21:01, 21 Dec 2025Updated 21:03, 21 Dec 2025<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Belfast-Operatic-landscape-Royal-Albert-Halljpeg.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The Belfast Operatic Company has ended 2025 on a high by performing at this year’s Royal Variety Performance.<\/p>\n
In one of their proudest moments to date, a 31-strong cast from the Belfast Operatic Company concluded an extraordinary year by performing at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Royal Variety Performance.<\/p>\n
One of Northern Ireland’s most established musical theatre groups, the company joined performers from across the UK and Ireland to mark the 40th anniversary of Les Mis\u00e9rables on one of the world\u2019s most prestigious stages. Not resting on their laurels, the busy amatuer dramatics company are already looking ahead to their next major challenge, bringing the Broadway classic Guys and Dolls to the Grand Opera House, Belfast, this May.<\/p>\n
Greg Fox, Naomi Smyth, Dessie Havlin, who play three of the principal roles in Guys and Dolls were all part of the extraordinary experience which celebrated the 40th anniversary of Les Mis\u00e9rables, culminating in a spectacular performance at the Royal Albert Hall, broadcast to millions as part of the Royal Variety Performance.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Belfast-Operatic-Company-at-Royal-Albert-Internal-jpeg.jpg\")
The appearance followed Belfast Operatic Company\u2019s historic status as the first adult amateur company worldwide to be granted permission to stage Les Mis\u00e9rables, ‘Let the People Sing’<\/p>\n
The appearance followed Belfast Operatic Company\u2019s historic status as the first adult amateur company worldwide to be granted permission to stage Les Mis\u00e9rables, ‘Let the People Sing’ a collaborative licensed production and a landmark moment not just for the company, but for amateur theatre.<\/p>\n
For Greg Fox, currently poised to play Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls and who took on the role of Monsieur Th\u00e9nardier in the Belfast production of Les Mis, the journey has been unforgettable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI stepped on stage knowing I was the first amateur in the world to perform Les Mis\u00e9rables in that way,\u201d he said. \u201cEverything that followed, sold-out houses, the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Variety Performance is something I\u2019ll remember for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naomi Smyth, who portrayed Fantine, described the Royal Albert Hall experience as \u201ciconic\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cStanding 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dessie Havlin, who shared the role of Th\u00e9nardier and will now take on the iconic role of Sky Masterson, said performing alongside West End legends was a career-defining moment.<\/p>\n
![\"Naomi](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Naomi-Smyth-at-Royal-Albert-Halljpeg.jpg\")
Naomi Smyth at London’s Royal Albert Hall<\/p>\n
\u201cSinging ‘One Day More’ in a sold-out Royal Albert Hall with Michael Ball and hundreds of performers is something I\u2019ll never be able to put into words. It reignited my love for what amateur theatre can achieve.\u201d<\/p>\n
Belfast Operatic Company, undoubtedly delivered a sterling performance with Les Mis\u00e9rables as they took the cast to the barricades, their next stop however promises to be very different, the fast-talking, high-rolling streets of 1950s New York.<\/p>\n
Directed by Kerry Rodgers, Guys and Dolls marks a joyful tonal shift for Belfast Operatic Company, following a run of darker, dramatic productions including The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Mis\u00e9rables.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis show is pure joy,\u201d said Rodgers. \u201cIt\u2019s glamorous, witty and full of heart. After the emotional weight of recent productions, Guys and Dolls feels like a celebration, for the cast and for audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the principals, the contrast is part of the appeal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a show about fun, colour and comedy, and nobody dies,\u201d Naomi Smyth laughed. \u201cAfter Les Mis, that\u2019s a welcome change.\u201d<\/p>\n
With toe-tapping numbers including Luck Be a Lady, Sit Down, You\u2019re Rockin\u2019 the Boat and Adelaide\u2019s Lament, Belfast Operatic Company\u2019s Guys and Dolls promises a fresh, stylish take on one of Broadway\u2019s most beloved musicals.<\/p>\n
And for audiences who watched the Royal Variety Performance and were struck by the quality of the performers on stage?<\/p>\n
\u201cCome and see what Belfast talent can really do,\u201d said Havlin. \u201cIf you were impressed by Les Mis, Guys and Dolls will show a completely different side of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guys and Dolls runs at the Grand Opera House, Belfast, in May 2026. Tickets are on sale now via www.goh.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage<\/strong> here<\/a> and sign up to our daily newsletter<\/a> here.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cStanding on that stage felt surreal. Representing Belfast and local amateur theatre on such a huge platform filled…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":647370,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5011],"tags":[1144,382,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-647369","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-northern-ireland","8":"tag-northern-ireland","9":"tag-tv","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115760668726339907","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647369","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=647369"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647369\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/647370"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=647369"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=647369"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=647369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}