John Lindop
John joined the New Lyric in 1993 and has played many principal roles both for his home
company and many other leading companies. John is no stranger to the Grand Opera House stage both with New Lyric and other leading Ulster companies but has always said each time you walk on the Opera House stage you must always treat it with the same respect you did the very first time!
Principal roles include Camille (The Merry Widow), Pish-Tush and Nanki Poo (Hot Mikado), Perchik (Fiddler on the Roof), Barnaby (Hello, Dolly!), Freddy (My Fair Lady), Sky Masterson (Guys and Dolls), Gerald Me and My Girl, Billy Lawlor (42nd Street) and Francis Fryer (Calamity Jane).
In November 2007, John played Danilo in The Merry Widow at the Grand Opera House opposite Michelle Baird as the widow, a dream come true for both of them! John & Michelle have sung together for many years now, and both won AIMS best singer awards in 2001 performing the leading roles in The Pirates of Penzance.
John has also played principal roles for other Ulster companies including Lun Tha in The King and I (St. Agnes' Choral Society), Tony in The Boyfriend (Ulster Operatic Company), Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance (Lisnagarvey), Danilo in The Merry Widow (Newry MOS) and Gaston in Gigi (St Agnes's).
Remaining a committed member of the New Lyric, John has served for many years as committee member, secretary, vice chairman and chairman. John says he has faced many challenges with the New Lyric, not least tap dancing in Oklahoma (a show which won the AIMS award for best Choreography), and dancing in the N.I. Premiere of Copacabana, both of which were at the Grand Opera House.