Belfast Gets Lucky as Guys and Dolls Hits the Grand Opera House

Belfast Operatic Company have officially launched our next major production, the musical comedy classic, Guys and Dolls, which will take to the stage at the Grand Opera House this May.

Not resting on our laurels, our busy team of amatuer performers are already looking ahead to our next major challenge, bringing the Broadway classic Guys and Dolls to the Grand Opera House, Belfast, this May.

Following a landmark year which saw the company make history with the amateur premiere of Les Misérables, and a spectacular performance at Royal Albert Hall, Belfast Operatic Company is now inviting audiences to swap the barricades for a touch of Broadway glamour in a vibrant new production of Guys and Dolls.

The production will be directed by Kerry Rodgers, who returns to the Grand Opera House after helming a series of acclaimed large-scale productions with the company.

“After the emotional weight and intensity of recent shows, Guys and Dolls feels like a celebration,” said Rodgers. “It’s witty, stylish and full of heart and what I love about it is that is really reminds you just how joyful musical theatre can be.

“Rehearsals are well underway and we are having an absolute blast, it’s really good for the soul to be involved in such a fun production and I don’t doubt that feeling will be evident for the audience also when it comes to show time! “

Set in the colourful, fast-talking world of 1950s New York, Guys and Dolls follows gamblers, showgirls and unlikely romantics as their lives collide in a whirlwind of dice rolls, dance numbers and unforgettable songs. Featuring iconic numbers including “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’the Boat”, the musical remains one of Broadway’s most beloved classics.

For the cast, the production marks an exciting shift after a year dominated by darker, dramatic material.

For Greg Fox, currently poised to play Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls and who took on the role of Monsieur Thénardier in the Belfast production of Les Mis, the journey has been unforgettable.

“I stepped on stage knowing I was the first amateur in the world to perform Les Misérables in that way,” he said. “Everything that followed, sold-out houses, the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Variety Performance is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

Naomi Smyth, who portrayed Fantine, described the Royal Albert Hall experience as “iconic”.

“Standing on that stage felt surreal. Representing Belfast and local amateur theatre on such a huge platform filled me with pride. The talent coming from this little island is extraordinary.”

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Dessie Havlin, who shared the role of Thénardier and will now take on the iconic role of Sky Masterson, said performing alongside West End legends was a career-defining moment.

“Singing ‘One Day More’ in a sold-out Royal Albert Hall with Michael Ball and hundreds of performers is something I’ll never be able to put into words. It reignited my love for what amateur theatre can achieve.”

With a reputation for delivering ambitious, high-quality productions on Northern Ireland’s biggest stages, Belfast Operatic Company continues to raise the bar for amateur theatre, combining local talent with professional-level production values.

Guys and Dolls runs at the Grand Opera House, Belfast, in May 2026.

Tickets are on sale now via Grand Opera House Website