to the World (Calico Pictures/Sky) and The Quarry (Village Films).
ODHRÁN MCNULTY
HANSEL & SLUGGER
Odhrán trained at the Guildford School of Acting from 2015-2018. He recently returned from a two month run in New York performing Good Vibrations (Irish Arts Center, 2023).
Theatre credits include: Eternal Love, Good Vibrations (Lyric Theatre); Private Peaceful (Pintsized Productions); Tragik Plastik Productions); John Hume: Beyond Belief (Derry Playhouse).
Screen credits include: The Butchering (Amazon); Frank of Ireland
The Good Christian Women’s Writing Group (RTE); I Saw Myself Dead (Independent Film).
On top of his acting credits Odhrán also works in production and is currently working on his most recent short film Dead On Arrival which is scheduled for release later this year.
BUGS, EVIL AUNT, CHIP BARNABY, TREE 1, NED & KOO
Christina Nelson is a highly acclaimed actress, director and writer. Earlier this year Christina was in New York, Irish Arts Centre with Good Vibrations after a Belfast run in Grand Opera House.
She recently toured with Living room (Big Telly) a multimedia production and with The Cassandra of Ulster (Up The Lagan theatre company). At the beginning of the year Christina performed in a one woman show I’ll Tell My Ma by Patricia Gormley (Greenshoot Productions).
During 2022 Christina played Bette Midler and Dolly Parton in the successful tours of The Broads and I Got You Dolly, Love Cher written by Maria Connelly.
Christina has written and directed many children’s productions that have been performed throughout NI in school and festivals. The most recent being Maverick The Mermaid and Me as part of the Maritime Festival. Last year Christina Directed a sell out show for online sensation Belfast Girls at the SSE Arena Belfast.
TV/Film Credits: Hope Street (BBC); Back in 5 (Armchair and Rocket); History Makers (Director Stephen Pierce, BBC); Make the Difference, (Director Michael O’Neil); My Mother and Other Strangers (Director Adrian Shergold, BBC).
Christmas at the Lyric wouldn’t be the same without Christina, and she is looking forward to spreading some festive cheer again this year, after last years Lyric Theatre’s Snow Queen.
CONOR QUINN MONTY
Conor Quinn is an actor-musician from “Banbridge Town in the County Down”. He is a graduate from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Theatre credits include: Into the Woods (NI Opera), Paddington (Histrionic Productions), Cinderella (Cahoots NI), Cabaret de la Boite Noir (NI Opera), The Lost Boy (NI Opera) and Mojo Mickybo (Bruiser NI).
Screen credits include: In Heat (BFI/ Film4).
PATRICK J O’REILLYDIRECTOR
Patrick trained at the Le Coq International school in Paris and is a writer and Artistic Director with Tinderbox theatre company in Belfast.
Since his appointment in 2016, he has directed a number of critically acclaimed works. He was awarded the Stewart Parker BBC Drama Award for his production The Weein in 2009. The Man Who Fell To Pieces was nominated for a ZeBBie award for best play of 2018 and in 2021 he received a National Lottery Nomination for his continuous artistic programmes for artists during the pandemic.
Most recent productions include Rhino (Belfast International Arts Festival); Mirrrorball (Replay Theatre Company); Something Different March at the MAC; Birds of Passage in the Half Light (Edinburgh Festival 2022); and Dressed for Space (Rotterdam DakenDagen).
Patrick also works as an accredited licensed Creative Therapist in Northern Ireland.
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 Katie was commissioned to write a new body of music to celebrate 30 years of Beat Carnival which was performed in The Mac in September 2023.
Theatre Credits include: Good Vibrations, Rough Girls, 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; Gael Force (Tara Hegarty); 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
versions of Hansel and Gretel at the Marketplace Theatre Armagh, Pavilion Theatre Dun Daoghaire and at the MAC Belfast.
GILLIAN LENNOX –COSTUME 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 A –Wear 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
Valentine, Peter Pan: The musical, 1984 (Postponed Covid), Sadie, Dracula, Pinocchio, Blue stockings, The Snow Queen, Romeo & Juliet & Good Vibrations 2023 (Grand Opera House, Belfast & Irish Arts Center, New York)
Most recently Gillian was the costume designer for Tosca (NI Opera) where her designs were showcased on the Grand Opera House stage.
MARY TUMELTYLIGHTING DESIGNER
Mary Tumelty, born and lives in Belfast, graduated from Queen’s University, Belfast in 2004 with a BA in Drama Studies. She trained at the Grand Opera House, Belfast in Lighting, Sound and Stage Management for two years. In 2006 she moved to a full- time permanent position within the Brian Friel Theatre at Queen’s University as a theatre instructor.
Recent Lighting design credits include; Abomination (Lyric Theatre
- The Belfast Ensemble & Outburst Festival), which received an Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Opera 2020; Kindermusik (Belfast Children’s Festival); The Saviour (The Everyman Theatre, Cork – Landmark Productions);
Film Credits: Ten Plagues (The Belfast Ensemble); Democracy Dances (Orchestra and Electronics collaboration); Ulster Orchestra and The Belfast Ensemble (Waterfront Hall); The Musician (Lyric Theatre –The Belfast Ensemble); Conversations with Friends (Lyric Theatre – CWF Productions, Element Pictures, BBC Three, Hulu)
Mary is delighted to be working on the production Hansel & Gretel for the Lyric’s Christmas show.
PAULA O’REILLYCHOREOGRAPHER
Paula O’Reilly is a Belfast/Dublin based Choreographer, Movement Director and Intimacy Coordinator in training. She has worked as an Assistant Director and Choreographer combined on many projects to great success. Her expertise lies in creating and extracting a physical language unique to each production and to each individual directors vision. Paula is a skilled and passionate collaborator with years of experience and can structure choreography ranging through many different styles of dance. A long with all of this, drawing on her career as a
Belfast); Lie Low (Ciara Elizabeth Smyth, Project Arts Centre, The Lyric); The Half Moon (Alice Malseed & Green Shoot Productions); Callings (Kabosh); Distortion (The MAC); The Shedding of Skin (Kabosh); Beauty and The Beast (The Marketplace & GBL); Secrets of Space (Cahoots NI, The MAC Belfast & USA Tour); The Snapper, Revival (The Gate Theatre, Dublin); The Odd Couple (The Everyman, Cork); Bigger People (The Local Group and Pentabus); In Our Veins (Bitter Like A Lemon and The Abbey Theatre); The Tales of Hoffmann (Irish National Opera); The Snapper (The Gate); Pulse (Primecut Productions); Hansel & Gretel (The MAC); SINNEAD, One Night Only for Two Nights (The MAC); Harder, Faster, More (Red Bear Productions at The Project); Acis & Galetea (Ireland National Opera at The National Opera House and National Tour); Herculaneum (Wexford Festival Opera); Cristina Regina di Svezia, Le Roi Malgre Lui, A Village Romeo & Juliet, The Magic Flute (Wexford Festival Opera); Orfeo ed Euridice (Buxton Opera Series).
