Michael Poynor

MICHAEL POYNOR – GODA, ADA

Born in the Falkland Islands and educated in Argentina and England. He read Economics at Westminster College, London and Business (Dip. Mgmt, MBA) at the Open University; he trained for theatre at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (L.A.M.D.A.) and started his theatre career at the CASTLE THEATRE, Farnham as Stage Manager, Designer, Lighting Designer and Actor. After a spell at the THORNDIKE THEATRE, Leatherhead as a lighting designer he joined the LYRIC THEATRE, Belfast in 1973 as Director of Productions and became Artistic Director in 1974 for one year whilst Mary O’Malley took a sabbatical. Returning to England in 1975 he co-founded the New OVERGROUND THEATRE, Kingston Upon Thames where he was Resident Director. In 1977 he became Artistic Director of HARROGATE THEATRE, Yorkshire. Back in Northern Ireland he founded STAGE ‘80 THEATRE COMPANY for whom he was Artistic Director for five years as well as being Artistic Director of the ULSTER YOUTH THEATRE from 1983 to 1986. From 1987 to 1990 he was Artistic Director of THE NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE OF WALES and has been Artistic Director of the ULSTER THEATRE COMPANY since 1991. From 1999 to 2002 he was Chief Executive of the MILLENNIUM FORUM in Derry, the largest purpose built theatre in Ireland, where he oversaw the building and opening phases as well as setting up its operational base. He was appointed Consultant General Manager for the BELFAST FESTIVAL AT QUEEN’S 2003 and 2004 and subsequently Head of Culture and Arts at QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY, Belfast with overall responsibility for the operation and management of Belfast Festival at Queen’s, the Queen’s Film Theatre and the Naughton Gallery until September 2007.

He has Directed one hundred and sixty productions, Designed Sets for well over a hundred productions and Lighting for over two hundred and fifty.

As a Fight Director member of the British Academy of Dramatic Combat he has directed ‘violence’ for the Abbey and Gate Theatres in Dublin; the Lyric Theatre and Grand Opera House in Belfast and many independent theatre companies.

Recent work includes directing and designing “The Long Now” (2019) for the Seamus Heaney Home Place; writing, directing and lighting “Sleeping Beauty” (2017) for New Lodge Arts; and “Aladdin” (2013), “Scrooge’s Christmas” (2014) and “Sleeping Beauty” (2012) for the Market Place Theatre, Armagh.

At Theatre at The Mill he directed and lit “Stormont” (2010); wrote/directed and lit “Comedy of Errors: The Musical” (2013), adapted/directed and lit “Jonathan Harker and Dracula” (2014), directed, designed and lit “The Sound of Music” (2019) and directed/designed and lit “Strive” (2020) and ‘’Wizard of Oz” (2022).

He has adjudicated at many festivals in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man as well as the IATA International Festival (1990); The All Ireland Confined Final (1998); the New Zealand Finals (1992); The Irish Universities Finals (2017); The Northern Ireland One Act Finals (2019) and the RTE All Ireland Finals at Athlone (2022).