Members of The Playhouse Music Theatre Company will present The 39 Steps in September and The Producers in November.

Offering free conservatoire level education in music theatre, The Playhouse Music Theatre Company offers tuition and practical education in movement, vocal and acting tuition.

The company provided the ensemble, and several principal roles, in our phenomenally successful Playhouse production of The White Handkerchief, performed and broadcast from the Guildhall on the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. This year’s company will do the same for Beyond Belief, a major new musical drama about the life and mission of John and Pat Hume, to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement next year.

The 39 Steps is an engaging mystery as well as a fast-paced, boisterous comedy, with more than 150 characters from Hitchcock’s film performed by Warren McCook, Jonny Everett, Rachel Harley and Conan Hamilton. The production will run at The Playhouse from 14 to 25 September.

Considered one of the funniest musicals ever to grace the stage, The Producers follows down-and-out producer Max Bialystock who decides the only way to make any money out of showbiz is to produce the worst musical ever, get it financed and then run off with the leftovers once the show has flopped. The production will run at The Playhouse from 9 to 20 November.

Good Relations Week from September 19 to 25 will deliver a positive message that ‘Change Starts With Us’ as it shines a light on local communities taking action to build a stronger shared society and a more sustainable future.

The Playhouse will present tours, workshops and an exhibition that celebrate the focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to highlight the political, social, economic, and environmental challenges we face as a region. It will also demonstrate how good community relationships are fundamental to enabling us to work together to promote inclusive and sustainable growth.

A series of lectures, concerts and comedy has also been announced by The Playhouse. The Something to Say Series gathers local and international artists who not only entertain but inspire by giving voice to the stories that resonate with our everyday lives, the stories that matter most to us. The series includes performances by award-winning Créole banjoist/vocalist Don Vappie, NI’s Queen of Comedy Nuala McKeever, and Brooklyn singer/songwriter Annie Keating.

The 2022 Annual Seamus Deane Honorary Field Day Lecture will start the series on September 3. Given by the renowned political scientist Dr Brendan O’Leary the lecture, entitled ‘Key Choices in Irish Reunification’, will coincide with the publication of Dr O’Leary’s forthcoming book, Making Sense of a United Ireland.

Christine Bovill brings the month to a close on September 29 with her Edinburgh Fringe sell out and five star show, Piaf. The show charts Christine’s journey from French language teacher at school to international sell out artist.

The Annie Keating Band will follow on October 9, bringing together some of the UK’s finest players, including Scott Warman, Joe Coombs and Jamie Dawson.

Nuala McKeever will return to The Playhouse on October 15 with more hilarious musings on life in her new show Life Bites….

Considered as one of the best banjoists in the history of New Orleans, Don Vappie and Jazz Créole will then be presented by The Playhouse,  Moving on Music and Music Capital at Echo Echo Dance on November 12.

Alongside Vappie is David Horniblow on clarinet, a big figure on the European stage and frontman of UK band The Dime Notes; Dave Kelbie on rhythm guitar, a prominent accompanist to many of the world’s leading jazz soloists and founder member of The Dime Notes and Django a la Creole; and Sébastien Girardot, powerful swinging Parisian bassist, high in demand across both sides of the Atlantic.

“When thinking about our Autumn programme, we always think about our responsibility to not just produce great art, but give others space to do the same” Kevin Murphy CEO at The Playhouse said.

“The talent that resides in The Playhouse Music Theatre Company is exceptional, and it’s an absolute privilege to have them lead our theatre programme.

“Whether it’s giving the community space to hone their craft, to have their voice heard, or simply be entertained, we hope we can continually innovate and give of our best in order to offer a space to make meaning and a space that’s here for good.”