As it marks its 75th anniversary, the Lyric Theatre has announced that its L-ISA immersive audio system from L-Acoustics will become a permanent fixture in the theatre’s Main Stage auditorium.
First introduced in late 2025 during the world premiere of Denouement by John Morton, directed by Jimmy Fay, it was the first deployment of L-ISA in a live theatrical production on the island of Ireland.
The Lyric Theatre, Northern Ireland’s only full-time, self-producing theatre, stages at least six full-scale productions each year. For Denouement, the venue collaborated with L-Acoustics Certified Provider Forfey and Application Engineer Oli Crump to harness immersive sound, enhancing the production’s themes and creating a tense atmosphere.
The positive response from the director, management, technical teams, and audiences made the decision to install the system permanently an obvious one.
As the run of Denouement drew to a close, the conversation turned to what came next. Jimmy Fay (Executive Producer at the Lyric Theatre and Director of Denouement) saw first-hand what spatial audio could bring to the stage. It enhanced the production’s emotionally charged narrative so profoundly that removing the system was not an option, says Ian Vennard, Deputy Technical Manager at the Lyric Theatre.
Sound that reaches everyone
While L-ISA’s impact was clear to the in-house teams, audiences felt it most. Many had never experienced a stage production with such clarity, and those with hearing loss described Denouement as their most meaningful live theatre experience. They could easily follow dialogue and perceive location-based sound effects that had previously gone unnoticed.
After Denouement, the Lyric retained the L-ISA system for its Christmas production of A Christmas Carol by Marie Jones, a seasonal adaptation reimagined for spatial audio. Vennard adds: “During the Christmas show, our Sound Designer remarked that the depth and quality achieved through L-ISA was unlike anything they had experienced before. With our 75th anniversary on the horizon, it was clear the time had come to make a bold statement. Every production from 2026 onwards would be built around L-ISA from the ground up”.
A new immersive chapter
The permanent installation will transform how the Lyric Theatre approaches sound. The in-house team is developing expertise in L-ISA, ensuring future productions are conceived with spatial audio in mind.
This installation was first showcased when Belfast Ensemble, in collaboration with the Lyric Theatre, presented its spring musical from 20 March to 4 April. Featuring a 12-piece band on stage, the production provided an ideal platform for L-ISA to demonstrate its capabilities.
Written by Conor Mitchell — Artistic Director of Belfast Ensemble and Associate Artist at the Southbank Centre in London — the production places the Lyric’s 75th anniversary season at the forefront of new creative work in the region.
A permanent A Series and L-ISA System
The Lyric’s Main Stage auditorium seats 380 in a single end-stage rake, with no overhangs or balcony obstructions, making it ideal for precise L-ISA deployment. Forfey used L-Acoustics Soundvision to model coverage across the auditorium and optimise the system before installation.
The system features a Scene configuration with A10 arrays, A10 extensions, KS21 subwoofers, five 5XT front-fill speakers, and X6i balcony fills, delivering an even, immersive sound field. It is powered by two LA7.16i amplified controllers and one LA1.16i, along with two LA2Xi units, and runs on a Milan-AVB network.
L-Acoustics Application Engineer Sergey Becker travelled to Belfast to carry out on-site calibration.
Having that level of support from design through to completion has been invaluable. Knowing the people behind the technology are invested in how we use it gives us real confidence that we are making the right decisions with the right product, adds Vennard.
Leading the way at 75
For a theatre that has championed creative and technical excellence since 1951, the L-ISA installation aligns with the Lyric Theatre’s values. The aim is to lead venues across the island of Ireland in immersive audio technology, building in-house expertise for the long term.
For Forfey’s Matt Minford, the project reflects the value of long-term partnerships: “This outcome is what happens when a venue commits to its creative vision. The Lyric wanted to rethink what theatre sound could be, and it has been a privilege to help make that happen”.
Our goal has always been to lead. With every production from now on based on L-ISA, we will be actively bringing this vision to life. It is an exciting moment as we move into our 75th year, concludes Vennard.
Related images:
- LA_Lyric Theatre_01©Ian Vennard – The Lyric Theatre Belfast marks its 75th anniversary by making its L-Acoustics L-ISA immersive audio system a permanent fixture
- LA_Lyric Theatre_02©Ian Vennard – The Lyric Theatre witnessed first-hand what L-ISA could bring to the stage and to audiences
- LA_Lyric Theatre_03©Matt Duke – The new L-Acoustics installation comprises a Scene system using A10 arrays, with A10 extensions broadening the spatial image to the edges of the auditorium
- LA_Lyric Theatre_04©Matt Duke – The first production featured a 12-piece band on stage, enabling L-ISA technology to demonstrate its capabilities
- LA_Lyric Theatre_05©Matt Duke – For a theatre that has championed creative and technical excellence since 1951, the L-ISA installation aligns with the Lyric’s values
