Theatre has not been the same since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. New approaches have needed to be employed to bring new works to an eager assembly of spectators. To continue to connect with its audiences, the Lyric Theatre has a launched a creative programme of audio plays. Listen at the Lyric offers an exclusive ‘first listen’ of brand-new work from emerging, established and new Northern Ireland writers.
I caught Burnt Out by Gary Mitchell, the second in the series of audio plays. Burnt Out is a dark psychological thriller which follows a couple as their perfect life unravels into a disorientating nightmare of suspicion, paranoia, and intimidation when they unwittingly move to a new home opposite a bonfire site.
Michael (Michael Patrick) and Cheryl (Roisin Gallagher) seemingly have it all: a posh house, good jobs (primary school teacher and salon owner), and 2.4 pets (Lancer the Alsatian and Scamper the cat). But the every day bickers of a married couple turns to something more sinister when they become the focus of attention of Loyalist youths who are guarding the bonfire opposite their house. When their claims that they weren’t responsible for lodging a complaint about the bonfire to the police falls on deaf ears, they soon find themselves the victims of a hate campaign comprising of missing pets, explosions and graffiti.
The couple are torn between seeking help from the police, such as the inane Constable McGoldrick (played superbly by the wonderful Tara Lynn O’Neill), and Michael’s brother, Loyalist stalwart Danny (played with ferocity by Packy Lee) and the conniving Leslie (Shannen McNeice). However, as words and actions are twisted, Michael and Cheryl find themselves in a waking nightmare, where their lives unravel faster than you can say ‘get ‘er lit’.
Burnt Out, another shockingly captivating play from Gary Mitchell and directed with aplomb by Dan Gordon, uses dark humour, creative language and excellent performances from all the cast, to tell an enthralling tale which scratches beneath the surface of Northern Ireland in peace times. Much like Michael and Cheryl, the façade looks good, but tension is lurking close to the surface. Fast paced, edgy and perfectly translated for radio, this innovative play will have you ready to close your curtains and hide under the bed. Or that’s maybe just Covid talking. Either way, this is an exquisite piece of theatre, with an ending that will have you completely gripped.
Burnt Out, priced at £6, is available to listen to at any time until 26 October. To book now, visit:
https://lyrictheatre.co.uk/event/listen-at-the-lyric-burnt-out/
LittleBurch 