Owen McCafferty’s portrait of the final days of negotiations leading to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement is to receive its American première at New York’s Irish Arts Center in April 2024.
Agreement will open in the Big Apple for a four-week run on April 11, before which it will be revived at the Lyric Theatre, joint winners of The Stage’s 2023 UK Theatre of the Year award, from March 9 to the end of the month.
It marks the second Stateside transfer of a Lyric show to the Irish Arts Center, following Colin Carberry and Glenn Patterson’s Good Vibrations earlier this year.
Originally commissioned by the Michael Grandage Company, Agreement played to capacity audiences and was universally praised when it opened in March this year. Nominated for a UK Theatre best new play award, its PR campaign earned the venue a CIPRide Gold Award.
Director Charlie Westenra and set and costume designer Conor Murphy are to reprise their roles, with an announcement on casting expected at a later date.
The revival and transfer is the latest success for the Lyric’s longtime support from financial services company FinTrU, its collaboration with Culture Ireland and its nascent relationship with the Irish Arts Centre.
Lyric Executive Producer Jimmy Fay said: “The Lyric Theatre is delighted to continue our partnership with the Irish Arts Center. The successful run of Good Vibrations, and shortly a run of Agreement, are not only a fantastic opportunity to showcase the immense creative talent from this place but also a unique opportunity to tell important and significant cultural and historical stories.”
He added: “over the past 25 years Lyric has had its own part to play in the story and journey of The Good Friday Agreement. It is fitting that this powerful production is returning to Belfast and travelling to international audiences.”
Aidan Connolly, Executive Director of the Irish Arts Center, said: “we’re thrilled to welcome the Lyric Theatre back to New York with Owen McCafferty’s extraordinary Agreement. This will be yet another opportunity for New York audiences to enjoy the great art—and artists—of Northern Ireland, and appreciate the enduring legacy of the Good Friday / Belfast Agreement”.