Hurricane storms back to Opera House centre stage

Produced by the Grand Opera House, actor Richard Dormer, who plays hell-raiser Higgins in the one-man production, said resurrecting the show would be a poignant goodbye to Northern Ireland's two-time snooker world champion.

"This is a final farewell to a true genius and a legend," revealed the Belfast born actor.

Dormer's 67-minute performance is a warts-and-all portrayal of Higgins, exposing how he let a fortune slip through his fingers. The RADA-trained actor portrays Higgins in his flamboyant prime - with his open-necked shirt and long hair - through to his sad decline.

His remarkable solo performance is a no holds barred roller coaster ride of a life lived to the full, from the back streets of Belfast to all around the world in a blaze of glory and back again. Poignant, moving and at times hilariously funny, Hurricane is a slice of rock 'n' roll theatre that will leave you breathless.

Michael Billington, arts critic for The Guardian since 1971, described Richard's performance as one of his top five performances of all time.

"Playing a legend like Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins was an intense experience - not least because he himself was an incredibly intense man," explained Dormer.

"He was funny, irreverent, and at times stubborn as hell but always entertaining. We had some good times - I hope he would have called me a friend."

Director Rachel O'Riordan echoed Dormer's sentiments. "Alex loved this show - one of my favourite memories is of his first visit to the rehearsal room; He was extremely generous in his praise for mine and Richard's work - he felt he 'saw' himself in it," she said. "This, more than anything, has been the impulse to remount the show after his death. Hurricane has in a sense become a eulogy."

For the first time in the theatre's colourful history, the Grand Opera House will be producing a piece of work, as well as staging it.

Chief Executive Michael Ockwell commented: "The Grand Opera House is renowned for presenting world-class theatre, but I'm delighted to confirm that we will be producing a show for the first time. I am very proud that our first show will be Rachel O'Riordans' brilliant production of Hurricane.

"Alex Higgins lived just a short walk from the Grand Opera House, and it is a fitting tribute to him that we are bringing Hurricane back to the stage in 2011," he added.

Hurricane returns to the Grand Opera House from Tuesday 25 - Saturday 29 January 2011. Tickets are priced from 11.25 and are available from Box Office in the theatre foyer, online at www.goh.co.uk or by calling 9024 1919.