Lisburn man’s theatre company going from strength to strength

LISBURN man Simon Cunningham, who is well known on the local musical theatre circuit, has taken the leap from amateur to professional by establishing his own theatre company, Showcase Productions.

Simon has been on stage since he was a child and has performed with many well known amateur companies, including Lisburn’s own Lisnagarvey Operatic Society.

His passion for musical theatre was so strong that he decided to set up his own company and has already begun work on a wide range of professional shows and concerts for the year ahead.

“Showcase Productions has been going on and off since 2000,” explained Simon. “I moved to London for five years and started the company again when I came home. We have helped to raise money for different causes, including Lisburn Ladies Hard of Hearing Group.”

Since then, the company has gone from strength to strength and rehearsals are well underway for their next show - a fully staged and choreographed professional production of ‘Broadway Nights’, which features a wide selection of songs from hit musicals including Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Shrek, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Chicago, Sister Act, Oliver and The Producers.

The show features a cast drawn from some of the best musical theatre companies in Northern Ireland, including Lisnagarvey Operatic, and is choreographed by Johanna Johnston. It will be staged at the Belvoir Players Studio on May 4 and 5 and tickets are on sale now, priced £12/10.

The company is also working on a very different production, a horror play entitled ‘Sleep No More’, which will be staged at the Strand Cinema in Belfast on June 22.