Crossgar’s Ruth has reason to thank her granddad

Crossgar’s Ruth has reason to thank her granddad

8 August 2012

WHEN a Crossgar teenager takes to the stage of the Lyric Theatre in Belfast next week she will be playing for more than just the audience in the room.

Ruth McAteer, who has a starring role in the Lyric Summer School’s Greek tragedy Oedipus The King,  will be remembering her late grandfather, Matt McAteer, who inspired her to become an actor.

“My granda acted with Liam Neeson in an amateur group

in Portglenone many years

ago,” Ruth explained. “He would joke that he taught Liam everything he knows. Of course, I knew Liam Neeson went into professional theatre here at the Lyric so I was delighted to get a place in the Summer School.

“My granda passed away just a couple of weeks ago. He was a very creative person and I think he would be really proud of what I’m doing.”

The 19 year-old former Down High School pupil is currently studying Drama and Theatre Arts at Goldsmiths University in London.

“The Lyric Summer School has been a really great opportunity for anyone wishing to become a professional actor,” said Ruth. “I studied Oedipus The King at university so it is great to actually have a part in it. I think everyone should come to see it because it is easy to understand and very moving.”

The theme of the Lyric Summer School, supported by Belfast Harbour, has been the Olympic Games and so the Greek play, written by Sophocles, was chosen as the final project in this summer’s programme for young people.

The production has been given a 21st century interpretation with a contemporary design, and features live theatre and filmed sequences.

Oedipus The King tells the tale of Thebesthat, who is riddled with famine and disease. The people, in desperation, turn to their King for help, and in taking action to solve the problem, he uncovers a web of murder, conspiracy and a scandal which rocks the Royal House to its core.

Lyric Creative Learning Co-ordinator, Philip Crawford, said he took his inspiration from the Cultural Olympiad.

“The idea behind the Cultural Olympiad is that culture and sport are mutually inspirational,” he said. “The disciplined approach and commitment to training, the striving for personal best are values common to both sport and working in theatre. The young people also get to meet others who share a common interest.”

Ruth will perform Oedipus The King in the Naughton Studio of the Lyric Theatre on

Friday, August 10 at 8pm and Saturday, August 11 at 3pm and 8pm. Book online at www.lyrictheatre.co.uk or telephone the Box Office on 028 9038 1081. Tickets are £8/£6 concession.

Enrolment is also now open for the autumn term of the Lyric Theatre School, which offers a range of drama programmes for children and adults. See www.lyrictheatre

.co.uk/theatre-training.