The Lyric Theatre and The Fishmongers’ Company are proud to announce a new partnership that will see the creation of bursaries for aspiring Northern Irish actors between the ages of 18-25 looking to train professionally in acting at a Higher Education level institute.
The Lyric Theatre in Belfast is a creative hub for theatre-making, a safe space for nurturing talent and embodies an unwavering passion for creating meaningful connections through theatre and the arts and Northern Ireland’s premiere
The bursaries, titled ‘Lyric-Fishmongers Bursary’ are designed to support young people from Northern Ireland accessing pathways in theatre, primarily in the areas of performing, who are identified through the Lyric’s Drama Studio programme. Rosalind Corrigan of The Fishmongers’ Company commented;
“The Fishmongers’ Company is delighted to be partnering with the Lyric Theatre to help more talented young people from Northern Ireland to access Drama Schools and pursue their dream of an acting career.”
Earlier this month Joanna Allison (CoO and Executive Director of Fishmongers’ Charitable Trust) and David Robertson (Chair of the Philanthropy and Grants Committee) visited the Lyric to meet some of the young actors and see some of the work that the partnership between Lyric and Fishmongers will go on to support.
Up to 5 bursaries of £4,000 will be available each year to go to past and present members of Drama Studio who are currently studying, or about to begin studying, in an actor training programme in the UK and Ireland. These bursaries are designed to support those most in need and will be allocated to individuals through a two-stage process; a written application for stage one and a stage two interview with shortlisted applicants.
Additionally, smaller bursaries and financial support will be provided to participants in the Lyric’s Drama Studio cohort who are in need of support whilst applying for Drama School. These would be to cover the costs of travel, equipment, further training or application fees associated with auditioning for drama school. These bursaries would be provided to individuals who secure a place in the Lyric’s Drama Studio, which is accepting applications for its 2024 programme until 9th August 2024.
The Lyric Drama Studio runs as a 14-week programme and includes training in voice, movement, audition technique, acting technique and Shakespeare. There are further sessions in areas of Stage Combat, acting for screen, budgeting and professional development facilitated by drama school tutors and guest industry experts.
Additionally, Lyric Drama Studio uses existing links between the theatre and Drama Schools across the UK and Ireland to connect participants with students and teachers from the various schools, to help them make informed decisions when applying to drama school and pursuing an acting career. In previous years, guests have included staff from Drama Schools such as RADA, The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, as well as practitioners working in theatres across the UK and Ireland ; to give our students the opportunity to network, and break down barriers faced by being geographically removed from the hub of theatre industry in mainland UK.
In the past 10 years, 75 alumni from Lyric Drama Studio have successfully achieved a place to train at Drama Schools across the UK and Ireland, with many more going directly into the industry to work. Previous Alumni includes Anthony Boyle (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Masters of the Airand Manhunt) and Zara Devlin (Sing Street, Translations and Small Things Like These).
With applications open from 22nd May 2024, young actors aged 18-25 are encouraged to apply before the deadline of Friday 9th August 2024. Auditions will take place 16th and 17th August, with a recall round 24th August. The course begins 4th September.
© The Fishmongers’ Company 2024
