MARIE Jones' Olivier award-winning tragicomedy Stones In His Pockets will return to the Lyric in Belfast this summer in a new 25th anniversary production directed by Matthew McElhinney, son of Jones and original director Ian McElhinney.
The original acclaimed play debuted in 1999. Set in rural Ireland, Stones In His Pockets follows a small village that is turned upside down by the arrival of a Hollywood studio filming an historical blockbuster.
Told through the eyes of local extras Charlie Conlon and Jake Quinn, it soon becomes clear that Tinseltown's romanticised dream of Ireland is a long way from reality.
Running at the Lyric from June 7 to July 3, director Matthew McElhinney is promising to bring an authentic rediscovery of the worldwide hit, which was nominated for three Tony awards on Broadway and won both the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best New Comedy.
The 25th Anniversary production which premiered last summer at The Barn Theatre in Cirencester, England, stars Shaun Blaney as Jake and Gerard McCabe as Charlie, design by Gregor Donnelly, choreography by Fleur Mellor, lighting design by Sam Rowcliffe-Tanner, sound design by Harry Smith, AV design by Benjamin Collins and Alex Tabrizi and Denise Cleal as costume supervisor.
"Lights, camera, action," says McElhinney of the upcoming transfer to the Lyric in Belfast.
"After conquering the world 25 years ago, it is my privilege to work with the exciting team at The Barn Theatre to bring the phenomenal smash hit Stones In His Pockets back to the nest.
"What happens when the stars become the extras and the extras become the stars? Find out at the Lyric theatre, Belfast; resurrected, reclaimed, and re-imagined – this is Stones like you have never seen it before.Welcome home."
Of the production's imminent homecoming, writer Marie Jones says: "Almost 25 years ago when this play opened at the Lyric theatre, little did we know the amazing journey that was ahead – from London to Broadway, Olivier Awards, Tony Nominations, translated and performed in 38 languages and still playing around the world... but coming home, for me, is just the best."
Tickets are on sale now via lyrictheatre.co.uk
