Lyric Theatre Belfast is the only full-time producing theatre and development house in Northern Ireland, and has held this unique position in the cultural landscape of Northern Ireland for over 50 years.  Lyric Theatre Belfast is a creative hub for theatre-making and nurturing talent, dedicated to staging new work and developing acting and writing talent, and delivering a high-quality, diverse and inclusive programme.

Electric Ireland has been nominated for the Corporate Award by the Lyric Theatre for taking up the title sponsorship with a donation of £26,000 for Rough Girls, a new play about the first Northern Irish women’s football team in the 1920s, and the first live production in the theatre since its closure during the pandemic. The two organisations had no prior relationship, but the Rough Girls sponsorship was a perfect fit for Electric Ireland as an extension of their existing campaign ‘Game Changers NI’, which aims to increase participation and attendance of women’s football, and drive conversations around women in sport locally. This nomination demonstrates how partnership can benefit both organisations: in supporting the show Electric Ireland demonstrated its care and investment in local communities and the Lyric enjoyed the increased profile as part of Electric Ireland’s ‘Game Changers NI’ campaign which in turn brought a new sports-engaged audience to the theatre.