If you’re wondering what Hadestown is about, the musical tells the timeless story of Orpheus and Eurydice through a bold, modern lens. Orpheus, a gifted young musician, falls in love with Eurydice, who dreams of a safer and better life.
Together they hope to leave the harsh industrial world behind, but when Hades, ruler of the underground city of Hadestown, tempts Eurydice with the promise of security, she reluctantly accepts. Determined to rescue the woman he loves, Orpheus embarks on a dangerous journey into the underworld. Rich in symbolism and unforgettable music, the Hadestown plot explores love, sacrifice, hope and the choices that define us, all while remaining faithful to the heart of the original Greek myth.
Table of Contents
20 Aug – 22 Aug 2026
2.30pm & 7.30pm
140 mins
The Main Stage
£24 (inc. ticket fee)
Meet the Characters of Hadestown
- Orpheus – a gifted young musician who believes his song can mend the world.
- Eurydice – a young woman searching for safety and a better life.
- Hades – the powerful ruler of the underworld, Hadestown.
- Persephone – Hades’ wife, who brings summer to the world above.
- Hermes – the messenger god who guides us through the story.
Cast List – Team Olympus
| Ferryman | Eloise Kirk, Jamie Brown |
| The Furies | Eva Croskery, Joe McGarry, Oliver Chestnutt |
| Hades: | Alex Johnston |
| Orpheus | Brody Elliott |
| Hermes. | Hannah McAlister-Colacio |
| Eurydice | Caitriona McCloskey |
| Persephone | Amy Nelson |
| Fates | Betsy Andrews Nina Rodrigues Ruby Donaldson |
| Hermes Angels | Charlotte Prentice Hayden Shuttleworth Joshua Stewart |
| Demon/Dance Captain. | Emma McKay |
| Dancers | Aimee Toner Eloise Kirk Kenzie Mohammed Mia Donnelly Olivia Brown |
| Workers | Alice Sheilds Amani Gadhgadhi Bethany Wilson Cara Fleming Ellie McCullough Eloise Kirk Emma Doherty Eva Carr Eva Croskery Grace Latham Holly Duff Maddi Lyons Phoebe Kirk Rachel Smith Rebecca Petticrew Sophie McCullough Talia Hanna Fintan Hughes Joe McGarry Cory McReynolds Jamie Brown Matthew Edwards Oliver Chestnutt Tyler McReynolds Tom Honeyford |
Interval Performance
The Muse Phoebe Kirk
The Styx Matthew Edwards
Oliver Chestnutt
Tom Honeyford
Underworld Band: Guitar: Abigail Matchett
Piano: Corey McReynolds
Saxophone: Joe McGarry
Drums: Tyler McReynolds
The History of Hadestown
The journey down to Hadestown has been more than a decade in the making. What began as Anaïs Mitchell’s community theatre project in Vermont in 2006 gradually evolved through workshop productions, Off-Broadway and Broadway before arriving in London’s West End. Along the way, the musical built an incredibly devoted following, becoming one of the most celebrated original musicals of recent years thanks to its distinctive storytelling, innovative score and powerful reimagining of a classic myth.
TINA MCVEIGH
BSPA DIRECTOR
When choosing a show for our summer project, it is always a challenge to find a production that we haven’t performed recently, one that will appeal to our young people and, of course, one that our audiences will want to see.
This year, we think we may just have hit the jackpot! Within just two weeks of launching Hadestown, registrations had reached capacity and it quickly became clear that we would need not one, but two casts.
Having two casts creates wonderful opportunities for our young performers, but it also brings bigger challenges for our Creative Team and Wardrobe Team. I would like to thank every member of the team for embracing that challenge and for working so hard to provide an amazing experience for the 80 young people taking part in this year’s Senior Summer Project.
I know you will all be incredibly proud of what they have achieved.
So, sit back, relax and prepare to be entertained by our wonderfully talented Young People with a performance we hope you will remember for a long time.
Enjoy the show!
PETER CORRY
DIRECTOR
Peter has an a career spanning 3 decades as a performer, director and producer.
He has been a leading performer in shows from London’s West End to Las Vegas and has directed productions that toured Europe and the USA. With this experience he is the perfect person to lead our creative team and bring this exciting and dynamic show to life here in Belfast.
Also with this summer production, Peter also celebrates 10 incredible years as our Artistic Director. The summer show is always a high point of his Calendar and he can’t wait for everyone to join us way down in Hadestown.
He says “This show has been a challenge but one that has been hugely enjoyable. With two casts rehearsing simultaneously, this wouldn’t have been possible without a fantastic team working with me both in the rehearsal room and in the theatre. Each year we try to push our summer productions to new levels. I think this year sees our cast reaching new heights way down in Hadestown.
ADAM GILLIAN
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Adam is an actor and musician from Co. Armagh. He trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Theatre credits include The Importance of Being Earnest, Lyric Theatre; Romeo and Juliet, Lyric Theatre; Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Original West End Cast, Piccadilly Theatre, London; Hadestown, National Theatre, London; Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, UK Tour.
TV/Film credits include: Close To Home, Channel 4/Element Pictures; How’s She Cuttin’? BBC NI; Hope Street, BBC; Doctors, BBC; Counsel, BBC NI.
Adam is delighted to be revisiting Hadestown and helping bring it to the MAC for BSPA Senior Summer Project with two incredibly talented casts.
MICHAEL McAVOY
CHOREOGRAPHER
Michael McEvoy is a Choreographer & Theatre Maker form Northern Ireland and the Artistic Director of Northern Attitudes Dance Company & a Dance teacher at BSPA. Michael first joined the creative team of BSPA as the choreographer for their Summer production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. An Alumni of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, Michael graduated in 2019 with a First Class BA(Hons) Degree in Contemporary Dance and was awarded The Sylvia Bodmer Memorial Fund for his study
in Choreology. Since graduating Michael has had the great pleasure of working across Europe, UK & Ireland in TV, Film, Cruises, Musical Theatre, Opera and most commonly Theatre. Michael has Directed & Choreographed Wellington Colleges production of “High School Musical”, Fusion Theatre Lisburn ‘The Sound of Music’, Stranmillis BSPA’s ‘Annie’ & is looking forward to the NI premier of ‘Alice by Heart’ this summer with MMK Productions.
MATTHEW CAMPBELL
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Matthew studied music at Queens University, Belfast completing a Master’s thesis researching the history and sustainability of musical theatre in Northern Ireland. Since graduating he has gone on to become a much sought after musical director, orchestrator and music producer across Ireland and the UK.
Matthew also makes up 1 fifth of Irish vocal group ‘The Shamrocks’ and has toured globally with them as both a singer and MD, with notable performances in venues such as the Sydney Opera House, The Kennedy Centre DC and London’s West End. He has also enjoyed two number 1 singles with the group and looks forward to touring the UK & Ireland later this year including a show at Belfast’s o2 Arena.
Recently he played the role of ‘Maestro’ in the West End and Olivier nominated musical ‘Choir of Man’ during its Australian residency (Arts Centre, Melbourne) and continues to work extensively for a number of leading cruise lines including Disney, Celebrity, Silversea and Seabourn. Matthew is also Creative Director of Starburst Theatre School. Recent MD credits include Jack & The Beanstalk (Waterfront Hall), Little Shop of Horrors (The Mac) & The Blind Fiddler (Lyric Theatre).
This year, Matthew won two Emmy ® Awards for both his performance, and post production audio work on the television special Shamrock Tenors ‘Live In Belfast’ (BBC & PBS).
SINEAD O’KELLY
ASSISTANT MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Sinéad trained at the Royal College of Music, London, graduating with First Class Honours, and the National Opera Studio.
Credits include: “Into the Woods” at Lyric Theatre Belfast, “Elsewhere” at Abbey Theatre Dublin, “Old Friends and Other Days” Film with NI Opera, “Griselda“ with INO National Tour, Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Opernhaus Zürich. Sinéad made her professional stage debut singing Persephone in a new work,‘Seven Seeds’ by John Barber at the Royal Albert Hall.
Sinéad has been the Music teacher at the BSPA Bangor PM school since it opened in 2023, and also provides singing lessons at BSPA Midweek classes. This is her first time working with BSPA on their summer project!
