Fusion to stage Lloyd Webber premiere

LOCAL youth theatre company Fusion are to stage the premiere of the Ben Elton penned musical ‘The Boys in the Photograph’.

The show, with music by the maestro himself, Andrew Lloyd Webber, tells the stories of members of a football team in Belfast (who are ‘the boys in the photograph’), and how they deal with the eruption of violence around them, concluding with a message of peace. It’s a highly appropriate production for the Lisburn-based group who pride themselves on their inclusive ethos.

The show, a rewrite of an earlier version entitled ‘The Beautiful Game’ which ran for a year in London’s West End, has never been performed anywhere in the island of Ireland and had only limited performances elsewhere in the world.

Ian Milford of Fusion Theatre is delighted that Fusion has been granted the rights to the show, which covers the period 1969 to 1973.

Ian (Director) and Anne McCleary (Chairperson) have been in discussions with the Really Useful Group over several months to bring this production to Lisburn and say that the Really Useful Group are extremely excited about this challenge, which they see as the perfect vehicle for the re-launch.

Amongst the challenges is that of recreating such venues as Divis Flats, and the Europa Hotel, but set design is already underway, with help being provided by the Lisburn Enterprise Organisation in terms of a venue for set construction, and local art student Maria Mallon who has created the design.

However Anne and Ian are keen to stress that the production is, as you would expect from the writing team of Ben Elton and Andrew Lloyd Webber, tuneful, entertaining and uplifting.

The local audience will certainly recognise local references, and perhaps be surprised by how much Ben Elton seems to know about the local idiom. They stress however, that the subject matter is aimed more at older teenagers and adults, rather than children. Nevertheless, the themes will resonate with everyone who has grown up through ‘The Troubles’.

As well as the support from the Lisburn Enterprise Organisation, Fusion has received financial assistance from other local groups such as the Lisburn Arts Advisory Committee, and various local traders.

Tickets are already on sale online at www.tickets.lisburncity.gov.uk, or from the box office on 92509254

The production runs in the Island Hall, Lagan Valley Island, from February 8 - 11, with ticket prices starting at £10.