Press Release

Two more weeks remain to enjoy the Lyric Theatre and Bruiser Theatre Company’s production of the award-winning performance of 2016 John Buchan and Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps. The show ends at the end of the month (31 March). This fast-paced, action packed co-production features 4 fearless actors playing no fewer than 139 roles.

Based on the 1935 Hitchcock adventure film and the book by John Buchan, The 39 Steps follows the adventures of the dashing hero Richard Hannay as he grapples with dastardly murderers, double-crossing secret agents and devastatingly beautiful women.   Narrowly escaping from a succession of hair-raising escapades and hooting with laughter as he and his fellow characters deliver some of the funniest one-liners.

Photos by Johnny Frazer

Featuring iconic set pieces from Hitchcock‘s film: the train top chase, the Forth Bridge escape and Mr Memory at the Palladium, the four fearless stars of the show Hannah Brackstone-Brown, Michael Condron, Michael Johnston and Benjamin Stratton play no fewer than 139 roles between them.

The 39 Steps is supported by Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery funding and directed by Bruiser’s Artistic Director, Lisa May who commented:

“We are delighted to be back in this co-production with the Lyric for this uproariously jolly and joyous version of the Hitchcock classic.  The play is fast-paced and suits Bruiser’s physical theatre style which includes lots of action and comedic undertones, so there is never a dull moment.”

Executive Producer of the Lyric, Jimmy Fay, said: “The 39 Steps is a madcap, hilarious 1930s spy caper, and the perfect co-production for the Lyric and Bruiser. It has been one of our most successful shows and we are delighted to bring it back for audiences in Northern Ireland to enjoy.”

Performances run from 2 – 31 March.

Cast Biographies

Hannah Brackstone-Brown – Hannah currently lives in London and trained at East 15 Acting School.

Theatre Credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Fort Lovrijenac, Dubrovnik); Season’s Greetings (Leatherhead Theatre); Boeing Boeing (Frinton Summer Theatre); Wait Until Dark (Vienna’s English Theatre); The 39 Steps (Lyric Theatre); The Sting (Wilton’s Music Hall); Aladdin (Sadler’s Wells); Emma (Sai Wan Ho Theatre, Hong Kong); The Browning Version (Tristan Bates Theatre); The Dreaming (Royal Opera House, London)

Michael Condron – Michael has performed in over 20 shows at the Lyric theatre. He has worked on the Grimes and McKee shows Santa and Bah Humbug; What the reindeer saw directed by Frankie Mcafferty in the Old Lyric building and other Lyric credits include Christmas Eve Can Kill You, Charlottes Web, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Sinners, Smiley, Here Comes the Night,  To be Sure, Forget Turkey and The 39 Steps. He has worked with all the Theatre Companies in Northern Ireland, has worked at Manchester Royal Exchange and The Lyric Hammersmith. He has also performed Off Broadway/Kings head theatre/Edinburgh Fringe in Dan Gordon’s hugely successful, The Boat Factory.

Michael performed in 2 seasons of Game of Thrones and was nominated for Best Ensemble Cast at the 2016 Screen Actors Guild awards In Hollywood. He also plays Ben in BBC1 RTS nominated Soft Border Patrol. Other TV includes: Doing Money. Number 2s. Tudors.

Michael Johnston – Michael Johnston is a Northern Irish based actor and facilitator. A graduate of Drama from the University of Ulster, he has also trained at Actor’s Studio (London) and has toured extensively across Ireland and the UK working with companies such as The Lyric Theatre/Bruiser, Creation Theatre (Oxford), Desert Fish Productions, Big Telly, Blue Eagle Productions, Children in Crossfire, and Greenshoot. An excellent devisee’ he has collaborated on new writing for stage, screen and street, performing regularly for the Circus and Street Theatre Company, In Your Space. Michael is an original cast member of Pits and Perverts (Sole Purpose, 2013), a new piece of writing which has recently been confirmed to premiere in San Francisco and which Michael toured UK wide with in 2014.

His recent credits have expanded to include TV and Film work which includes appearances on The Dublin Murders, Season 6 of Vikings, Season 5 of Game of Thrones, and Ben Wheatley’s High Rise. A highly intelligent actor he is adaptable for stage, screen and radio.

Benjamin Stratton – Was born in Oxfordshire where he currently resides and trained at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) Theatre Credits include: Potted Potter (World Tour), Being Groucho (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), This Is Elvis (UK and Ireland Tour), The Navigator (Phoenix Theatre, West End), Chocolate Cake (Polka Theatre), Beau Jest (Vienna’s English Theatre), The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare Abridged: Revised (Reduced Shakespeare Company, West End & UK tour), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Broadway Theatre, Catford), Rent (Greenwich Theatre), Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth (The Dell, RSC).