After a landmark year that saw them stage the amateur premiere of Les Misérables and perform at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Belfast Operatic Company is shifting tone and tempo with its next major production.
This May, the company returns to the Grand Opera House with the musical comedy classic Guys and Dolls — a vibrant, high energy celebration of Broadway storytelling.
Directed by Kerry Rodgers, the production marks a deliberate move away from the emotional weight of recent shows. Instead, it leans into something lighter, brighter, and unapologetically joyful.
“After the emotional intensity of recent productions, Guys and Dolls feels like a celebration,” Rodgers says. “It’s witty, stylish, and full of heart. It really reminds you just how joyful musical theatre can be.”
Set against the fast talking backdrop of 1950s New York, the story follows gamblers, showgirls, and unlikely romantics navigating love and luck in a world of dice rolls and big band rhythms. With iconic numbers like Luck Be a Lady and Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat, it remains one of Broadway’s most enduring crowd pleasers.
For the cast, the shift in tone has been just as refreshing.
Naomi Smyth, who plays the earnest missionary Sarah Brown, describes the show simply:
“It’s pure fun. Fast, funny, and bursting with energy. Audiences are in for a real treat.”
Opposite her, Dessie Havlin takes on the role of Sky Masterson, the smooth talking gambler at the centre of the story. Reflecting on rehearsals, he points to the company’s defining strength:
“The talent is off the scale. There’s a real work ethic, but also genuine joy in what we do. We’re enjoying every minute.”
It’s that combination of ambition and atmosphere that has come to define Belfast Operatic Company in recent years. Their productions continue to blur the line between amateur and professional, pairing local talent with large scale staging and polished delivery.
Guys and Dolls runs at the Grand Opera House, Belfast, Tuesday 12th May – Saturday 16th May with tickets priced from £24.50. Book now at www.goh.co.uk/whats-on/guys-and-dolls
