Lurgan trio to star in Fiddler on Roof

The trio are in the lead cast of the famous musical with Brian Trainor as the poor Jewish milkman Tevye, Brigid Shine as Tzeitel and Liz McSherry as Golde.

The award winning musical theatre group New Lyric Operatic Company (NLOC) celebrates its sixty-fifth year of performance excellence with a show stopping production of the Tony award winning musical Fiddler on the Roof.

Accomplished director Noel McDonagh, a newcomer to New Lyric Operatic Company, is putting the cast through their paces. McDonagh is excited about the strength of talent of the company as each New Lyric member is selected by their musicality and ability to adapt to any role.

However there must be something in the water in Lurgan as new members Brigid, Liz McSherry and stalwart Brian all hail from this stellar town.

Originally from Downpatrick Brian has lived in Waringstown for the past eight years. Married to Soprano and full time singing tutor Lynne McAllister, he has made guest appearances with many of the musical societies in the North including Banbridge Musical Society. He has also appeared annually with Belfast Operatic Company at the Grand Opera House in variety of productions including Titanic the Musical and as Frank Butler in Annie Get your Gun.

Brian has nominations and awards in categories of Best Actor (Association of Irish Musical Societies A.I.M.S and Northern Ireland Festival of Light Opera N.I.F.L.O) and Best Comedian(A.I.M.S), Best Supporting Actor(A.I.M.S).

Brigid is a trainee teacher at St Mary’s College, Belfast and teaches Speech and Drama. She is achieving her childhood dream performing on the stage of the Grand Opera House and is looking forward to taking on such a challenging role.

She said: “I have always wanted to perform in the Grand Opera House since going to panto as a child. I was always crying out to be one of the children on stage and now twenty years on my dream has come true and I am honoured to be cast as Tzeitel. I have a lot of family from Lurgan and Derry so I’m expecting a mini bus of people coming down to see the show.”

Liz, who is 23 and from College Walk in Lurgan studied Performing Arts at Cumbria Institute of the Arts in Carlisle and graduated in 2010. She has been working as a singing teacher since the age of 18 and is an Associate of the London College of Music. This will be Liz’s first show with the New lyric and she is absolutely thrilled to be playing the challenging role of Golde.

Outside of the New Lyric, Liz has played many lead roles such as Eponine in Les Miserables, Audrey in the Little Shop of Horrors, Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ and has previously played the role of Hodel in Fiddler with the Portadown Phoenix Players in 2006.

She said: “The part of Golde has been absolutely fantastic to play, she’s a great character to get your teeth in to. I’ve found it to be a brilliant challenge to be playing someone who is twice my age! Fiddler is a show which relies very much a feeling of community between the cast. The chorus of this show are absolutely amazing and there is a genuine sense of community and togetherness both on and off stage!”

The show runs from Tuesday, November 13 to Saturday, November 17. For booking details telephone 9024 1919 or visit the website - www.goh.co.uk